Prologue

Prologue

This is the story of my life, however glamorous or romantic it may appear, the danger and trouble were as great as the love that is portrayed.  Lies loomed over and around me ever since the day of my birth.  I grew up more or less on my own. 

 

The first few years of my life my mother remained deathly ill from birthing me and I was cared for by my aunt.  I was five before the doctors allowed my mother in my presence.  Before that she had been taken to the best hospitals the world over.  My father held nothing back to find her cure.  She had spent time in England and France and finally recovered.  But my father never did.  Instead he became ill, but not the same as my mother.  Financial crises and hardship took their toil on my father. 

 

I don’t remember much about him. I vaguely remember being allowed to visit him in his bedroom.   Still a young child, this could not be expected of me.  My mother was his constant companion for the next three years as he clung to life. 

 

I don’t remember a happy carefree day during my first eight years.  The house I lived in was always quiet in fear of disturbing the ill.  My aunt was a harsh woman insisting the greatest obedience.  And yet I tried to remain through out it all kind and unjudgmental. 

 

I felt no sadness when my father passed away.  I hardly knew the man. I didn’t cry as they lay his coffin in the grave.  Instead I clung to my Aunt’s hand as people wailed and sobbed around us.  Even my mother could not contain her grief.  I was still but a child and knew not what all this fuss was.  But it left an impression on me, and I grew stronger because of it.  That was what my life was all about, being strong.