Dust of Wrathful Years by Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová

Author:Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová [Łuczka-Hanzalová, Klara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Aniela kept her eyes fixed on the clock, at the opposite end of the workshop room. She was waiting for the hand to move, marking the last minute of the hour. All day, she had been inefficient in her tasks. These last minutes would make no difference to the overall results. So, she remained fidgety, as the hour of four slowly approached. Fridays were one of the shorter workdays, allowing her to go to secret classes before curfew.

At last, the gong resounded across the room. With extreme punctuality, Aniela got up and gathered her things. Once again, she was a schoolgirl looking forward to the final bell, the signal of liberty.

“You could have asked me to leave early, you know; I wouldn’t have objected,” her boss smiled at her, as Aniela got towards the exit.

“Was I that obvious?” she seemed embarrassed. “I’m sorry…”

Mrs Kropielnicka shook her head with a laugh. “Just get to where you need to be my dear.”

“Thank you!” Aniela exclaimed cheerfully and flew outside. Carried by wings, she rushed down the streets of Muranów across Plac Bankowy and finally made it in front of her favorite church in Warsaw, Saint Anthony. Behind the fence, a peaceful courtyard surrounded by colonnades separated the church grounds from the street. A safe haven isolated from the strain and stress hiding behind every corner of the outside world. In the center of the square, Aniela paused briefly at the foot of the tall wooden crucifix. Tilting her head back, she fixated her eyes on the gold figure of Christ, glimmering in the sunlight, a sign of hope. She walked a few steps further, entered the edifice, and was at once refreshed by the surrounding coolness. With joy, she saw the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. The sparkling rays of the monstrance were but a shadow of the radiant Body of Christ at their center. Kneeling down with a bow to greet Him, she quietly took a seat in the pew. An overwhelming feeling of comfort arose in her from the familiar yet exotic scent of incense, mingled with the ineffable stillness. She had at last returned to one of the few ways of bringing her restless heart to peace. As always, she had trouble finding words of prayer, and, half-closing her eyes, simply savored the presence of her Creator. He understood what she did not yet know about herself. When it was difficult to speak to anyone else, at least there was Him to sit in silence with. Opening her heart, she hoped He was listening to the unspoken words, those she barely dared to think. The homely and safe ambience melted into a slumber…

How much time had gone by? Gently rocking herself back from infinity to the gray reality, she finished her prayer with a goodbye. She turned around one more time, crossed herself and walked out into the summer heat.

A few meters away, on a bench in the shade, Kamil was reading a book. Hesitantly, she drew closer.

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