The Year of Our Lord 1111
Dear Nhu,
I know I
haven’t written for a while. Last time I wrote you, I wasn’t feeling my utmost.
I suspected it was due to my sudden aloneness in the house and the feeling of
not having you here every day, sister, but I am not quite sure that is the case.
I have a new
symptom to report. At first, I was just not sleeping well and feeling lethargic
and tired during the day, but now my neck seems to have gotten larger. I haven’t
changed what I eat, so I think it must be due to the strange new sickness I
seem to find myself afflicted with. Are my humors off? I do detest
blood-letting, but I will do so if I must.
I am serious,
my neck is swollen, as large as if I was set on by a bees’ nest. I do not know
what to make of it. Maybe another disposal will help, but alas…
…father’s
age-old advice did not help me! In the past, it always has. Sister, when I
killed my first, what, 14 years previous, I felt such a rush, such an intake of
emotion and power and it was glorious. Despite the impropriety of speaking of
such sentiments, I knew you felt the same way after your first kill. It was a
peasant, wasn’t it? So was mine.
This time, my
blade chose a beggar that has bedeviled the gates of our home for many a week.
Always shows up at inopportune times, when investors or lawyers are by, or on
the rare occasion a suitor shows up claiming to be after me, not my money.
Anyway, she is now gone and I am sure the servants are glad to be rid of the
smell.
I dumped the
body over the bridge a village over. Not that much anyone would care, but I did
not want authorities coming near our property. I do detest the color they wear.
I know that
you do not yen to speak of politics, but dear Nhu, I do. The new independence
is amazing. The Chinese oppressors who have darkened the door of Vietnam are
gone and I love the image of freedom the new Ly dynasty projects. Oh, if only
father was here to see his country ruled by fellow Vietnamese. Father would be
so happy and proud, sister.
There have
been whispers of the Chinese and other foes attempting to invade Vietnam
once-more, but I do not know the veracity of such. I am sure that some amount
of them have tried to breach our armies. Yes, living near the capitol has its
benefits, but living here is almost political, censored and prettied up.
I do not know
why I wanted to tell you of that, but I felt like it needed to be said.
Besides, since you moved out to an outlying village, I worry you do not receive
the accuracy of the news that I do. I worry that your very intelligence is diminishing
by living out there, but your marriage was strategic so who am I to speak
against it?
My heart goes
out to you, in your situation. I will be out to visit you when my new relation
arrives. Have you spoken about names? Is it too early to submit Anh as a top
contender? I would so love to have someone named after me, dear sister.
Sickly,
yet happy for you,
Anh
No comments:
Post a Comment