Chapter 100: A Glimpse of the past

Bella smiled, her eyes gazing off into the distance. "It's just pancakes, we used to fry them and sell them in the market with my mother back in..."

She paused, her voice trailing off. Jr looked at her curiously, sensing that there was more to the story.

"Back in where?" Jr asked gently, not wanting to pry.

Bella's eyes snapped back to the present, and she smiled wistfully. "I come from Uganda, Africa."

She bent down and started washing the saucepans in the nearby stream. Jr watched her, his curiosity piqued.

"How did you end up here?" Jr asked, his voice low.

Bella's hands stopped moving, and she looked up at Jr with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"They trafficked me," she said quietly.

Jr's eyes widened in shock. "What!! How and why?" he exclaimed.

Bella shook her head, her eyes clouding over. "I'll tell you the whole story with time, but not today. I don't want to go into a bad mood."

Jr nodded, sensing that Bella was hiding a deep pain. He looked over at the girls, who were playing by the stream, oblivious to the conversation.

"Then where did you get these children?" Jr asked, his voice soft.

Bella looked at the girls, a mix of emotions on her face. "I rescued them from traffickers."

Jr's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Bella with newfound respect. She was a hero, a guardian angel to these young girls.

As Bella got up and walked over to the girls, Jr followed her, feeling a mix of emotions. He was sorry for Bella and the girls, angry at the traffickers, and grateful for Bella's bravery.

"Hope you've had enough play with the water, you'll catch a cold," Bella said to the girls, smiling.

The girls nodded, and Bella led them back to the shelter. Jr followed, his mind racing with questions and emotions.

As they walked, Jr couldn't help but see Bella in a new light. She was no longer just a mysterious woman living in the forest; she was a hero, a survivor, and a guardian.

And Jr knew that he wanted to help her, to support her in any way he could. He wanted to be a part of their lives, to help them heal and move forward.

As they reached the shelter, Bella turned to Jr and smiled. "Thank you for bringing us supplies, Jr. It means a lot to us."

Jr smiled back, feeling a sense of belonging. "It's my pleasure, Bella. I'll do whatever I can to help you and the girls."

And as he looked at Bella and the girls, Jr knew that he had found something special. He had found a new family, a new purpose, and a new sense of belonging.