"The little girl still hasn't told us her name. Should we be concerned?" The woman's voice trembled slightly as she spoke to her husband, her brow furrowed with worry. "She mentioned that she would stay here and be part of our little family with our son."
The man paused mid-step, his expression serious as he closed the door behind him with a soft click. "She doesn't know the historical significance of her village, and it would be wrong to divulge that information," he replied, his tone heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Mella, needing to use the bathroom, caught a glimpse of their conversation and instinctively pressed against the wall beside the door. In her heart, she didn't believe they were bad people, yet the thought of finding a new family to replace her own parents felt unbearable. As the door shut, a shiver ran down her spine, and she felt as if time had frozen; she expected any moment to be caught, but no one emerged from the room.
Turning her head, she noticed Rufian, the little dog, and the cheerful boy who had just bounded into the hallway. Rufian barked excitedly, his tail wagging furiously. Mella strained to erase her worried expression and forced a smile, attempting to mask her emotions. "Oh, hey! I just had to use the bathroom," she said, nervously rubbing the side of her head.
"Come on, big sis! Let's play hide and seek!" the little boy exclaimed, pulling her hand with innocent enthusiasm as he led her down the stairs.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mella stole another glance at the door she had just escaped. While she enjoyed the boy's lively spirit, the notion of him calling her 'sister' churned her stomach. No one in the world could replace her little brother, and she couldn't help but envision his smiling face as she pushed the thoughts aside to maintain a facade of normalcy.
As laughter filled the air and bubbles floated around them while they splashed in the bucket together, Mella tried to lose herself in the moment. But as twilight descended, a feeling of heaviness settled over her. Pretending to be asleep, she gently crept toward the door after sensing that the adults were finally slumbering.
Okay, it looks like the close is clear. Yosh!
The door stood slightly ajar, inviting her curiosity. She slipped inside the dimly lit room and approached the desk, her eyes widening as she surveyed the foreign language sprawled across the pages, filled with unfamiliar symbols and drawings. One particular image struck her—a depiction of her village, surrounded by cryptic symbols she didn't understand. Resting atop the desk was a book that she hoped would serve as a translator, but her heart sank as the letters morphed into symbols even more puzzling. Pictures accompanied the text, offering scant clarity amidst her confusion.
What does it mean?
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps creaked in the hallway, sending a jolt of fear through her. Panic rose within her as she scanned the room for somewhere to hide, but there was nowhere to go except towards the only opening—the window.
Rufian barked, breaking the silence.
"Oh, you're up making all that noise. Get back to bed, Bone," the woman's voice carried down the hall, laced with fatigue as she moved back toward her room, rubbing her temples in exhaustion.
Mella peeked out, shooting a reassuring thumbs-up to Rufian, and quietly tiptoed back to her room. She hurriedly slid the papers into the book and tucked it beneath her shirt, heart pounding as she crept back to bed, carefully concealing the book under her pillow.
"Is it morning yet, sis?" the little boy mumbled, rubbing his sleepy eyes as she settled beside him.
Mella, still catching her breath, replied softly, "Not yet, I almost had an accident. Go back to sleep, okay?" She patted his back gently, watching as his eyelids fluttered and finally closed, surrendering to the embrace of slumber.
What should I do?
Mella turned carefully to her side on the bed, her heart swelling as she caught sight of Rufian, her loyal companion, sleeping peacefully on the floor. His ears drooped slightly, a sign of trust in his slumber. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as memories of their simpler days flooded her mind. She recalled how her parents had gifted her Rufian when he was just a small, wriggling pup, and she was barely two years old. From that moment on, he had been her steadfast shadow, accompanying her through every milestone of her childhood.
Rufy.....We had so many great memories together! Just promise me that you will always be a good boy and if you forget about me, don't stop loving your new family.
She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to stifle the tears that threatened to spill over. The thought of leaving Rufian behind in this house with a new family filled her with dread. She feared for his well-being, worried that he might be hurt if he continued to follow her on her uncertain journey. With a heavy heart, she acknowledged the unknowns she faced but felt a compelling determination to uncover the answers surrounding her villagers' mysterious disappearance. Clutching the old book and the tattered gray papers, she clung to the hope that she might find someone who could translate their cryptic contents for her, a beacon of kindness amid the confusion.
Everything outside her village felt foreign and intimidating; the world beyond her home was vast and filled with untold dangers. Just as panic began to settle in, Rufian's ears perked up, sensing her distress. In an instant, he leapt onto the bed, snuggling himself between Mella and a young boy resting nearby. Oblivious to her turmoil, he whined softly, instinctively wanting to comfort her, to ease the sadness etched across her features. As she tenderly stroked his soft, warm fur, her sorrow began to dissipate, and she found solace in caring for him as he slowly drifted back to sleep, his gentle breathing helping to calm her racing heart.
Goodnight, Rufy.....I love you