The Mistress's Gambit: Fated Game

1: THE F

lutter with anticipation, the island seemed to resound my emotions, and the fishermen laughed heartily as they offloaded their nets from the boats happy at the prospec

prices, cut a corner, took a shortcut I and Matteo had discovered behind the chapel, and ran down a flight of stairs. If I hadn't slowed do

y ruffled my hair. I excitedly picked up momentum again when he turned his attention

t door of our modest home into the kitchen, startlin

ith anticipation as I waved the envelope frantically

ly set the silverware on the small dining table and plucked the letter out of my hands. As her eyes glanced through

an was the culmination of years of hard wo

e pulled me into a hug. My heart swelled with happiness as I felt her warm embrace. As we hugged, my eyes roamed aroun

had been a challenging journey for the family. My mother had worked tirelessly to take care of Matteo and me, she sacrificed her desires to ensure we had food on the table, shelter over our heads, and

t cry." I continued as I led her towards the dini

worked so hard to get here and now

oing to say, I had been thinking about it as well. I might have gotten into the University but we barely had enough money to buy

Don't worry Mamma." I added,

ed with the prepar

re. He would be so proud o

aid after a mom

red in my ey

My father's memory had become a guiding light for us,

without your love and support Mamm

and determined, just like your father." She replied and kissed my forehead. "Quick, let's

y got off their boats. It's been a great day, I don't want it to end

* * * *

termined to finance my education without becoming a burden to my mother. The admission letter represented more than just an acceptance into a prestigious institution to me. It was a symbol of hope, of a future brimming wi

ad when I was a child. The metropolis had fascinated me, I felt a rush in my body when I first experienced the buzz of the city, now I was going to the metropolis on my own. I was going to experience things for myself. I felt a wave of sa

ride and worry. She had decided to accompany me to the bus station, her excuse was that she wanted to bid her daughter a proper farewell but I presume that she was yet to come to terms w

nto a cacophony of excitement and farewell. I clutched my mother's hand tightly as we made our

ion. "It feels like, just yesterday you were a little girl, and now look at you, all grow

me from, Mom. I'll always carry your love and support with me. I'll send letter

th a comforting warmth that seemed to envelop me. "Remember, my love, I'll be cheering you on, every step of the way. And no letters. It makes no sense to spend all your money on stamps. We wi

nd my eyes widened at the

t's all you have. Y

You need this, it's not much to start on but I

understanding her unwavering faith. As the bus attendant called out to the passengers to b

ing a world of gratitude. "I promise, I won't

ing, yet buoyed by the anticipation of what lay ahead. Through the window, I

d and my eyes fixed on the horizon-the beacon of a futu