Page XXXIX - The Devil's Contract [IV]

A tight grasp on her arm and another arm wrapped around her as she was dragged away from that ledge.

Her breathing was ragged. And everything she thought about went blank. She was... reassured. instead of angry to not being able to take the jump.

She looked up and Theodore was there shouting at her.

And for the first time after her father's death, she smiled. She smiled and thought to herself. "A second chance. No... a fourth chance. This life I've been saved over and over again... What will I use this for..? What can I do with the life I've been given if all in the end I don't have anyone to share this life with. I don't want this life. And I feel like I don't deserve it as how much I have tried to discard it."

Anastasia looked at Theodore's eyes as he rambled on. His eyes were different. She noticed it.

That helplessness in his eyes. Pain. And worry.

Those three things she noticed, she has seen it before. From his father.

Theodore finally left and tears welled up from her eyes. She couldn't hold it all back anymore. She felt a pain that she could only feel and hide by herself.

Gratitude was all she could say. Thank you to her father, to that police officer, to the orphanage and a thank you to Theodore for saving her life. "If I can't use this life for mine... then I'll use it for someone. I don't exactly know how I could be living my life. But I want someone to tell me that. As my father didn't. But that guy... He was different. But the same as my father's somehow. I won't use this life. But I'm sure he can use it."

~~***~~

Back to the present, Anastasia was looking back on all the memories that has happened all her life. She was showing an emotion she never let anyone saw other than her father.

She was smiling.

"Anastasia!" A woman called out to her in the distance. "Our theater play's practice will start in 10 minutes! Suit up!"

"I'll be there!" Anastasia stood up and zipped her clothes up. A frisky red dress, that of symbolizing of a princess. She held her crown and her staff as she slowly walked to her destination. "Time to practice for the school anniversary."