Chapter Seventy-Five
Anna
 
     That day, Anna's nightmare didn't leave her alone. She was sitting on a black puzzle couch with red cushions in her hotel room at six in the morning Alaska time, with her laptop on her legs. Even though her heart was pounding, she craved a latte. Even watching an episode of her favorite show couldn't distract her from the words her mother was going to say. She finally opened the email that was from her mother. She felt a strong heartbeat. Anyway, Anna took a deep breath and started reading:
My dear daughter, now that you have arrived in Juneau, I know you are eagerly thirsty for the truth. I will keep the promise I made to you. Anna, in the first step, you have to go to this address. There you will face a strange house and its story, which is not unrelated to the reality you want to reach. Anna, I love you very much and I do this only for your satisfaction.
   Anna quickly wrote down the address with a blue pen on a small piece of paper. She thought to herself, "I finally took a step forward." She ate a bowl of granola. She read the email again and as she closed her laptop, she got up with the paper in her hand and ran to Rebecca's room and said, "I think what you said was true. Mom emailed and said things about that house. She also gave the address. It's probably the same black house."
   Rebecca took the paper that was in Anna's hand and after reading it said, "That's right, this is the address of the black house."
   "I want to see it right now."
   "I'll come too. I have to tell you the story of this house."
   "Can I ask you a question? Does Robert know about this?"
   "Robert knows, but he doesn't believe it. He's probably coming here with worry and anger because he thinks I'm fooling you."
Anna suddenly thought of Martin's words and other events and said, "Does your mother have a special interest in snow globes?"
   Rebecca laughed and said, "What an interesting question! I'm sure she doesn't like them. There's not even one in the house, neither here nor in France." Then she said, "Why did you ask?"
   Anna shrugged and left.
     When the taxi stopped in front of the house, Anna and Rebecca stood in silence in front of it and stared at the house or more precisely at the walls of the courtyard and the house that were intact and beautiful. Of course, until they entered the yard and faced the reality.
The black house was a big house that had burned and part of its walls had turned black. The house was relatively ruined.
   Seeing the house, Anna felt a great sadness and unhappiness in her being and unconsciously put her hand on the burn of her other hand. She thought to herself, "Maybe my dream was true." Then she said, "Why did this house burn?"
   "Do you want me to tell you the whole story?"
   "I want to hear the whole story. Rebecca, tell me."
   "The family living in this house was a four-member family who had two daughters, one seven years old and one infant. Anyway, on the night of the accident, one of their relatives came to visit them and stayed here for the night. That night, when the clock passed midnight and everyone was asleep, the house caught fire. All the family members and guests came out. The mother realized that the baby was still in the house, so she went back in and her husband followed her. At that moment, part of the house collapsed and they were trapped under the rubble."
   Anna said softly, "What a tragedy! Mom, dad."
They both walked back in silence, when Anna's gaze fell on Rebecca's face and realized that she was lost in thought. She broke the silence and said, "Was that all the story?"
   "I haven't told you something important yet."
   "What?"
   "Don't be too upset about this house and its story. This house is just part of your past."
   "What do you mean?"
   "They weren't your real parents."
   Anna stopped in front of Rebecca and said, "Should I believe you?"
   "It's up to you to believe it or not."
At ten o'clock in the morning Alaska time, when they were standing in front of the hotel door, they saw Robert in the lobby. They went in and sat next to him on the burgundy sofas in that magnificent hall. He looked frustrated and angry.
   Robert immediately said, "Anna, are you okay? I was worried about you. Why did you change your hotel without telling me? You don't answer your phone either. It took me a long time to find you."
   Anna said, "Robert, what are you doing here?" Then she said, "I'm glad to see you."
   Robert said, "Anna, I have to talk to you."
   Rebecca laughed and said, "How soon did you get yourself here?" And she said to Anna, "I'll leave you alone." Then she left them.
   "You shouldn't believe Rebecca's words."
   "So you know that I figured everything out."
   "That's why we have to talk."
   Anna changed the subject and said, "I was so happy to see you. It seemed like I really wanted you to be here."