Childhood

Twenty years ago

“Fatima! Come here!” I stood up, from my chair the moment I heard my father-in-law calling my name. They must be back from hunting.

I went straight to my in-law’s room, there, they are sitting and looking at something, “Dad, mom, what’s that?” I asked out of curiosity and stepped to them, “What?! Who’s child is that?!”

“A very good friend of ours asked us to take care of their daughter, she will be with us for the meantime, we will take good care of her,” Mom said, her face showing so much adoration towards the child.

“What’s her name?” I asked, as I look at the child, I was mesmerized, there is something to the child’s eyes that makes me want to hug her, “She’s lovely,”

“Her name is Vera, indeed, she is lovely, like her parents,” Dad said.

“But where are her parents? Why did they leave her here alone? I mean, she looks like a newborn baby, they could have at least wait before she can fully comprehend,”