Raya

Rᴇᴍᴀʀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ, ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ. Wʜᴇɴ I sᴀᴡ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴜsɪɴ Rᴀʏᴀ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ— ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏʀᴅs, I ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇ ʜᴇʀ.

Iᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ʜᴀʀsʜ ɪɴᴊᴜsᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴜᴅɢᴇ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇɴᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴘʟᴇɴᴅᴏʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ sʜᴇᴅ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ.

Rᴀʏᴀ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ɪɴ. Fᴏʀ ᴀs ʜᴀᴜɢʜᴛʏ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs, ᴜɴsᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜs ʟᴇᴀᴋᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs ᴏғ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ. Gʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɢᴏɴʏ, sʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪғᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴅᴜᴇ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ I sʜᴀʟʟ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ— ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ I ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴋᴏɴ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴅᴜᴏᴜs ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ.

I ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʜᴏᴡ ᴀʟʟ ɢᴏᴏᴅ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs sᴛᴀʀᴛ: Oɴᴄᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ Rᴀʏᴀ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴀɢᴇʀ ɢɪʀʟs ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴢᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ʙᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ғɪsᴛ, ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs. Iɴsᴇᴘᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ, ɢʀᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ— ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪᴛ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴇ.

Iᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ I ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴍʏ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴍʏ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀʙɪᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ. I ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ᴅɪᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴀʀᴍ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɢᴏᴏᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ ɴᴏᴛ, ᴅɪᴅ ɪᴛ?

Wʜᴇɴ ᴡᴀs ɪᴛ, I ᴡᴀs ᴛᴇɴ ᴏʀ ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ? I ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ.

"big sis," ᴄᴀᴍᴇ sʜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, ғʀᴏʟɪᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ, "what are you doing?"

I ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏғ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ I ʟᴏɴɢ ғᴏʀɢᴏᴛ.

Lɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴀɴᴅ ᴏғ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs, Rᴀʏᴀ ᴘᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ sɪɢʜᴛ. Tʜᴇ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴡᴀs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴅᴏʟʟ. Sʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍɪɴᴏᴜs ʜᴀɪʀ, ʟᴏɴɢ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀᴀᴘ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ. Hᴇʀ ʙʟᴜᴇ-ᴡᴀsʜᴇᴅ ᴇʏᴇs ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴏsʏ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀғʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴀ ʀᴏsᴇ. Hᴇʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ, ᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs, ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴɢᴇʟɪᴄ ɢʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴀ ʜᴇʀᴇᴛɪᴄ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ. I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ sǫᴜɪɴᴛ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs.

"Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴍᴇ. Aɴᴅ I ᴀᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ."

"But you are taller than me," sʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴜᴛᴇᴅ, "and you are just like a sister to me."

Iɴᴅᴇᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ I ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʟʟᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴜs. Yᴇᴛ, I ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴜᴄʜ sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ. Oɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴇᴇs ᴍᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙʟᴇssᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ʀᴀᴘɪᴅʟʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴇ.

"Dᴏɴ'ᴛ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ." I ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʀᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ. "Aɴɴᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ sᴀᴅ ɪғ sʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴀʟᴋ."

Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ Rᴀʏᴀ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ. "Anne doesn't have time for me. She is always in her room." Sʜᴇ ᴛɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛɪɴʏ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍɪɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴᴄᴀsᴛ. "They told me I shouldn't bother her because she is healing." Sʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏ sᴍɪʟᴇ.

"Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ?"

"Anne's maid said if I smile it would make me happy." Sʜᴇ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ɢʀɪɴ, "and I asked you first. You want to play with dolls?"

"Oɴʟʏ ɪғ I ᴄᴀɴ sᴍɪᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀғᴛᴇʀᴡᴀʀᴅs."

Tʜᴀᴛ ɢɪʀʟ, ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ɪɴ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ, sᴛᴏᴍᴘᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴇɢs ʟᴏᴠɪɴɢʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏʟᴅ, "no, not again! I don't have that many anymore." Iғ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ, I ғᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ sʜᴇ'ᴅ sᴛᴜᴍʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀʟʟ.

