( The Adventures of ) Layla

My name is layla. I was born in 920 b.c. I was left by an apple tree in the middle of a grass field, with wild flowers. My adoptive father, Damien found me, and took me home to his wife, Isabell. They had two kids together; Phebe (age 10) and Isaiah (age 5). Isabell had Phebe at the age of 13, and Damien was only 17 years-old at the time. It was normal in 920 b.c to marry, and have kids young. My parents were only married a few months before having Phebe.    We lived in a cottage that had 500 farm acres of strawberries and grapefruit behind it. My father was a winemaker, and my mother a baker. They had a building beside the cottage they used as a bakery. They sold their baked goods and wine to the neighboring people. We were not rich, but we were not poor. The bakery was a family business, so us kids helped out.    My parents did not know where I came from, or why I was left by the tree. I was born with two bumps on my forehead. They were like little knots, the color blue like a bruise. Sitting next to me on the ground was a letter with just one word on it. “Layla.” My parents did not know it yet, but they would regret bringing me home. My existence was a blunder on their life's. I did not know it yet, but I was a target. I had powers unknown to me, and was to rule a world I was not prepared for.