The little girl gazed up at the sky, her thoughts consumed by memories of her parents. It appeared that everyone around her was moving forward with their lives, while she remained suspended in time, as though trapped in a recurring nightmare.
"Mr. has returned!" the elder woman announced.
She clenched the amulet that rested against her chest, eagerly anticipating one last meeting with him before she decided to return home. It was hard to believe that three years had passed since she last saw him; time seemed to have flown by unnoticed. She found herself trapped in the memories of three years ago, her mental state in disarray. As she sat with her hands resting on her lap, he approached her. With a subtle sadness in her voice, she said, "I waited a long time to thank you for saving my life and to let you know that I'm returning home to my parents. I'm sure they are waiting for me." She momentarily blocked out the painful truth that her parents were, in fact, deceased.
" You are so pathetic! Your life wasn't even worth saving; I should've let you be devoured by the wolves!" he bellowed, his voice lace with frustration. Deep down, he didn't truly mean the venomous words that spilled from his lips, yet he found himself bffled by her choice to return to a place where her parents had perished. It eluded his understanding, leaving him tangled in confusion about her resolve.
"I bet you would want that," she remarked, turning away and exiting through the door, leaving behind an unsettling silence. He was at a loss for words, unable to retract his previous statement. The complexities of her mind eluded him as he allowed her to slam the door behind her. Upon stepping outside, she was met with frigid temperatures below freezing. "Mother, Father, I will be home soon," she said quietly.
As the snow fell steadily from the sky, it accumulated in thick layers. She lifted her head and recalled the events that transpired exactly three years prior. With a sigh, she took a deep breath, watching the mist of her breath dissipate into the cold air within moments.
As she traversed the biting cold, a shiver danced down her spine, yet the tender memories of her parents enveloped her in a comforting warmth. She reminisced about the boundless love and laughter that filled their days, wrapped in a cocoon of affection that embraced her daily. Suddenly, an eerie howl echoed through the night, drawing her into a realm of unsettling recollections. Gathering her resolve, she steadied herself and pressed onward.
As the sunlight poured its golden warmth upon her, her eyes sparkled with joy, feeling a gentle embrace more comforting than before. She dashed toward the horizon where her home awaited, eager to be reunited with her beloved parents. Yet, a harsh reality struck her like a thunderclap; the house lay smoldering, a shadow of its former self, and before her, two skeletal remains told a tragic tale.
She nestled beside her parents, closing her eyes, and could have sworn she heard their gentle voices as their radiant smiles danced in her memory. She felt her spirit begin to drift from her body, surrendering to an eternal slumber alongside her beloved guardians. As her form was lifted, it was cast into a truck.