> It was a calming night, one of the many soothing nights I used to spend to my dearest sister’s side. We shared a bedroom together, because we loved each other to an almost obsessive extent. The rest of our siblings didn’t complain much about it...since they knew our bond was too strong to be torn apart.
>
> She caressed my hair, singing that little lullaby in my ear, clinging to my resting body. She loved to pet me like this, as if I was her little doll.
>
> “Sleep, sleep and sleep...sleep in the sea of the flower…”
>
> “...and when you wake up, you will have me by your side, you will not cower.”
>
> She loved me so much.
>
> And I loved her so much.
>
> As she caressed me so gently, whispering those words to me, I laid on our bed motionless, giving her my back…
>
> ...my right hand, tainted with blood, grasped hers tightly.
>
> I looked at the corner of our dear bedroom and I saw her smiling, a smile on the verge of laughter.
>
> I closed my eyes, clenching my dear sister’s hand tighter and tighter, wishing that the bad dream would end.
>
> But no matter how much I waited. No matter how much I prayed…
>
> ...she was always there.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gzaugpuceq1t2utzjthn6/0.3s.gif?rlkey=kpz0ue35vw4joxgdxknaulbpi&raw=1]
Chapter I - Birth
They found me six years ago, right in front of their gates, dressed in a white robe.
A little girl that was around my age, in terms of appearance, saw me standing in front of the gate, confused.
I didn’t remember anything, I didn’t know who I was at all. I...simply opened my eyes and found myself there.
I looked on the ground, my bare feet were clean, even if I was standing on a dusty, dirty ground – as if I appeared in that spot out of thin air. The robe was clean as well, making me reach the same thought.
The little girl came closer, and closer. A curious look on her face.
I was in front of a huge mansion's gates, surrounded by a thick forest.
What am I doing here? Why am I here? How did I get here in the first place?
My fresh thoughts, being that I didn’t retain any kind of memory, started twirling around.
“Who are you?” Her voice was clear, young and sweet. She grasped the gates’ bars with her two little hands. She clearly was curious in a positive way – maybe believing she found a new friend that could play with her.
“…” I stayed silent, trying to figure out what was going on. I didn’t remember anything, but there still was this vague knowledge about the world...a knowledge which was enough to make me realize none of what I was experiencing made sense.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!”
But she wasn’t the patient type. She called for me again, pouting.
I looked right up, fixing my gaze against hers...I made a sad, worried expression. I didn’t know why I was making it, I just...wanted her to worry about me. I was scared, because I couldn’t remember anything about myself.
“Is something wrong…?” She asked, widening her eyes. “Are you hurt?”
“I...I don’t...I don’t remember anything.”
My voice was a surprise to my ears. It was sweet, delicate and young...just like hers. My slim, short body matched my voice…
...I was a young girl. Finally, I knew something more about myself.
“What do you mean?” She asked. “Do you at least know your name?”
“No. I don’t know anything.” I shook my head, trying to get help and advice as soon as I could from her. “I don’t remember who I am...and I don’t know why I’m here.”
“Your hair is beautiful…” she said with a smile. “...I’ve never seen eyes of this color before! It’s amazing!”
I wandered around my head with my hands...my hair was soft, and long – I finally could sense their presence.
I grabbed one single strand, bringing it in front of my face. It was white, pure white.
“And your eyes...they’re stunning!” She exclaimed thereafter.
I couldn’t see my own eyes...so I didn’t know what she was talking about in that case.
I found myself being showered by compliments by a total stranger. I felt a warm feeling around my face, and my heart started beating a bit faster - I felt embarrassed.
“Thank you…” I muttered, looking down.
“Wait, I’m going to call Kruz and have him open the gates!”
She suddenly ran off, traversing the huge garden I could see on the other side of the gates.
After a little while, she came back...a tall man by her side. He was bald, with a gentle smile on his face that was surrounded by a nice gray beard.
The gates quickly opened after the man inserted a key in a padlock. The little girl immediately ran towards me, grabbing my hands.
“My name is Nelya! Nice to meet you!”
I looked at her more closely...beautiful, flaxen hair. A pair of blue eyes that I could lose myself in. A smile that destroyed any kind of sorrow.
“Miss Nelya...may I ask you who this girl is?” The man questioned her right away, glancing at me multiple times with suspicious eyes. I did look like a ragged girl indeed.
“I don’t know! She doesn’t remember anything.” She shrugged, smiling constantly.
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“...do you mean you had memory loss?” The man asked, looking at me.
“Y-Yes...that’s how you would say it, I guess…” I replied, looking down. “...I am sorry. I don’t mean to be a nuisance.”
“Kruz, we must help her!” Nelya moved my hands up and down excitedly. “Let’s go ask mom and dad if she can come inside!”
“Miss Nelya...I don’t know if you should-”
“Quiet! She is not a bad person! I can see it!” She interrupted him immediately, pouting. Then, she strengthened the grip on my hand and started pulling me inside the mansion.
“W-Wait...N-Nelya…” I muttered, panicking. I looked behind, and the man started locking the gates. I suddenly felt trapped.
Nelya’s hair swayed with her quick walk as we approached the mansion’s doors.
It was huge – the whole building, by staying at its feet, was overwhelming. Three stories filled with countless windows. The courtyard was also amazing...flowerbeds everywhere, a clear cobbled path intertwined them.
Despite all my strong emotions...I felt happy by seeing such a beautiful place.
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As soon as we got inside, Nelya brought me to the living room.
A big, spacious room. With a chimney, some couches and armchairs, paintings shelves. It was all neatly decorated – it was definitely luxurious.
Two people sit at one of the couches, while I was at the opposite one with Nelya. I felt nervous, and I almost cowered in worry...but I remained still, my back straight and my eyes fixed on the two.
A tall, adult man. He wore a huge smile, similar to Nelya’s. His hair were black and short. His clothing matched with the luxury of the living room.
And then a shorter, mature woman. Her hair were flaxen, just like Nelya’s. She was wearing a beautiful, frilly dress.
I want a dress like hers so much…
That was my thought of the moment. While I was confused about everything, I still had the mind of a little girl.
As I was admiring the appearance of these two people, the woman put a hand on her face and tilted her head.
“I do wonder where you come from, child.” She sighed.
“Probably from overseas. No red-eyed girls wander around here.” The man chimed, chuckling. “You are truly a beautiful girl. And that hair? Stunning."
“…” I nodded, looking down. A little smile grew on my face.
“Do you really not remember anything at all?” The woman asked me. “Not even your name?”
“I...no, sorry. I don’t.” I shook my head, clenching my fists. My smile immediately faded.
“That is a shame. I wonder how you got in front of our mansion in the first place…” the man sighed, rubbing his chin. “...you must have some parents, don’t you? Maybe they’re searching for you right now.”
Do I have parents?
Even if I did, I didn’t know anything about them. I didn’t feel any instinct that drew me towards them.
“Maybe you hit your head. That is why you lost your memories.” The woman suggested. “We should call a doctor.”
“Here’s what we’ll do.” The man stood up, clearing his throat. “We’ll call a doctor from the city, have you checked...and then I’ll have my servants asking around for parents in search of a white-haired girl with red eyes. If they're around, we'll surely find them.”
“Thank you so much…” I joined my hands and bowed. “...I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, sweetie!” The woman stood up as well. “Why don’t you take it easy while we help you? You may have a bath, perhaps?”
I wasn’t dirty, so I shook my head. The woman nodded and looked at Nelya.
“Nelya, have a bedroom ready for this young girl.” She said. Her tone made it seem like she was commanding her.
“Okay!”
Nelya jumped off the couch, dragging me with her.
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As we followed a young maid after Nelya asked her to give me a bedroom, I started throwing out questions I had.
“Who were those two?” I asked her.
“My mommy and daddy!” She chimed happily. “They love me and my siblings so much!”
“Oh, alright.” I smiled, looking at her happiness. “Why are they so nice to me?”
“Why wouldn’t they be? They are nice with people.” She shrugged.
It was a weird question, I know. Why wouldn’t they be nice?