"Tʜᴇɴ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴘᴇsᴋʏ ᴘᴜᴘᴘᴇᴛs."

"But," sʜᴇ ʜᴇsɪᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ, "no, let's play then." Sʜᴇ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

I sᴛᴀsʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, "ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ," I ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪᴏɴ.

"If we don't play, I can't come to you. I don't want to not come to you," Rᴀʏᴀ ᴄᴏɴғᴇssᴇᴅ.

"O Rᴀʏᴀ," I ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴀʀᴍs, ᴀs sʜᴇ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ᴅᴇᴍᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ, "Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ, I ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ sᴛᴏᴘ ʏᴏᴜ. Aɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ɴᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. I ᴀᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏғғᴇʀ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ." Tʜᴀᴛ ғʀɪsᴋʏ ɢɪʀʟ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴡɪsʜᴇs ʟᴀʏ.

Aᴛ ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴs sʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴜᴅᴅʟᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʙᴏsᴏᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sʜᴇ ᴀᴡᴏᴋᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴍʙᴀʀʀᴀssᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʙᴀsʜᴇᴅ ʙʟᴜsʜ.

I ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅ.

"Truthfully speaking, I came for a reason," sʜᴇ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ғᴏɴᴅʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴍᴜsᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ʙʏ ᴛᴡɪʀʟɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɪʀ.

"Dᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ."

"It's a secret," sʜᴇ ᴘᴜғғᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴘs, "I can't tell you yet. I want to give you something, but I feared if I brought it out, I might put a crease on it."

"Wʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɪᴛ," I sʜᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ. Aʜ! Wʜᴀᴛ ɪɴɴᴄᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ. Wʜᴇʀᴇ ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅɪsʜ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴅʏɪɴɢ ʏᴇᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ I sᴛɪʟʟ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴇᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ, "ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ."

Aɴᴅ sʜᴇ, ᴜɴsᴜʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ sʜᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ, ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs, "no, I can't." Sʜᴇ ɢɪɢɢʟᴇᴅ. "I want to see your face brighten up when I give you the surprise. Not a single dent can be on it before that happened."

Aɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ, ʀɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴜs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ, ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴀᴍs," Miss Raya, your father called for supper." Iᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴍᴀɪᴅ ᴏғ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴄᴇ I ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴀʟʟ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ.

Tʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴛᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ, ʏᴇᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. "okay." Sʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ғᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ, "I have to leave now."

"Yᴇs, ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs sᴏ."

"but will you wait for me to come back?"

"Oғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ."

"Don't leave me alone, promise?"

"Iᴛ ɪs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴏ I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ."

Iɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀɴᴏᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀs ᴅᴀʏ, sʜᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇsᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ ʏᴇᴛ, ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪᴅ. I ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏo ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ— Oᴜʀ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴏɴʟʏ ғᴀɪɴᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ғᴏ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ.

As I ʟᴇғᴛ I ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴘᴀsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪɴɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴏᴍ. Bʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ, sᴏ ᴀɴʏ ᴄʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ, ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴏʀ ɢʜᴏsᴛ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴇᴛᴛʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴅᴄʜᴀᴍʙᴇʀs. Hᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ sᴏ, ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴛᴜᴘᴘᴇʀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴄʀᴀsʜɪɴɢ, ʀᴇ-ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ. I ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏɪsᴇ.

Tʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴ ᴀɴᴛɪǫᴜᴇ. Tʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʙʟɪsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴏʟᴅ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴏʀs ᴡᴇʟʟ-ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀᴅᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs.

"I leave your alone for one second, and you waste your time with this,," ᴀ ʟᴏᴜᴅ, ᴄʀᴀᴄᴋʟɪɴɢ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴɢ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴜɢ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ.

I ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠɪɴɢ, ᴀʟʙᴇɪᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴀᴜᴛɪᴏᴜsʟʏ. Aɴᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇ, I sᴀᴡ Rᴀʏᴀ, ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜʟʏ ᴘᴀʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏʙʙɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ᴏғ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ; ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sʜᴇ ʙᴇᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ. Sʜᴇ ᴘᴜᴢᴢʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʀᴀᴘs ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, sᴛɪʟʟ, sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏᴇᴅ.

Hᴇʀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇʀ, sᴛᴇʀɴ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ-ʙʀᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴠᴇɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴛʀᴇᴇ. Bᴇsɪᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ, ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴏʀ, ᴀ sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴍɪxᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ I ᴘʀᴇsᴜᴍᴇᴅ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ. Tʜᴇ ʀᴇᴅᴅɪsʜ ᴍᴇᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴀᴛᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ, ᴀs ɪғ ʙᴏʀɴᴇ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʀᴀᴛ. Tʜᴇ ʙᴜʙʙʟʏ, ᴍᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴠᴇɢᴇᴛᴀʙʟᴇs ʙᴀɴᴅɪᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴅʀᴇᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴜsᴛ, sᴄʀᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴛᴏᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ғʟᴏᴏʀ, ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜᴍʙʟᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴡɪsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ.

"You useless girl, look at what you made me do!" sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ ʜᴇ, "eat the food."

Rᴀʏᴀ ɢᴀsᴘᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴀʀᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇsɪᴛᴀᴛᴇ.

Cᴀᴜᴛɪᴏᴜsʟʏ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴡᴏ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs, sʜᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴜғғᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ. Wɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴡɪɴɢ, sʜᴇ sᴡᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴅᴇ ᴀs sʜᴇ ɢᴀɢɢᴇᴅ. Hᴇʀ ʙᴇʟʟʏ ʙᴇʟᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴋɴᴏᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ sᴇᴀʀᴄʜᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀɪʀ.

"Do not waste it," ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏʟᴅʟʏ. Hᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ sʜᴇʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ, "or there will be none for tomorrow."

Sʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛʟʏ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘᴜᴋɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ sɪʟʟʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀssᴏᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴏᴡ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏʟᴅ ʜᴇʀ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴇ. I ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴜɴғᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ.

"Sɪʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ɪs ᴄᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ," I ɪᴍɪᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴍᴏsᴛ ɢʀᴏᴡɴ-ᴜᴘ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ.

Hᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ, Rᴀʏᴀs ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇᴀʀs, "do not disappoint me again," ᴡᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ʜᴇ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜɪs ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ. Oɴ ʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ ᴏᴜᴛ, ʜᴇ sᴜɴᴋ ʜɪs ғᴇᴇᴛ ᴏɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs Rᴀʏᴀs ᴍᴇᴀʟ.

Tʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ, ɪɴ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, sᴀᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴏʀ ʜᴜɢɢɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴋɴᴇᴇs sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴊᴏʏʟᴇssʟʏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ. Hᴇʀ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇs ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴜᴇ-ɪsʜ ɴɪɢʜᴛ.

Sʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ, ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ɢᴏʙʙʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ, ɴᴏ ᴛᴇᴀʀs ғᴀʟʟɪɴɢ, ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs ғᴜʟʟ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ʟɪғᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪsᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ.

I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴏ I ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʜᴇʀ, "ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ?" I ʏᴇʟʟᴇᴅ.

Sʜᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀᴢᴇ, ᴀs ɪғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴡᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴠᴀɴɪsʜ. Hᴇʀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛᴇᴀʀs ᴡᴇʟʟᴇᴅ, "big sis," ᴄʀɪᴇᴅ sʜᴇ.

"Sᴛᴏᴘ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғɪʟᴛʜ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ ғᴀʟʟ ɪʟʟ," I ғʀᴀɴᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʟᴇᴀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴏғғ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴏғ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴᴋɪɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɢ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴅᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ I ᴀssᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴋɪɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ.

Sʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ, ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ғᴀʟsᴇ ɢʀɪɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴀʀᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴛɪɴʏ ʜᴀɴᴅs, "I am sorry, the paper got ripped."

"Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ?" I sʜᴏᴜᴛᴇᴅ, ᴏᴄᴄᴜᴘɪᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀɪɴsɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛɪᴇᴅ sᴛᴀɪɴ, "ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇ sᴏ ᴅᴜᴍʙ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ?"

"I tried repairing the paper," sʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴍʙʟᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ, "but it didn't work."

"Wʜᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜsᴇʟᴇss ᴛʜɪɴɢ!" I ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀᴅʟʏ.

Sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴋɴᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs, ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ. Iɴ ᴀ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ғᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛɪɴɢ, ᴄʀᴜᴅᴇʟʏ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ, ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴡᴏ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ-ʜᴀɪʀᴇᴅ, ʙʟᴜᴇ-ᴇʏᴇᴅ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ, ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ʀᴀᴍᴘᴀɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀss, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇʟʟᴏᴡ sᴜɴ sʜɪɴɪɴɢ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. Tʜᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴏʟɪɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss ᴀᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏʀɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʀᴀᴠᴀɢɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɴǫᴜɪʟɪᴛʏ.

Sʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, "Big sis, look I drew a picture of us, ah, it is ripped apart," sʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴘᴇɴᴄɪʟ, "but it is okay, I can draw it again," ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ sᴄʀɪʙʙʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ᴜs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ sᴍɪʟᴇ, "ʟᴏᴏᴋ, ʟᴏᴏᴋ." Sʜᴇ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ, ". . . look." I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴇᴇ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ, ғᴏʀ sʜᴇ ᴅᴜɢ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀ sɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅʀᴏᴘ ᴏғ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ ʙʟᴜʀʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ, "look."

I ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏsᴏᴍ. Sʜᴇ ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴍs ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛɪɢʜᴛʟʏ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ sǫᴜᴇᴇᴢɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ I ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴍɪɴᴅ— I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏ ᴍɪɴᴅ. "Iᴛ ɪs ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ, I ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜᴇʀ."

Sʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴍʙʟᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴛɪɢʜᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ, "please, don't let me go," sʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ǫᴜɪᴠᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, "I don't think I can smile anymore. I am so sorry I wanted you to feel happiness, but I lost my own."

I ʀᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴅɪғғᴜsɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀɪɴ, I ᴇᴠᴇɴ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ, "Nᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ, I ᴄᴀɴ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴘᴇɴᴅᴀɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʀʀʏ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ, ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴅᴏɴᴇ Rᴀʏᴀ."

"I am scared," ᴛᴏʟᴅ sʜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, "scared of papa, but more scared of you leaving me. I really do need you more than you need me."

Mʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ ᴀs ɪғ ᴀ ʟᴜᴍᴘ ᴛʜʀᴏᴀᴛ. "I ᴀᴍ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴀᴍ I ɴᴏᴛ?" Wᴀs ᴀʟʟ I ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟᴍᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. Sɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ, sʜᴇ ᴄʀɪᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴀʀᴍs ғᴏʀ ʟᴏɴɢ.

Tʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ I ʜᴀᴅ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ I ᴡᴀs ʙᴇᴛʀᴏᴛʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ. O, Rᴀʏᴀ, ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ. Wʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴜs? Nᴏ, I ᴋɴᴏᴡ. Fᴀᴛᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀᴛʜ ᴡᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇsᴛ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇs, ᴅɪᴅ ɪᴛ ɴᴏᴛ?

I ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ I ᴡᴀs ᴀ ɢʜᴏsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ I ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ. Wɪᴛʜ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ, I ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏɴᴇʟʏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ, ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴛʀᴏᴋᴇ ɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ.

Sʜᴇ sʜɪᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ, "do not come to regret this."

-

"Are you satisfied," I asked the floating Agnes.

"Wɪᴛʜ ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ ᴜᴘsɪᴅᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ?"

"Don't be like that I even brought your favorite girl with you." I pointed at Raya, who was surprisingly heavy. Then again, anything would be heavy in this frail body.

"Sʜᴇ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴍʏ ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ." Agnes answered grumpily.

"So there was no friction between you?"

"Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ," she sighed, "ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ, ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ʜᴀs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ."

"Oh yes," I stared at Raya, "definitely."

"Wᴇʟʟ sᴏ ɪᴛ sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ. I ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢɪʀʟ ᴄᴀɴ ғɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ."

"then what do you think about the performance I gave?"

"Wʜᴀᴛ I ᴛʜɪɴᴋ?" she paused. "Wᴇʟʟ, ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴀᴅ."