Evening had already fallen. Aisha blinked at the sky.
"Already evening… that means I've been practicing magic all day," she muttered.
She collapsed onto the grass, exhausted, water dripping from her head to toe. She groaned. "If I go back like this… Mom and Dad are going to be so angry."
But then she remembered—this isn't the time to waste here. "I should change my clothes before Mom and Dad get back."
She stood up and began running toward the village, only to bump into someone on the road.
It was an old woman, walking slowly. She froze for a moment at the sight of Aisha, drenched.
"A-Aisha…" the woman began, but Aisha didn't wait for her to finish.
"Sorry, Granny! I'm in a hurry—later!" she shouted, sprinting away.
The old woman shook her head, muttering, "Kids these days… always in such a hurry for everything."
Aisha finally reached home, still dripping wet. She was about to open the door when a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned slowly—and saw Hina Aunty standing there, frowning.
"Oh no… I forgot about Hina Aunty," Aisha thought nervously.
"How many times have I told you not to go far from the village?" Hina said, voice sharp with worry. "It's dangerous! I was searching for you everywhere. If anything had happened, what would I say to your parents?"
Aisha lowered her head, quiet. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered, her small, innocent face making her look like a child.
Hina blinked, thinking, She really is adorable… Then she shook her head. "Not this time. Your baby face doesn't work on me," she said, her tone softening. "But why are you soaking wet? What have you been doing all this time?"
Aisha shrugged, a sheepish grin on her face. "I was playing by the river… and I fell in."
Hina's eyes widened. "Playing by the river? That's far too dangerous! Don't go there again, okay?"
Aisha nodded quickly. "Okay…"
Hina let out a sigh of relief. "Nothing bad happened, so I'm glad… but if you're not careful, something will happen. Now go and change your clothes before COPD—err, I mean your mother—sees you!"
Aisha clasped her hands together desperately. "Hina Aunty… please don't tell anyone about this… pleeeeease!"
Hina crossed her arms and smirked.
"Alright, for today I won't. But if you do it again… I will tell. Now go, and change your clothes."
Aisha nodded eagerly, bolting toward the house, splashing water with every step, her excitement barely contained.
A few minutes later, the main door opened, and a cheerful voice called out,
"I'm home, honey! Did you miss me? Your mommy is back!"
Aisha hurried out of her room, a bright smile on her face.
"Welcome home, Mommy!" she said.
Her mother scooped Aisha into a warm hug. "I'm so lucky to have a daughter like you," she said, eyes shining. "Seeing you makes me happy… it even makes the stress of working all day disappear."
Then her eyes fell to the floor. Water had pooled near Aisha's feet.
"Honey… why is the floor wet?" she asked.
Aisha's cheeks flushed. What an idiot I am… I forgot to wipe this up.
"It's nothing, Mommy," she said quickly. "I just washed my feet when I came back."
Her mother shook her head gently. "Be careful next time, okay? Someone could slip and get hurt."
Aisha nodded eagerly. "Okay, Mommy! I'll remember. I'll clean it right now."
Her mother smiled warmly. "I'll go change my clothes and start preparing dinner for you."
Aisha's face lit up. "Okay, Mommy!"
At dinner, Aisha and her mother sat on the floor, the simple meal laid out before them. Aisha poked at her food thoughtfully before looking up.
"Mommy… what is the outside world like?" she asked.
Her mother froze for a moment, surprise flickering across her face. "Suddenly… why do you ask that?"
"I want to go… to see the places outside," Aisha said softly.
Her mother paused, thinking carefully. "Honey… I don't know much about the outside world, but I've heard there are big cities, beautiful towns… and amazing places to see."
Aisha's eyes lit up. "Really? Then why can't we go, Mommy?"
Her mother sighed gently. "You're still a child, dear… and it's dangerous to wander outside alone. Even if the world is beautiful, it doesn't always welcome us. People might… hurt us if we try to go there."
Aisha's smile faltered, her small face clouded with sadness.
Her mother reached over and held her hand. "Don't be sad, honey. One day… we'll get ID cards. Then, you, me, and your father—we can go wherever we want. I promise."
Aisha's eyes brightened slightly. "Really, Mommy?"
"Really," her mother said with a soft smile. "Our lord is kind. He promised he would make the cards for us. And remember, honey… even if you see a beautiful place for a moment, it can make you happy—but the true beautiful place is always your home. Because Mommy and Daddy will always be here for you."
Aisha's lips curled into a small, happy smile.
"Now," her mother said, gesturing to the food, "eat before it gets cold."
A few minutes later, Aisha lay quietly in bed. Her mother sat beside her on a small chair, watching over her.
Aisha turned her head and looked at her mother's face. For a moment, her heart tightened. She looks the same…
Memories from her past life surfaced—another mother, sitting beside her bed just like this, helping her fall asleep.
Her eyes filled with tears before she could stop them.
Her mother noticed immediately. "What's wrong, honey?" she asked softly. "Why are you crying?"
Aisha quickly wiped her eyes. "It's nothing, Mommy… nothing happened."
Her mother smiled gently. "Are you missing your Daddy?"
She reached out and placed her hand on Aisha's head, stroking her hair. "Don't worry. He went to the forest for work. He's strong—he'll be just fine."
Aisha nodded. "I know. My Daddy is really strong."
Her mother chuckled softly. "That's right. Now… it's time to sleep, okay?"
A few minutes later, Aisha's breathing grew slow and steady as she drifted into sleep.
Her mother stood quietly, careful not to wake her. She gently pulled the blanket over Aisha's small body, then glanced at her one last time.
With a soft smile, she stepped out of the room, closing the door silently behind her.