Destiny Takes Time

Chapter 10 – The Parting

“Jovanka, can you hear me?” He gently shook her shoulder. “Please say something,” he pleaded, almost choking on his tears.

Just then, he heard a low moan. He took a deep breath and let it out. She appeared to be coming around.

“Erik?” she answered weakly.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m here,” he replied, sliding his hand under her head. “Are you able to move? I can’t leave you like this.”

“I…don’t know.”

Her left cheek was badly bruised, and the swelling was reaching her eye. Blood trickled from her nose and the corner of her mouth. As he studied her face, he noticed the feel of something warm and wet on his hand. Slowly, he removed it from where he had been supporting her head and was horrified to see blood all over his palm. When her husband had knocked her down, she must have hit her head on the corner of the table as she fell. Something had to be done and quickly.

“Jovanka, I have to leave and find your mother,” he told her as he jumped to his feet.

He took a pillow from the bed where Fardy still lay sleeping and gently tucked it under her head. “I will be back soon. I promise.”

She gave the slightest of nods, letting him know that she understood. Erik ran as fast as he could into the night not even noticing the people who stared and pointed at his uncovered face. He didn’t stop until he reached Yolanda’s tent. She was sleeping at the time.

“Yolanda!” he called urgently.

The older woman woke with a start and was just about to scream when she realized who he was.

“Oh, it is you, little gadjó,” she said, putting her hand to her chest. “You frightened me. What brings you here this late?”

By the way he was panting, she knew that something was wrong.

“You must come quickly…It’s Jovanka…She’s hurt!”

“What happened?”

“Branko beat her…she’s bleeding badly,” Erik explained in a panic. “Please, come with me!”

“Of course I’ll go, but I must gather some things that I need first. You go ahead of me and stay with her until I get there.” She put her hands on his shoulders. “And whatever you do, don’t let her go to sleep.”

He nodded and dashed from the tent. When he made it back to Jovanka, her eyes were closed.

“Your mother is on her way,” he said, out of breath. “Come on; let me help you get up from here.”

Thankfully, she responded to the sound of his voice and turned toward him.

“I’m so tired,” she said as he stooped down beside her.

“You need to stay awake at least until she sees you.”

With great care, Erik placed his arms around her and sat her up.

He had just managed to help her sit down on the bed when her mother arrived.

Yolanda lit a lamp and gasped as she saw her daughter. “Mourishay!”

The boy had not exaggerated. She was badly hurt, and from the looks of it, barely able to stay conscious.

“Thank you, Erik,” Yolanda said to him. It was the first time that she had used his name when speaking to him. “It was wise of you to call me. I can take care of her from here. Try to get some rest.”

That was impossible, he thought. He did lie down, though, in his little corner on a blanket so as not to get in the way.

“Mama…” Jovanka said. “Did Branko hurt Erik?”

“No,” the older woman replied.

“Good.” She seemed to be relieved by this. “Branko is dangerous. Erik should leave here before he…”

“Shhh,” her mother whispered. “Everything will be all right.”

From his spot in the corner he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She had just taken a beating which could have killed her, and she was worried for him?

A couple of days later, the last time that they were together, Jovanka was able to move around and return to some of her duties. She had been extremely clumsy, though, dropping things and knocking them over. Something was wrong, and she could feel it.

“Erik, you must be careful when Branko takes you today,” she said as she placed his plate of food in front of him.

So that was it – she thought that her husband would try to harm him in some new, terrible way.

“I will be,” he answered calmly.

Later that afternoon, she was sitting outside the tent when she saw Branko walking in her direction from the opposite end of the camp. Quickly, she rushed inside.

“He’s coming,” she warned him. “Remember what I told you. All day I’ve had the premonition that something dreadful is going to happen.”

“I’ll be fine,” he said as he got up from where he had been sitting with Fardy and collected his monkey toy from the floor.

“My brave little Erik.”

What she did next took him by surprise. Jovanka embraced him tightly and kissed his forehead. He allowed himself to hug her back and brushed his lips against her cheek. Heaviness filled the air – the unspoken feeling that they would not see each other again. It was almost enough to make him weep, but he held back, not wanting to upset her further. When Branko entered the tent, Erik felt no fear. He was not the same boy he had been before. The despair and concern that had consumed him at the thought of nearly losing this woman who had shown him the love of a mother soon gave way to anger and hate toward the person responsible.

Erik took the abuse and humiliation that night with his mind already made up that it would be the last time. The image of Jovanka’s beautiful face bearing bruises strengthened his resolve. He could not allow this man the chance to harm her anymore. Never again, he thought to himself as he tightened the rope around Branko’s neck.