Helpless

Mila was thinking about Ella. The music from her home, which makes her mother furious. She was six when she first spoke with Ella. A young Mila, when she is bored, just sits at their attic looking through the neighbor’s windows. Ella’s was a pleasant family. Her mother always kissed her. She was fed and dressed by her mother.

Mila skipped meals most of the time as her mom was sick and was on bed always. There was nobody to feed her. No one asked her if she ate anything. Ella’s mom saw her eating an expired jam from the fridge. She was sitting in the attic, licking everything that remained in the packet. Ella’s mom called Mila to her home and fed her with her daughter. She told Ella to take care of for her and bring her home if she is hungry. Mila was a kid, and she never realized why they are so much kinder to her. When her mother learned about this, she stopped her from visiting their house and Ella came through the back door with the food. Ella was like a sister, always.

When Mila took leave from school when her mother is sick, Ella took the notes and did home works for her. They studied together. Then they grew old and Luke came into her life. Luke took her from Ella. Ella never complained, but Mila knew she was sad. And Luke never considered others when Mila is near him. Then Ella got Phil. They were perfect. And Mila was happy, and it continued like that till she left the place. Then what happened suddenly? Mila tried to message Ella. She just asked, “Are you fine?” but it didn’t reach her. She must have changed her number.

Mila packed everything. She wants nothing to be left behind. She is not coming back, ever. Her id’s, phone everything carefully packed. She took the money she had with her when she left the city. She waited till sunrise and Mila left the room with her backpack. Daisy was watering the plants and was shocked to find Mila.

“What are you doing?”

“I told you I am going back. Please understand, I don’t belong here”.

“If you belong somewhere in the world, it is here, only here.” Daisy raised her voice.

“Look, I don’t want the same argument again. I must go.” Mila started walking.

“But how? Peter won’t take you anywhere....”

“Not Peter. I am going by myself”.

Daisy sighed. “Mila, it is not as you think. I need time. I can tell you everything”.

“No. I don’t want to hear you”. Mila crossed the gate. Daisy called from behind.

“It is not possible. It is not like what you think.” Mila walked without listening to her.

Mila walked straight. The road the car went. She found the fields, meadows, houses, everything. She passed many houses she has known. Some villagers looked at her anxiously and asked her where she is going. It was the first time Mila wore the dresses she brought from the city and her backpack was catching attention. She felt like Mila again. She ignored them. Mila didn’t turn back. Her only aim was to find the board, which has Flovalwood written on it with white paint. Peter has reached their home within fifteen minutes from the board. Mila was walking fast, and she hoped she will reach there soon. The problem is, after that, the road with rocks on either side. It will be difficult to walk all the distance. It took them a day to cross the path. Mila walked past the houses and she saw more of them. The houses, fields, and path strangely looked similar. She crossed a rocky path and reached a grassland, just like the one she and Irvin went to feed Tom. To her surprise, she found Irvin there.

“Mila, where are you going?” He called her.

Mila walked faster. It is not the same grassland; she is sure. It lies in the village's north and she is heading towards the south. Mila again walked. She found Irvin’s house on the way. The narrow path towards her home. The ground where Lola and friends talked. The fields where Sabrina’s father worked. Again she crossed a rocky path and saw Irvin there. He asked her the same question again. Mila walked and walked. And for a third time, she crossed Irvin. Mila fainted before him.

*******************************************************

“How are you?” When she opened her eyes, Irvin was standing before her. His face looked tired and worried. Next to him, Daisy was sitting. Her eyes were teary.

“Where am I?”

“Don’t worry. You are in your room. I carried you here and look, Daisy is also here.” Irvin smiled.

“No, where am I? What is this place?” Mila stared at Irvin like he is an unfamiliar creature. Mila is getting afraid now. Afraid about everything and everyone in the village.

“Mila, don’t think about anything. You need rest. I will come back”. Irvin left with a sympathetic glance at her. Daisy stayed there for some more time. When Mila faked sleep, she left there.

The next few days Mila fought with herself. She abandoned food. Her windows remained closed. She never left the room. Mila took the phone and read Luke’s messages again and again. She cried most of the time. Irvin and Lola came to cheer her, but they couldn’t. Mila would not stay in Flovalwood. If she finds a way, she will run away from this place and she will never stay happy here. She is tied in here. Some invisible chains locked her.

One day Mila left her room. Grandma asked her where she is going, but she ignored her. She was in the same dress she wore when she tried to leave for the first time. Her hair was a mess and her face was swollen and her eyes were red because of deprivation of sleep and continuous crying. Villagers looked at her curiously. Finally, she reached the lonely house of Peter. He was working in the garden.

“Mila”. Peter looked at her for some time. His face was kind and his voice was soft. “I heard what happened to you. Come inside”.

He went inside and Mila followed him. She took his garden pickaxe with her, without getting noticed.

When she entered his dimly lit and small kitchen, he was making the tea. “I am sorry, but how many times I told you, you cannot leave this village. And there are certain things you can’t and shouldn’t do here”.

“I am not staying here forever. And you will take me to my place.” Mila said.

Peter laughed. “Mila, listen to me. If you go back, it is not like that. The city is no more your home and it cannot receive you either”. Peter turned back and looked into her eyes. “Believe me. We will talk when you are ready. Are you ready now?” Mila was silent and stared at Peter like a ghost. Her mind was changing. She was turning into a ghost. Peter withdraw his gaze from her, but he was not afraid. He again turned back and took the sugar.

“You are not ready now. I and Daisy were trying to talk with you from the day you first came here, but you were always boasting about your days in the city and we never had a chance. Drink this and you will be calm and we will sit and talk”.

Peter stopped suddenly hearing Mila’s scream, but she has already raised the pickaxe towards him.

“Give me your car’s key, now”.

To Mila’s surprise, Peter was not looking frightened. He was looking at her like a teacher who is trying to calm a naughty student. “Mila, this is foolishness. Nothing will happen to me”.

Mila replied with a strong whip on his head with the pickaxe. Peter slowly fell to the ground. Blood was oozing from his head. Mila turned his body. His face was pale and his hands were cold. Mila suppressed a scream and ran to his bedroom. She searched the drawers and tables and everything. Finally, she found the key in a small drawer near his bed. Mila could recognize it from the key-chain, which has yellow-colored glass balls on it. Mila took the keys and ran to find the car. The car was parked behind the house. She removed the black thick hood and rushed inside. She put the key in and started the car. Once, twice, one more time. The car was not moving. Mila tried again and again, nothing happened. The car stayed in the same plot. She was tired. She put her face in the steering and cried aloud. After a few moments, she heard a knock at the window. First, she thought it would be a ghost, but it was not. Peter was smiling at her, his face was pale and his hands and teeth were covered with blood.

“I told you. You can’t do anything to us”.