However, for some reason, my brain didn’t take kindness for granted. Maybe it was because of my lost past – that was my conclusion.
I suddenly felt Nelya’s warmth fading. The maid opened a door of the long corridor.
As soon as I stepped in. I saw a beautiful bedroom...with a big, comfortable bed. I felt excited – I couldn’t wait to rest my mind here and think about myself.
“If there is anything you need, any maid is at your service.” The young, gentle maid said, bowing.
“Do you want to be alone?” Nelya asked, stopping the maid from closing the door for me.
She clearly wanted to play with me...she looked very ecstatic because of my presence, for some reason. I charmed her as soon as she saw me standing in front of those gates.
But sadly for her, I did need to be alone. I wanted to reflect upon what was happening to me.
“F-For now...yes.” I nodded. “I feel a bit tired.”
“Okay! We’ll be back with your doctor when he arrives! Bye bye!”
The door shut quickly. I looked around, then I walked towards a tall mirror, placed right beside the bed.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6sdstlml8uqly6lspht97/Artist_missile228-depth-of-field-best-quality-illustration-1girl-short-whit-s-902241292.png?rlkey=8hp7qoem23qql4axt9iz04mga&raw=1]
“…”
My breath hitched.
Something wasn’t right – my fingers, my wrists, my elbows, my knees and my feet...they had joints.
I looked down, staring at my fingers. They were...normal. I touched them, and the meat was soft and real. I pinched the skin of the rest of my body as well...it was real.
But alas, when I looked at my reflection...the joints were back.
What’s going on? Maybe it’s this mirror…?
I wandered around the bedroom, ending up inside its bathroom. Inside, there was a smaller mirror over the sink.
I raised my hand, as I was so short that my little head was the only thing I could see…
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sd7opcyxr51aaji9ew6lb/depth-of-field-best-quality-illustration-black-background-hands-hands-s-1865940987.png?rlkey=a9rgf8avmnw8djmedii33mr84&raw=1]
...I felt a weird anxiety. I wouldn’t say I was afraid...but what I was seeing was absurd.
I got out of the bathroom and lied on the bed, my limbs spread as I thought deeply.
Who am I? Why are my limbs one of a puppet when I looked at them through mirrors? Am I a puppet? Am I human? Are the mirrors wrong? Am I wrong?
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“Nothing seems wrong…”
The doctor rubbed his chin, nodding. Nelya and her parents looked at me at the entrance with relieved faces. He performed various tests on by body...and didn’t find anything.
“...little girl, do you have any discomfort? Mental, physical...tell me.” He asked me. “I’m at a loss here. How could you forget everything?”
“…”
I looked at the mirror. I was sitting right in front of it, as it was beside the bed. Our reflections were crystal clear...
...my limbs were one of a puppet, while his were normal.
“...what is wrong with my body?” I asked him. “See?” I pointed at the mirror. “It looks weird.”
“…” he looked at the mirror, squinting his eyes and furrowing his eyebrows. After a couple of seconds, he look at the Nelya’s parents, standing up…
“She is clearly in a state of confusion. Her head is fine though. And she doesn’t present any signs of physical trauma.”
What?
He couldn’t see it – the very fact that my limbs had joints. No one could see them.
“It could be mental…no, I’m pretty sure that’s it. She looks distressed...not hurt.” The doctor said, closing his suitcase. “I cannot act further.”
“Poor baby...what happened to you?” The woman then said, sitting beside me...her warm hand placed on my bare knee, right over its joint.
At this point, everyone in that room was sure I lost my memories because of some traumatic event.
However, I somehow felt that wasn’t it – this problem wasn’t neither mental, nor physical. My body and my mind were sure I was born right then and there…in front of those gates.
But it didn’t make sense, did it? Some mother had to give birth to me...and a certain set of events had to bring me in front of that mansion.
Nelya sat at my other side, caressing my back. I was being comforted nevertheless...and that made me happy despite everything.
But as soon as I started feeling a little better…
...my eyes gazed at the mirror once more.
What are those limbs? Why am I the only one who sees them?