The Gifted One

As the girl walks down her path to school murmurs started around her-“She’s so creepy! Don’t come near her she’s disgusting!” or “Don’t even think of talking with her or else you’ll also be isolated.” She just walked while looking down her feet, ignoring them as though the whispers have nothing to do with her. This all started when she was young, trying to help her friends. [10 Years Ago] A teacher walked in the classroom with a smile-“Good morning, students! It seems like we have a new friend today. She is just temporary here, but please treat her kindly. Will you please come in, and introduce yourself?” she said while waving her hand gesturing her to enter. As she entered the classroom hesitantly, the students looked at her with astonishment and whispering at each other-“Wow! She’s so cute!”, “She’s so pretty!”, “Look at her eyes, they’re light blue color!”. The teacher interrupted clapping to signal silence. CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! “Now, now, settle down kids! Let us hear her name so that we will know what to call her, okay?”. “Yes, ma’am!” the students replied. “Now, please introduce yourself.” The teacher said while looking at her with warmth in her eyes. “Hello, my name is Kliera Lanne. Nice to meet you all! Please take care of me!” She introduced herself cheerfully. “Wow! Her voice sounds cute, too!” another student said admiring her voice. “Now that we know what to call her now, we shall start class shall we? You seat is at the back corner near the window.” The teacher said pointing at her seat. _After school_ Some students approached her inviting her to go home with them “Hello, Kliera was it? I’m name is Hanna and this is Lina. Do you mind if you go home together with us”, Kliera was so happy that she nodded in agreement “OK, let’s go together!”. As they are happy that she agreed to go home with them, Hanna grabbed her hand excitedly. After that, they became friends and played together often. But, Hanna got curious as to why she would always head to the direction of a building where children who doesn’t have parents. As young as she is, she can not contain her curiosity and asked away without hesitation “Kliera, why are always heading to that building opposite direction on our way whenever you go home? Don’t you have a father and mother?” Kliera was stunned and couldn’t speak for a moment after she heard her question. “Ah… My parents…? I don’t know either. The people said that, that place is for orphans. Children that abandoned their child.” She answered with a sad and gloomy expression. “So, you don’t have parents?” she asked with a concerned look. “Hanna, that’s enough. Look, Kliera looked sad now!” Lina said nudging trying to stop her. “Oh! Sorry, Kliera! I didn’t know. But don’t worry, me and Lina won’t abandon you like your parents did!” she said while both Lina and Hanna hugged Kliera. Hearing that, Kliera brightened up and hugged them back replying “It’s a promise, ok? I also will not leave you guys!” But after that day, Kliera got a terrible fever that lasted for a week. After hearing that news, Hanna and Lina got concerned for it might be their fault that Kliera got a fever, but they couldn’t visit for they are not allowed to, by their parents so they waited for a whole week. Ugh! Hah! N-No! Don’t go there-! Hanna! GASP! Pant! Pant! Pant! Kliera woke up from that nightmare in a heavily cold sweat, seeing that it seemed to be just a dream she exhaled in relief. As the door of her room opened, a figure of an adult entered and approached her. “Kliera, are you alright? It seemed like you have a nightmare.” She said while gently caressing her forehead. “Teacher Adda. I have a nightmare about my friend.” Kliera answered crying. As she hugged Kliera to comfort her, suddenly Kliera saw something from just by touching her teacher and said holding her clothes tightly “Teacher Adda, please don’t leave me here alone the orphanage.” Teacher Adda, looked at her confused and stunned at the same time asked “What? Where did you-No, How did you know about that Kliera?” “No, never mind. I can’t promise that Kliera, someday some people will leave and go down the path they want. Nothing stays the same forever.” She said caressing her hand. “Like Hanna and Lina?” she asked teary eyed. “That- I don’t know about that. You must treasure every moment you have with them, you might not know when they will separate their ways with you.” Teacher Adda answered in a comforting way possible. But those very words craved inside her heart and memory. “Now that your fever have gone down, will you continue to enter school tomorrow? Or will you rest for one more day?” she kindly asked Kliera. “I’ll enter school tomorrow! I missed Hanna and Lina!” she replied cheerfully. “Be sure not to push yourself, ok?” she said in a gentle tone. “Rest up, so by tomorrow you will be well.” She added tucking her in bed. Trying to close her eyes in an attempt to sleep, but couldn’t as her mind is filled with thoughts as to why she could see her Teacher Adda, leaving the orphanage and about the nightmare she saw. [What was that nightmare about? Why was Hanna into it? And about Teacher Adda, after she hugged me I saw her leave with large bags in her hand. Why was she leaving the orphanage?] this thoughts filled her mind that she fell asleep tired of thinking hard about it. _Next Day_ “Look who came back, children! Our friend Kliera is now well and about!” the teacher happily said in front of the students. “Hello… “ Kliera said hesitantly looking down her on the ground. “Kliera, your back!” someone shouted, she looked up and saw that Hanna and Lina waving at her brightly. “Now, go to your seat and quiet down children. We are going to start class soon.” The teacher added. Hanna took Kliera’s attention by waving at her and mouthing “Welcome. Back. Let’s. Go. Home. Together. After. School.” Kliera nodded in agreement. _After school_ As they are walking home together happily chatting away, Kliera got struck of realization that the path they are walking down right now are so vividly familiar. As she tried to remember it, she realised that it was the same as her nightmare the day before. Kliera suddenly halted and suddenly looked pale while trembling with heavy cold sweat, as Hanna and Lina noticed her sudden reaction and got worried “Are you alright, Kliera? Why are you looking so pale? Is your fever not well yet?” Hanna looked worried as she asked the question. “No, I-I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about. Let’s continue on our way.” She replied to reassure them and to not worry them any further. As she continued walking, her mind are filled of thoughts [Th-this might just be a coincidence! There’s no way that I dreamt about this! Right, this might just be a coincidence. But, if this isn’t a coincidence…. Will “that” also happen to Hanna? No-No that can’t be!] as those thoughts circled her mind, the only idea that popped in her head is to stop Hanna from crossing the road. After thinking with determination, they have arrived at the place where the accident will happen. As they are waiting for the lights to turn green, she mustered up the courage to tell Hanna not to cross the road-“Hanna, please don’t cross the road when it turns green, ok? It’s dangerous.” Hanna looked confused for a second so does Lina, “What do you mean? If it’s green we can cross and if it’s red we mustn’t cross. It won’t be dangerous, because we are using pedestrian lane.” “That-I can’t explain but can you please listen to me? It’s gonna be dangerous so… “ she replied desperately. But, Hanna and Lina didn’t listen and just brushed it off. As the lights turned green, Kliera pulled Hanna and Lina off the road, but they persisted and said “Kliera there’s no need to be afraid! It’s green so it will be alright!” Hanna persisted as Kliera accidentally let go of her hand and gone her way to cross the road despite Kliera’s warning, but Lina remained by Kliera’s side as she’s still holding her tightly What happened to Hanna made Kliera and Lina stuck to the ground where they were standing out of shock.