H + L
The last time Hana felt truly free, she was running through lavender fields.
PAST
A cloudless sunny day, fields of lavender, blooming trees lining the road; it was summer. From the narrow path through the field, the loud laughter of a joyful child could be heard from a distance, approaching fast. A girl with brown hair, half-tied and wind-blown, laughed cheerfully. Her large brown eyes sparkled as she ran, dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans. Her laughter grew louder... She was running away from her friend; in this game, they were soldiers.
"Stop, Hana!" shouted a young boy, Luka. "You have more strength; this part is too steep."
Luka was already tired and had begun to lag behind. Hana stopped, turned toward him, and smiled.
"Then admit that I won."
"Fine, I admit it," Luka said, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Okay, the deal was that whoever wins this war gets to pick a wish the loser must fulfill," Hana said, acting important.
"Fine, fine, what do you want?" Luka asked.
"I want you to weave me a wreath of lavender flowers."
"Ugh!" Luka sighed. "I'm not a girl who weaves wreaths, Hana. I don't know how."
"It's okay, come here, I'll show you," Hana said. She sat in the shade of a large oak tree and then, like a true winner, ordered Luka to pick an armful of flowers for her.
"Here," Luka said, carrying hands full of flowers. Hana wove the first wreath and placed it on her head.
"Am I beautiful?" she asked.
"Of course, Hana, you are the most beautiful," said Luka, whose own wreath was only half-finished. He looked at her once more-she was truly beautiful, he thought-then took her hand and said: "Let's go further, I want to show you something..."
PRESENT
A thirty-year-old woman, beautiful, with light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and large brown eyes-HANA-returned to reality. It was just a moment of absence, an escape from this luxurious but cold villa. She sat on the sofa in the living room; on the table were her phone and a half-finished glass of red blackberry wine.
She knew everything that followed. She knew everything that was about to happen. She counted: one, two, three.
The sudden screech of car brakes echoed outside, followed by footsteps, the door opening, and her husband Edgar entering the living room, visibly nervous.
"Hana, we lost everything... the company, the estate, the house... everything," Edgar stammered. He grabbed a glass from the bar, poured a double whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. Then another. He paced the living room, distraught and aimless. Finally, he slumped onto the sofa next to her.
"Hana, we're ruined... even the car isn't mine anymore. We're bankrupt." He hid his face in his hands. "Luka bought everything."
Hana sat perfectly still.
"I know," she replied in a steady voice.
Of course she knew. Edgar whined daily about their downfall, about how "that dirty stable hand" was systematically destroying their life. She was ready.
"He's coming tonight; he's moving in. Into our home," Edgar muttered, staring at his phone.
'He is coming. He is moving in.' The words echoed in her mind. Her gaze began to wander around the room, past the expensive furniture. On the cabinet above the TV, among the books and ceramic figurines, stood a small wooden horse, crudely carved, as if made by a child.
While Edgar mumbled and scrolled through his phone, she slowly stood up, finished the rest of her wine, and walked straight to the horse. She picked it up and immediately felt the familiar spot under her fingers; the initials H+L were there. Once again, she drifted away...
PAST
A beautiful summer day; she was on a swing while Luka whittled wood with a small knife.
"See how high I can swing, almost to the sky," Hana said, looking up at the beautiful white clouds.
"Hana, stop, I have something for you," Luka said. "Really?" Hana asked curiously. She hopped off the swing and approached him. "Give it to me."
"Reach out your hand, but close your eyes," Luka said.
"Fine," she said, stretching out her hand, but peeking with one eye. It was a wooden horse with H+L carved into it.
PRESENT
Hana held it in her hand for a while longer, then put it in her dress pocket. She took a breath and spoke to Edgar.
"Maybe we should have dinner."
Edgar muttered, "Yeah..." and continued to stare at his phone. She didn't even look back; she went alone to the dining room, touching the wooden horse in her pocket as she walked. She sat at the table, looked through the window, and saw a storm brewing.
As she stood up to close the windows, the doorbell rang. The staff opened it. In the hallway, she heard a very familiar voice:
"GOOD EVENING." Her hand froze on the window and began to tremble.
"I am looking for Mr. Edgar B. and Mrs. Hana B."
"Of course, please come in, I'll show you the way."
With every step, her heart beat louder. She thought about running away, hiding-overwhelmed by panic, she squeezed the wooden horse in her pocket. Then she stopped. 'No, I must remain dignified,' she thought. Step by step echoed through the hallway.
PAST
The step grew faster until it turned into a run... it was young Hana, a woman now, in a delicate silk nightgown that outlined her body. She was running toward the small room next to the stable.
She had slipped out of the house while no one was looking. Outside the room stood young Luka-a real man now, built from hard work, with a deep, piercing gaze. He was waiting for Hana, watching every movement of her body. He caught her, lifted her high, and spun her around.
"Put me down, Luka!" Hana whispered softly.
"I will never let you go, remember that, Hana. Never."
They entered the room. They laughed, then stood facing each other, looking straight into each other's eyes; the attraction between them was so strong it drained their strength. Luka pulled her close, firmly, caressing her neck, her chest, her hips... the excitement grew. They kissed passionately. The youth in them burned with desire.
"Hana, promise that you will only ever be mine," he said, quietly excited.
"I promise... I love you, Luka."
"I've always loved you more," Luka said, teasing her. He bit her lips. Hana lost her breath, completely surrendered. In his embrace, she felt passionate, peaceful, and safe.
"I have something for you. Come," Luka said.
From the chest next to the bed, he pulled out the small wooden horse.
"Look, you lost it. I've been keeping it for you here... here, I'm giving it back now. You must never lose it again."
"Luka." Hana's voice turned sad. "I have to tell you something."
They sat on the bed.
"You know my father and brother can't stand you being near me... they claim you are nothing but a common stable hand with no future. My father was clear-he says I must marry Edgar, because he is in our rank. Those are his words, Luka, not mine," Hana said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Luka bolted upright, his face flushing with rage. He gripped her shoulders firmly.
"Hana, you and I are one. We belong to each other. Are you aware of that?"
"I know," she said, even though she sensed fate would be different.
"Then don't get married, run away with me. I'll fight for us. I might not be rich like Edgar, but I promise you will never be deprived of anything in life."
"Of course, Luka, we are one..." she became nervous because she had stayed too long. "I have to go, it's late... they'll notice I'm gone."
"Wait, take this horse; it is your amulet and your vow," Luka said. "Promise me!"
Hana smiled, took the horse, said "I PROMISE," kissed Luka, and disappeared into the shadows of the night, clutching the vow to her chest.
PRESENT
The footsteps were louder now as they approached the dining room. Hana's heart beat faster and faster. She squeezed the horse in her pocket until, in a moment of clumsiness, it slipped out, rolled away, and stopped exactly at Luka's feet.
They both looked at the horse, then raised their heads and locked eyes. Luka was still very handsome, but the rage in his eyes was palpable. She managed to control herself, even giving a slight smile, trying to soften the awkward moment while Luka looked her straight in the eye.
"Hello, Hana," he said, just to say something.
She replied in the same tone, her head slightly bowed. A minute passed as they stood there, staring at each other.
Then, new footsteps were heard. The sound of high heels grew closer, until a soft female voice was heard:
"Luka, darling, where are you?"
