What am I?

She made a bold decision to venture through the forest in search of people who could offer her assistance. Despite battling a severe fear of darkness since childhood, nothing could deter her from finding her family. Taking a deep breath, she began her journey, noticing that small creatures were following her as she made her way through the woods.

Curious about their presence, she murmured, her eyes devoid of emotion, "Why are you guys following me? Do you know where I'm headed?" Drops of water from the sea clung to her clothes, falling onto the sand. Her damp appearance only added to her charm and allure.

Casting a sidelong glance, she realized that the tiny creatures were still trailing behind her. Almost as if they were her little companions, she responded kindly, "Alright, you can accompany me, just stay close."

She observed that these creatures were different from ordinary animals. They displayed a level of intelligence, attentively following her every move and understanding her purpose and destination. To ensure their safety during their journey through the jungle, she crouched down and gently cupped them in her hands.

Lacking companionship and yearning for friends, she treated these creatures as her small companions. She felt it would be better to have them with her, as she didn't want to face the wilderness alone. Engaging in conversation with them, she began walking towards the forest, using their presence to distract herself from her overwhelming fear.

As she walked and walked, the journey seemed never-ending. "Hey! What should I call you, my tiny friends?" She examined them carefully, noting their resemblance to water droplets. "How about 'Miniz'?" she inquired. Observing them happily bouncing on her palm, she asked, "Do you all like it?"

Overjoyed by their apparent approval, she delightedly praised herself. "You think I'm creative, don't you?" She smiled, fully aware that it was perhaps the most absurd name she had ever given anyone. "Yes, yes, I know," she added.

The conversation with the Minizs lifted her spirits. After hours of walking, accompanied by the chilling sounds of wild animals, she finally reached the end of the forest, relieved that it was smaller compared to the larger ones. There, she spotted a tiny factory and noticed people who resembled her but didn't quite resemble the locals from her village.

Peering at them from behind a tree, she asked, puzzled, "Why do they look so different, like another race?" Everything that unfolded before she bewildered her. The creature on her hand was something she had never encountered, and both her surroundings and the people were unfamiliar.

"What's happening? I hope someone can tell me who I am," Maya murmured solemnly. She turned to the little creatures, seeking guidance. "Should I approach them, ask where I am, and seek help?"

With newfound confidence, she decided to approach the strangers, her heart pounding in her chest. Though these people were humans and she now appeared unique, she hadn't considered how they might react to her request for help.

Entering the factory, she held onto the mistaken belief that everything would go according to plan and she would soon reunite with her family. Unbeknownst to her, her naive thinking had placed her in grave danger.

"Hello, can you please help me?" She spoke in English, choosing a language she thought they would understand, considering they appeared different, like East Asians.

The factory workers abruptly turned their attention toward the source of the voice. Their eyes widened with terror, as if they had just encountered a ghost within the facility. Filled with fright, they screamed in unison and leaped back in fear. Desperate to escape the mysterious being they had witnessed, they scurried around, darting from one place to another.

Amidst the chaotic scene, Maya, the woman who had spoken, approached a man who was running nearby. She pleaded with him, trying to assure him that she was human and meant no harm. "Please, don't be afraid of me. Can you tell me where it is?" she questioned, hoping for answers.

Unfortunately, her words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The man, overcome by fear, attacked Maya with an iron rod, causing her pain and leaving bruises. Shocked and bewildered, she cried out, "What are you doing, sir?" In response, others in the factory began hurling objects at her, intensifying her distress. Through her tears, she desperately pleaded for help, "All I want is assistance! Please, stop this madness!"

As the situation escalated, Maya sank to the ground, her voice filled with desperation. "I beg all of you, please," she implored. But to her dismay, everyone abandoned the factory, fleeing without even glancing back.

Tears streamed down Maya's face as she exclaimed, "What have I done to deserve this? I bear no ill will towards any of you." She wept, her gaze fixed on the ground, unaware of what would transpire next.

To her astonishment, she noticed that the tears she had shed transformed into tiny creatures upon touching the ground, resembling the beings she had encountered by the shore. Gasping in disbelief, she whispered, "How? But how is this possible?"

After comprehending the situation and carefully observing each tiny creature, Maya realized that her tears had metamorphosed into the Miniz because she had wept near the shore. Gathering them in her hands, she stood up, finally perceiving the enchantment surrounding her.

It was pure magic, something that defied the bounds of reality. She marveled at the existence of such wonders and the extraordinary events that were unfolding in her life.

The factory workers' reaction frightened Maya to the core. At that moment, she decided without hesitation that it would be best for her to return to the safety of the woods, where she felt more secure than in the company of people.

As she prepared to depart and head towards the exit, her eyes caught sight of a mirror standing in the corner of the room. Intrigued, she approached it, curious to see her appearance. She had never truly observed herself as a whole since the tragedy had befallen her.

Upon glancing at her reflection, Maya let out a piercing scream of shock. Instead of her usual black hair, tan skin, and green hazel eyes, she now possessed hair that flowed endlessly in the air, eyes completely white with faint blue pupils, lips the same hue as her eyes, a radiant blue blush beneath her eyes, and bluish-white skin. She appeared otherworldly, akin to a mystical creature. Staring at her transformed reflection, she was both amazed and bewildered, realizing that she was no longer merely human.

"What am I?" she whispered in disbelief, her gasp echoing in the room.