The path in front of me was bright and full of laughter. The children happily led me with both of my hands that were being pulled excitedly towards the place that was supposed to be a tavern before. The place that was full of drunkards and the smell of booze were completely changed. It was still the same building, but the feelings were different—full of warm feelings and happiness. The front was perfectly decorated with beautiful sunflowers that stood tall among other gloomy shops.
"Come inside," Felicity said as she pulled me inside. I was amazed at how this place looks.
I followed them inside in awe. The inside was completely different than before. The memories of the old tavern could be completely forgotten. The yellow curtains were hung perfectly to complement the sunflower. It makes the room look bright and full of joy. The stationery was placed neatly on the table. The self-defense training equipment was placed neatly in the corner of the room. Everything looks different. I could feel my heart crying with joy and gladness.
They showed me every nook and cranny without leaving anything behind. They were so excited with all they had.
"We want to thank you, Miss Anna. We never would have imagined we would experience all of this. We are poor, and all these things that we have now still feel like a dream. Thank you, Miss Anna," Felicity said on behalf of all the children there. Some were smiling from ear to ear, and some started teary.
Like something caught in my throat, I felt like crying. I feel so relieved that they were well taken care of.
There were more children than before. I haven't met some of them, but they stood there obediently while smiling at me. Their bodies look poorly nourished and full of scars. It felt painful just looking at them. However, I am glad that we met, because I promise to take care of each and every single one of them.
"Thank you everyone for accepting me," I said with teary eyes and a smile on my lips. I kneel down and lift my arms up to give a big hug to everyone. They felt more like a family than my real family. I am glad I met all of them.
I chatted with them while eating the chocolate muffin that I bake. Now that there's a kitchen here, I don't have to bring everything from home. I can cook here while teaching them as well. I am so happy beyond words.
"Okay everyone, break time is over," I said while I started distributing a piece of paper to everyone.
"Today, let's do something fun. Let's draw something that we love. So every time we look at it, it will bring us a smile," I continued.
Everyone was happy with colouring pencils in their hands, creatively decorating the piece of empty paper into a priceless possession.
While they were drawing, I went to Prince Lex to have a talk with him.
"Lex, can I have a word?" I said to Prince Lex, who was busy trying to help one of the children.
He stood up silently and followed outside. Sir Calisto's eyes were glued on me while I was talking to Prince Lex, while Prince Leon was busy playing with the children.
"Lex, thank you for doing this for the children," I said.
"But I don't like it when you say that I did it when everything was clearly yours," I continued.
"It's all your hard work. I am forever grateful for everything you did for them," I said.
"I know I shouldn't think much about it, but I felt that it was not right. You might see me as a weak woman that you need to protect and care for, and I can't deny it. I am weak, but I can fight my own battle. Struggling is what makes me grow. I may have promised myself to open a school for them, but now you open it using my name. I am happy, but I don't appreciate it. It's yours; you work hard and care for these children. Don't give others the benefits that you, yourself, planted. Not even me," I said.
He just stood there, silently listening to what I was saying.
"You promise?" I said as I gave him a smile to assure him that I am not cross with him but just don't want him to be used by others.
"I promise," he said silently. His voice and his act were like separate people. He looked at me straight and confidently, but his voice was quiet and warm. It felt like a lover whispering to their beloved.
"Good," I said. I thought that since he didn't say anything, it was better for me to go back in. I didn't know what to talk about with him. He is kind but distant. He is warm but unfriendly.
"Deanna," he called as I turned my back.
"Your muffin tastes great. I like your cooking," he said.
"Thank you. I can cook other things for you if you want," I said happily.
He just smiled at me. It felt like it was the first time I saw him smile.
"Deanna, I forgot to tell you, but some of those children were brought back by my brother from the slave factory. We are still looking to find their parents. In the meantime, they will sleep on the second floor of this building," he said, seriously.
"Alright," I said.
"But even if they meet their parents, please check on them sometimes. I don't want them to be pushed back to the ground, because when you are in a pinch, you tend to think irrationally," I said.
He just listens to my words. It seemed like he could relate to what I was saying.
"Lex, are you alright? You seem different," I asked, as he seemed out of place today.
