“Jenny?”
“My sister.”
“Oh.” Sonya’s stance softened and her interest in her co-star grew. As Empress, she’d always taken interest in people’s welfare. If someone cried, she wanted to know the reason. If someone laughed, she wanted to share in the joy. She wanted to ensure her people were well. “I didn’t know you had a sister. I thought that was why you...”
“Why I called you Sister?”
Sonya nodded.
Yolanda’s eyes saddened, bringing out Sonya’s strong maternal instincts. She longed to be a mother, to share the love she had in her heart. As Empress, she’d at times viewed herself as the mother to all in her empire. It had always been dominant in her mind. Treat your people well; they’ll be happy, they’ll appreciate you and your empire will grow. She, herself, had given birth to a sweet little girl.Then she was taken from her, removed from her arms at birth by the hospital under her husband, the Emperor’s orders.She’d never seen her daughter since.When she’d learned of her daughter living in America, it had stoked a fresh and stronger wave of maternal desires.
Reaching out for Sonya’s hand, she gave it an affectionate squeeze and silently invited her into her home, guiding her to the tiny dining room table.
“Tea?”
Yolanda nodded as she wiped away a fresh tear.
“I take it you miss her,” Sonya said as she prepared the tea.
“There are days when I barely think of her, when I barely think of a time when I lived in China. I move forward through the day, taking pleasure in little things and keeping my mind busy with just about anything. Then there are times, when the day turns quiet, when the lights go out and all that remains are my thoughts...that’s when it’s unbearable. That’s where my longing to talk to her hurts.”
Bringing two cups of tea to the table, Sonya sat down. “Is she that hard to reach? You can’t call her?”
Yolanda, her eyes wet and red, looked at Sonya. “I mustn’t have been clear. My sister died.”
Sonya gasped, her heart breaking. “Oh. I’m so sorry.Do you want to talk about it? What happened?”
“I wish I could say she died in an accident. That would make it a little easier to accept her death. But, no. She was killed, killed by communist guerillas who swept into our small town and took over.”
“As happened in much of China.”
Yolanda nodded.
The words, her own story, were on her lips. The desire to share with Yolanda was strong, but she knew it was impossible. How could she tell her young friend that, as Empress, she’d been imprisoned, that she’d been forced to take opium. They’d made a spectacle of her, an example to the people of her empire; look what happens when you defy us, they said with every painful and humiliating show of strength.
Her last days in China, her last days as Empress Wanrong; the pain and sorrow of losing her daughter, her family, and even her country, was still raw like yesterday.If only she could share that with someone. Despite having been tortured, despite the pain of withdrawals from the opium they’d given her, it was the loss of her empire, her people that hurt her most. And yet, she kept it all bottled up inside her.
She’d been the last empress of China. And now Sonya Song, a songstress in America...she was a world away from who she’d once been.
“I’m very touched by your loss, and I wish to be there for you.” She reached out to set her hand over Yolanda’s. “We need to stick together. Together we’re stronger. We can protect one another...from Zwick...from everything.”
