"What is going on here?" feigned the none-too-surprised doctor.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all. Anna is just a little emotional."
"I see," said the cunning doctor. "Oh, there is blood on your mouth."
"Oh, it's nothing, Doctor," mumbled
Melpomeni. "I just bit my lip."
"Well, let's take care of that," Vassili leaned forward, his lips touching hers.
Melpo drew closer. "Is there anything that you can't fix, Doctor?"
***
Anna's mind had gone blank when she hit her mother. Then long buried memories of her returning home early from school with her nurse one day when she was sick flashed through her mind. Happy to be home, she had run into her mother's bedroom where she found her in bed with a man who was not her father. Due to Melpo's carelessness, over the years, Anna was continually reminded of her mother's numerous infidelities. She had buried the initial shock in a deep grave in her eightyear-old mind, but now the full force of the memory emerged and became alive again. Anna realized she had never forgiven her mother.
"You seem to be upset, my dear," said an older nurse, coming across Anna in the hallway. Anna said nothing. "I see it's serious." She took Anna by the arm and walked with her.
"I'm on my way to the church to light a candle.
Would you―?"
Anna nodded her head. Upon entering the church, Anna composed herself and said, "Thank you. This is a lovely place. I would never expect it in the middle of Athens."
"Yes, it is a Metohi," a place where visiting nuns can stay, conduct prayer services, Vespers, and follow the liturgical calendar," explained the nurse.
"How lovely. Can we stay a while?"
"Of course, Anna."
They both went to a corner of the dimly lit chapel and prayed.
"The only place I feel at home anymore is someplace like this, peaceful and nonthreatening," said Anna to the kind nurse. She didn't know the woman's name, but she knew she liked her.
Later they shared a very spartan meal with a few of the visiting nuns. Anna found herself especially drawn to one in particular, who seemed to radiate spiritual energy. Alone in a small room, Anna talked to her about her life, her love for Nikolas, and the terrible guilt she felt for slapping her mother.
"God has a plan for all of us, my child." Anna had never seen a more peaceful face. "Let's not question his reasons. We are only his instruments." The nun crossed herself. "Thy will be done." She then embraced Anna three times, the customary monastic way. "My child, this is where I spend most of my time. You are always welcome."