Sky and Sea Shadows

By Antigoni Pantelouri Drakou

This Novel is partly based on a true story which is published in “Life with an Angel” by Antigoni Pantelouri Drakou (A-Z Publications). Other basic elements of the work come from creative imagination.
It recounts how our heroine is driven, from sickness and the greatest pain a parent can feel, to appreciating the value of the simple things in life and to experiencing the selfless love, innocence and holiness of a person, who due to his condition does not know the existence of evil. The joy and pain lead her to search within, to derive strength and courage, and to become a better person.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AKAKIA Publications
• Release date: May 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911352112

Book preview

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PROLOGUE

It is the beginning of August and the heat in the heart of Athens is unbearable. Whoever is able leaves for their village or goes to the beach in search for some coolness. Ismene, lying on her bed, tries to close her eyes but the full moon lights up her room almost as if it is challenging her to look up, to bathe her hair with its luminous touch. Sometimes she sleeps peacefully and at other times she whinnies like a race horse galloping to reach the finish line. She often stares at the stars, waiting for some sort of sign from her young lad who is no longer with her. When a parent buries their child the world comes to an end, every equilibrium in the family is upset. For months now her only joy is her daughter, Elpida, and her own fading memories. She drinks a little water to refresh herself and makes a big decision – one for which Elpida has been pressurising her continually. She packs a bag with the immediate necessities and at day break leaves for the village to re-live what she lived for years with her angel and which she was so fearful of touching again.

The sun has now risen and she has already covered half the distance. Along the route she sees the ears of wheat and canes waiting to be collected for animal fodder, and the rivers dried up from the drought. The brief morning coolness soothes her and, approaching the familiar places, she is able to discern the little ecclesiastical church and its spire like a white pearl nailed on a rosette of red rubies, the roofs of the houses. The village, sown on the hillside, looks like an all-white terrace spanning over the Aegean Sea.

As soon as you start going uphill, Rinio’s coffee shop always welcomes you with a glass of cool water and a local baklava sweet made with a generous portion of almonds, all home baked. She is a widow who sells coffees to raise her three children and despite all her problems is a lovely person. Approaching, Ismene sees her watering a rose bush at the entrance, which in blossom looks like a huge bouquet ready to greet travellers.

- Ismene, she shouts and runs to hug her. Welcome back, we missed you!

- Rinio, I’m glad to see that you’re looking well, but I know that you understand when I tell you that my heart is pounding and all the memories are making my vision blurry.

- Ismene, everyone thinks of you and asks how you are. Everybody was sad about your boy, and on that day the village church bells rang all day in mourning, because your Petros was our child too. All the people in the village cried with his untimely loss. I’m going off now to make you a coffee and I’ll come back, she says, folding her apron with her hands, perhaps so that Ismene would not notice her own tears.

While waiting for her friend’s treat, her glance falls opposite onto the small village playing field and she recalls that day which had given them such unexpected pleasure.

Her mother, Barbara, her son and herself, arriving that day in the village, see the playing field full of people and voices in the air. They are running races starting from the small hill.

- Up until here, one of the organisers says.

- Can we take part? She asks, seeing Petros clapping his hands in glee.

- Of course, he answers with some measure of curiosity.

In a little while it is the start of the race.

- Can you please give the young man a number? She says as the whistle blows to start the race.

They let older and younger people go by and putting Petros in the car and with the warning lights on, they start to descend, stopping at the kiosk to ask for refreshment for the athlete. The girls are surprised and laugh happily, shouting bravo. At the finish, after letting everyone enter the playing field, she lets her lad get out of the car about fifty metres from the entrance and he goes in with his hands held high up and clapping. What uproar! The loud speaker announces special effort and there is a standing ovation, with people clapping. What a delirious moment for everyone!

- Ismene dear, what are you thinking? Rinio asks her, whilst bringing in the coffee with a cherry sweet. I understand, she whispers. The people’s clapping and your son’s laughter still echo in my ears too. Come now and let me tell you the news, she says touching her shoulder. Tomorrow the preparations are starting for our fair; you’ll help with peeling the onions like in the old days, won’t you? The girls will be pleased to see you again, to hear your laughing, to remember our mad days when we fished in the river.

- Rinio, thank you for everything, but I have to go, to rest a bit, I’ve been up all night and feel flooded with so many mixed emotions, happiness, sadness.

- Go on my girl, I’ll send a message to all the girls, she says smiling.

There are a lot of steep turnings but the deep blue of the sky and sea, the enormous waves which claw