The freezing wind brought shivers down her spine as it touched her bare skin. She’s tired, aching, and freezing.
“Is this the end of me?”
She held her purple torn jacket and pulled it around her, trying to lessen the cold. Hugging herself, Sunny’s tears started to fall to her cheeks. Even with the jacket on, the cold was unbearable, everything was unbearable!
Sunny had been running all her life. She wanted to survive, but at this point, she’s hopeless.
Being chased by unknown people, losing your job, ruining your reputation, and having no food to eat, how could you live?
Small drops of water reached Sunny’s body. The rain slowly poured heavier as time passed. Her wet body was shaking due to cold as the wind blew even harder. Branches of trees were falling as thunder roared into Sunny’s ears. She hated her current situation but what could she possibly do? She had nothing to protect herself.
She roamed her eyes, trying to search for a better place where she can stay for the night, but to her dismay, darkness was already surrounding the whole forest and she can’t see a thing. No lights, no villagers. She’s indeed hopeless.
“Dad, why did you leave me?” She cried to herself.
Under a tree, beside a large root of sticking out from the ground, there Sunny lay in the cold, wet, ground that was full of dirt and filthiness. She used to hate those when she was a kid but now? She had gotten used to it.
The rain poured continuously. Sunny felt her tummy growling, asking for food but she had nothing. All she could do was cry, and that’s what she did. Sunny’s sobs were full of pain, anger, and disappointment. She cried endlessly and waited for the storm to stop. Later on, she managed to sleep despite everything.
—
“Love, I’ll be going now.”
“See you later, my darling.” Luther Costalges bid his wife goodbye. They’ve been married for more than 30 years and have never had kids.
Pulling his cart, the old man walked away and went to the mossy forest to collect some wood that he can sell. The storm from last night made it easier for him to collect. He will just need to dry them thoroughly and he’s good to go.
Luther’s arms were almost full of wood. He can fit more into his arms but he’s aware of his age. He went back to his cart and dumped them there. He went back inside and was about to grab a stick when he noticed a long black thing lying on the ground. Was that... hair?
The thought of it scared old Luther out. He’s afraid that it might be a dead person that he found!
Terrified, Luther grabbed a stick and used it to wipe the leaves that were covering the body away.
‘A lady!’
Luther saw how the body was still trembling due to cold. He pulled the girl out from facing the root and checked her pulse. She’s alive but only barely.
Luther unbuttoned his sweater and covered the girl with it. He then carried her up and brought her to his house.
“Celia! Celia!” the old man called out.
Celia, her wife, immediately went out to their backyard to see her husband. She was confused when she saw him carrying a lady instead of sticks.
Who is she?
“Celia!” Says Luther. “I found this girl in the middle of the forest. She was lying there,” he explained.
After hearing her husband, Celia then went in and prepared a bed for the girl. She let her husband put the girl down as she looked through her closet to look for a dress that can fit the girl.
Celia prepared everything she needed and cleaned the girl up. She had a fever. Celia fed her drink medicine while the girl was still sleeping.
It has been days since Luther found the girl lying in the forest. And since then, the couple was taking care of her.
The couple was delighted to meet and take care of the girl, Sunny. They felt like they finally have a daughter who they can love and take care of.
It was a nice and cloudy morning when Celia was sitting next to Sunny’s bed. She was smiling and daydreaming about the times she will be spending with Sunny and her husband when she wakes up, just like a complete family.
“We would go to festivals after festivals, eat, go fishing... whatever her hearts desire.”
Celia was drowned by the thought but she instantly went back to herself when she heard the girl moan.
Celia was fast and checked Sunny. After checking on Sunny, Celia looked up at Sunny’s face and saw tears as they started to fall from her closed eyes.
Seeing the girl cry while sleeping hurt her. She didn’t know why Sunny was crying, but she’s sure the girl has been through a lot.
—
“My little sunshine, say you love daddy.”
“I love you, Daddy.” The little girl giggled as she kissed and hugged her daddy.
“You love me?”
“Yes, I do!” Her dad smiled and hugged her back. “But Daddy?”
“Yes, dear?” The man replied sweetly.
“Do you love me?”
“Yes, of course, sweetheart!”
“Then why did you leave?”
Her father’s smile slowly faded. A strong whirlwind appeared out of nowhere and slowly sucked her father away.
“Daddy! Daddy!” The little girl cried as she ran towards the whirlwind, trying to save her father.
“Daddy!” Sunny shouted through the neighborhood as she fully opened her eyes. She was breathing heavily. More tears are falling. Sunny cried in misery. She misses her father.
“Dear, are you okay?”
Sunny almost fell off the bed when she heard a voice of a woman. With her hands on her chest, she froze.
“W-where am I?!”
