" You really take this project seriously," I say, to which she nods.
" And you also ought to take it very seriously too. I am entrusting you with my secrets and your work is to present it in the best way to the public. I want you to express what am going to to tell you in the most clear way possible such that people soon know the truth about me "
" I promise that your biography will be made perfectly, I will not fail you," I assure her fervently.
To my surprise, Elsa Miles informs me that am not going to actually write her biography but rather something different! For a moment I think she's kidding me, but she confirms it with a double nod, as if she were reading my thoughts at the moment.
" I thought you want me to write your life story," I inquire, making it sound more of a question than a mere statement.
" Of course, Carloy you are going to write the details of my life that I will give you. But don't you think if it were just writing a life story I would not have made it on my own? "
She continues," I want you to model it not to look so much of just a mere someone's biography, but rather a success story of a woman, an inspiration to many."
" Are you saying you life may be an inspiration," I ask innocently.
"I believe it can change someone who's hopeless at one point of life. One who wants to give up might see a flicker of light after learning about what I went through. Especially the women," Elsa says.
Am touched by her words. It appears that she experienced something terrible during a certain stage of her life. I wonder what her most trivial encounter in life was and how she managed to get through it. Many questions swirl in my head but I decide not to ask her at the moment.
" I need you to present whatever I will present to you in a way that brings out clearly what I want. I want my life story to create a motivational and inspirational impact on any person who feels like giving up because I am a living testimony. I have been there before and I believe anyone can make it," Elsa says.
" I promise to do my best," I tell her and she smiles.
Elsa tells me that she wants the book to be released after she dies and my mouth drops. This is too much, why does she want it that way? Elsa Miles shocks me by telling me that she's already having one of her feet in the grave. She tells me she's about to die and so I should not get worried about the release. I look at her unbelievingly as she talks about her death with so much easy.
" Is that why you insisted on me taking all the money?" I say realizing the depth of the situation.
" Yes," she replies curtly.
" And what makes you think you're about to die?" I ask vexedly and I sense her reaction to the tone I use. " Is it about your recent revelation about your health?"
" That is not the reason, but am not surprised that you think of that. Everyone will might think about it that way , that's why I want it to be released after I die. But the leukemia has no big deal about my death."
" You want people to feel hopeful but you sound too hopeless, Elsa," I say to her.
Elsa laughs at me sardonically and I feel embarrassed at myself. Did I just say something funny? She tells me that it has been long since she knew about her cancer but there is a reason she just revealed about it of recently.
" Just like there is a reason why it is now that you decide to tell the public the real truth about your life," I supplement, silently thinking that this woman has reason for whatever she does.
" You really pick up very fast," she praises me adding on," you know even the extremely good movie and novel always comes to an end."
She picks her phone and her voice turns all commanding. I can tell from what she tells the other person on the line, actually her personal assistant that she has cancelled as schedule she had. I wonder easily she cancels meetings. She really knows how to control everything in her life.
I ask her how she wants her story to be presented. She wants to answer the most ambiguous questions that people have always had about her. I already have such questions ready and she tells me to mention them. I open my notebook.
" And so we start unleashing the mysterious Elsa Miles to the public," I say excitedly, removing my recorder from the bag.
" As I told you, we are beginning on Monday; nothing we are talking now is necessary," she tells me and I return the recorder to it's archive.
I thought she was going to begin answering the questions the public has for her. She tells me she wants to know the questions in order to know how to shape the story and that my role is to make sure everything comes out perfectly. I realize this is not going to be a simple task. Regardless, I tell her the questions. They are those that everyone has about her and in a sense, I am certain they summarize the major details of her life.
" Why did Elsa Miles break up with her family? Is it true that Elsa Miles obtained her massive wealth from an unknown man from whom she got the name Miles? How did Elsa Miles obtain the much wealth so quickly and how has she managed to maintain it for years?
I continue asking more questions and she listens attentively.
" As expected,". Elsa says," go on . I know there is much more that the public would want to know."
" Your love life. Why did you divorce so quickly and why haven't you got into marriage again? You have helped many charity organizations and have been a woman activist though you did all directly. Why is it so and what inspires you in all your activities? And finally, why have you always kept yourself unknown?"
Elsa tells me me that the questions I have given to her are not different from what she expected. In any case, she has always known what the public wants to know about her. She reminds me that my job is to listen to what she will say and ask questions to help her bring out her story very well. I wonder how many times she has to say it over again. I promise to be at her house on Monday., to write and listen to what she will have to say.
An hour later as I insert the key to my house into the lock, it downs on me that I now sleep inside alone. I look at the key critically before I turn it. An empty house with no one inside welcomes me . It has been weeks but I still find it hard to accept the reality that Rose left me. I have tried to forget all about her but it is still difficult for me to get her out of my thoughts. Moving on is not as easy as most councillors say it is.
I pick the other key for the house from under the vase on the counter. This used to be her copy and as she left on that fateful day she left behind the key. I dial her number but as the norm, she does not pick. I restrain myself from throwing my phone away. I have already crushed two mobile phones ever since Rose left me and I swore not to do it again. I realized it was foolish and didn't help.
As hard as it is, I decide not to think about Rose for the night. Of course I have Miss Miles to think about. After tomorrow, I will start writing about her story. This is something I never dreamt of and to be honest, am grateful to Teddy. I am disrupted from my riveries by the ringtone of my phone. It is Teddy and with that, I already know where this conversation is going to lead to. In fact she has called later than expected of her.
"I am very good, how was your day, Teddy?" I fervently reply to Teddy's greeting.
As expected, she asks me about my day with Elsa Miles and am left with no option but to tell her about my day. You know Teddy can be very persuasive. Teddy is quite inquisitive and manages to make me speak but I don't forget to keep some details unrevealed as I promised Elsa.
She's shocked when I tell her that Elsa does not want me to write a biography but rather an inspirational success story from her life. I already know that this is not going to be an easy task but the way Teddy stresses it scares me the more.