"I am fine," he said.
"If something bothers you and you don't know whom to share it with, just remember that I will always be here for you," I said.
"Come. Let's go back inside," I said and started walking towards the door.
Prince Lex just stood there, thinking to himself. He was more confused than before. He wanted to stay by my side always, and he doesn't like others getting close to me, not even Sir Calisto or his brother Prince Leon. Is it love or just obsession?
As I walked in without haste, Sir Calisto walked swiftly towards me.
"Deanna, where have you been?" he said.
"I am just having a chat with Lex. Why? Is there something wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing. I am just wondering where you were," he said.
"I am glad. Look, Calisto, everyone looks happy. I hope we can all be happy and healthy for many years to come," I said.
"Deanna, do you want to go to the spring ball with me?" He asked with great anticipation.
"Are you sure you want to go with me? There's many ladies dying to go with the dashing Lord Calisto," I said with a smile playfully.
"So you see me as a dashing man. Lady Deanna, will you go with me then?" He said as his face got closer to mine, with a sweet smile on his face. His words were full of confidence, but I could see his cheeks blushing.
"I would love to, Calisto," I said, as I smiled back and tried to remain calm. I could feel my heart beating, and my face turned red. I thought to myself, why did he suddenly come close to me like that? His pretty face, sweet smile, and cheeky voice—how could I not get butterflies in my stomach?
Then we walked back in together. The children were happily drawing and colouring. The day was as peaceful and enjoyable as it could get.
While we were enjoying our day, I saw a woman pass by. It was Felicity's mother. Hence, I walked to her to have a small talk.
"Excuse me, you are Felicity's mother, right?" I asked.
"Yes, I am. Thank you for everything you've done for us," she said.
"When the tavern closed, I was devastated. I am worried about how I can feed my poor child. Thank you for letting me work here. I am forever grateful," she continued.
"No, don't be. We did all this for the children, for the future generation. They deserve it," I said to her as she got teary.
Life couldn't get any easier for the poor people in this town, especially for women. Wherever they went, employers preferred men who seemed stronger, more capable, and less emotional. Whatever life they led, women would be getting second place in everything. That's how life is in this place. Hence, Felicity's mother, who just lost her job, felt devastated to the point of selling her soul.
"Will you help me take care of these children?" I asked her.
"Yes, Miss Anna. Yes, I will," she said with a smile and a bead of tears at the corner of her eyes.
After I finished talking with Felicity's mother, the children were excited to show me their drawings. Among the children, Prince Leon was looking at me with a smile on his face.
"Deanna, come and look here," Prince Leon said as he saw me looking at him.
I walked towards him and sat down in front of him, who was eagerly waiting for me to arrive.
"Look," he said as he showed me a picture of a lady sitting under a tree on top of a hill.
"It's beautiful, right? It's the first time I saw you," he said.
"You might have confused me with someone else. How could I look this nice?" I said with a laugh.
"I am not," he said, somewhat dissatisfied.
However, I find him funny and comfortable to be around with. It is fun to tease him. He was just like a child. But he might be more than that, as he was the one who saved these poor children from the slave factory.
"Okay, I believe you," I said.
"Leon, thank you," I said to him with an appreciated smile.
If I was born into a poor family, would my life be worse? If I were born into a royal family, would my life be better? Or if I am just from a normal middle-class family, is it much more loving? Which life would make my life better? Saying living better, what was that actually meant? More money to spend, more time to spend leisurely, or more people to love and care for us? How do we define something as better? Sometimes, I wonder what people meant when they said, 'it is lucky to be you'. How did they know about my life? Did they know all about my struggle? How sometimes I get tired of life and just want to hide? How did they know everything when they only saw the surface of it?
However, for these unfortunate people, how can they choose when that's all they've got? They wanted money just to fill their empty stomachs, or they needed time just to earn that money. Love is all that carries them forward to fight for their family. A decision that has to be made by a poor family is bigger than we could imagine. What to eat today could mean different things, either choosing what to eat or how to eat when you got nothing. Money doesn't grow on trees, and life doesn't come easy. Whatever life we led, there must have been something that wore us down. Don't be discouraged, because life is about living. Don't just stand still; walk forward.