# 15
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Scarlett's childhood home, which had been taken away from her, was still beautiful.
Thanks to her uncle, who generously spent her brother and his wife’s money to maintain it.
When Scarlett entered the attic, the only part not reached by such care, Isaac smiled.
“It seems the matter has been resolved.”
“How did you know?”
“From your steps”
Scarlett laughed cheerfully and sat down on the bed, and said brightly: “Yes, it’s resolved. Didn’t I say it was a misunderstanding?”
“Indeed”
Isaac, with more joy than I expected, tried to get up quickly. But his body shook with excitement, so Scarlett rushed to support him.
Issac, who looked a lot like her, laughed hard.
“This is great”
“Issac?”
“Sorry”
His voice trembled with relief.
“So sorry...”
“What's wrong with you all of a sudden?”
Scarlett sat him on the bed, confused, and studied his face.
Isak, like her, was always pretending to be happy in front of her.
In the dim lighting, she saw his cheek up close and was amazed.
"What's that on your face? Did you fall?"
“Ah, yes”
Isaac smiled gently and said, “I went outside.”
“This is dangerous… Are you upset that I couldn’t accompany you today?”
“Scarlett”
Scarlett stopped when his voice suddenly became serious.
Issac continued: “I think I have to work now, whatever it is.”
“What? No, this is dangerous. You said that when you regain your sight...”
“It looks like we were scammed.”
Isaac's gentle but cold words silenced her.
He carefully extended his hand, grabbed her hair and said, “Sorry, it seems there is no medicine that restores sight.”
“Don't say that. You'll see.”
Isaac knew from her trembling voice, but he had no choice.
He couldn't let his sister sacrifice for him forever. He didn't want her to continue with this false hope that was eating her away. He didn't want her to get hurt, neither physically nor emotionally.
Isaac smiled with a kind face: “I think I can do jobs that require strength. Mr. Buller said I could work as a boater on Seventh Street Lake. You know, pulling ropes to move rafts.”
Mr. Buller was the nurse Scarlett hired to care for Isaac. He was a good man, who accompanied Isak from her marriage until now, three years later. Scarlett was grateful for his kindness, but the thought of her brother's action was painful.
Isaac pretended to pull the ropes and said, "I'll do it. He said he'd train me with a retired military dog to get there. He's a good guy."
“Crimson people make watches”
“You can keep it up.”
Scarlett began to cry as she looked down, and Isaac laughed loudly and said, “Scarlett, I am so happy that you are my sister. I wish I could be happy to be your brother, even if only for a moment. That’s why I say this.”
Scarlett cried for a long time, then hugged Isaac tightly. I finally nodded. Getting out of the dream was still difficult for her.
***
At dawn the next day, Scarlett woke up early to go home, avoiding her uncle's family.
Isak would force her to sleep on the bed when she came, while he would sleep on the floor. At first, Scarlett vehemently refused, but now, since he seemed healthy, she climbed into bed.
She poked Isaac to make sure he was asleep, then put medicine on his eyes.
“Sorry, I can't let go”
She mumbled, ran her hand carefully through his hair, then stood up. She put on her hood and went out, taking the tram to the watch shop.
Seventh Street was close to the Crimson House, chosen by Scarlett because she could not live far from Issac.
Her wristwatch had an alarm clock that sounded clear glass at five in the morning. The alarm rang right after she entered.
Scarlett lit the fire in the fireplace, set up the grate, and took out the moka pot.
While she was waiting for the coffee to be prepared, she placed the frozen bread from yesterday on the rack to toast. I opened the lid of the butter, and it was solid.
“Everything is frozen”
Scarlett whimpered, cut off the hard butter with difficulty, and placed it on the toast. Then she poured the coffee and started eating.
Suddenly, a tear fell, and she wiped her eyes with her hand.
“I can't stand this”
I mumbled. She couldn't forget Isaac's sweet voice when he said that they might have been tricked.
While she was lost in thought, she heard a voice at the window.
She opened it in surprise, and saw the newspaper delivery girl waving at her.
Scarlett shouted: "Sorry, Julie! I was distracted and couldn't hear!"
"decent!"
The delivery girl skillfully threw the newspaper through the window.
“The newspaper is fun today, Miss Scarlett!”
"Thanks! I'll read it right away!"
Scarlett felt better after breathing in the cold winter air while speaking out loud.
She started reading the newspaper with breakfast. There was a notable article about public declarations of love by famous singers.
Scarlett read their words carefully.
Loving others was beautiful, and even more beautiful when it was achieved.
For her, love was precious and excessive. She believed that love required a willingness to die for another. So, while she loved Victor Domfelt, she was willing to die for him.
Maybe her love was disgusting to him. She was giving him gifts he didn't want. Maybe he felt her as an extreme fan, as the singers talk about in interviews. Anyway, Victor seemed more and more the victim.
While she was flipping through the newspaper, she saw a small news item about the confirmation of the execution of the priest Delfio, who killed three believers.
Scarlett felt dizzy as she thought about what would have happened if Victor had not been her husband, and if she had not asked him to return to her in a hundred days.
She regained her composure, and brought the teapot to make it.
She had to warm her hands to work on the small parts. Even with the room heated, she constantly needed a hot cup of tea.
I heard a voice from outside: “Scarlett!”
It was Liv, the neighbor.
Scarlett sighed and opened the window.
"Come on right away! We have cherry donuts that you love!" Liv said excitedly.
“I have to work”
“If I were you, I would resort instead of being stubborn!”
Liv lifted the basket of cookies, and Scarlett nodded obligingly.
Andrei, working without disturbing her according to a tacit agreement, saw her going down to the first floor and asked: “Where to?”
“Liv called me.”
“Her voice can be heard from here. She is making fun of you for not making hours during work.”
"Andrey, I'm the boss, and you're the employee. Why do you always try to force me to work?"
Andrei sighed visibly: “If this store goes bankrupt, I will be unemployed. The employee has the right to make the manager work.”
“I have the right to work whenever I want.”
“The worker’s right to receive a larger fixed salary, Madam Director.”
Andrei's right won. The payment of an employee's salary preceded the freedom of the manager.
“I'll be back soon,” Scarlett said with a frown as she tied her coat.
“If you're too late, I'll come look for you.”
Scarlett left Andrei's complaining behind her and headed outside.