Prologue
"Promise me... you'll stay strong. I'll find my way back to you, I promise. So, live... live for the both of us... until my return."
A lady with an arrow pierced in her chest said while breathing heavily. She has a long auburn curly hair. Tears falling from her shadowed face as she cares the face of a man with huge dark wings on his back.
"I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. No matter how lonely. I'll live... holding on to your promise... and once you return, I swear to protect you... whatever it may cost me," he said with his trembling voice full of love, regret and angst.
Their voice echoes to my head as I open my eyes with tears.
I've been dreaming the same nightmare lately. It's terrifying and heartbreaking. I can even feel my heart being torn apart.
I wiped the tears that fell on my cheeks and took a deep breath before leaving my bed, heading back to the bathroom to freshen up before preparing breakfast.
I am now twenty years old and for the past four years, I've been responsible for making our breakfast since my older sister, Diane, started working. I also handle our packed lunches because, as my mom puts it, I'm the only one she can rely on.
Diane often arrives home late and needs proper rest after work, contributing alongside our father to provide for the family. Meanwhile, Denver, our youngest, seems to be my mom's favorite, despite being nothing but trouble. My family considers him delicate.
"Dear, could you cook another ham for yourself? I forgot that Diane prefers two. I should've mentioned it last night," my mom said while setting the table for breakfast.
"S-sure, Mom," I replied, trying to hide my disappointment. I needed to hurry, or I'd be late for school.
Lately, I've been experiencing inexplicable situations. Like the other days, after school, I found myself at the foot of the mountain near our school today, standing in front of a purple gem-like stone embedded in one of the trees. The place feels oddly familiar, as if I've been here many times before, perhaps with a companion. But who could that be? I've never had a friend, and I have no memory of coming here with anyone.
I pushed aside my thoughts and headed home. As I walked, I couldn't shake the memory of a small fruit a stranger gave my mom last month. It was like a blueberry but with somewhat, orange color swirled around it. I remembered the words uttered by the old man who gave it, "Let your sacrifice eat this, and abundance will come your way." I never shared what I heard with my family because it didn't seem necessary. We were still struggling financially, so whatever sacrifice he spoke of seemed out of reach.
Once home, I immediately set to work preparing dinner. I couldn't trust my sister and brother to handle these tasks; they were both unreliable. Perhaps that's why my mom assigned them only to me—she couldn't rely on my siblings, and I was the only one who never oppose their will.
After dinner, my siblings retreated to their rooms, leaving me alone with our parents at the table. It would be disrespectful to leave them while they were still eating, so I stayed to help clean up later on.
"A-Anna," my mom's voice trembled with nervousness, "We heard you won a quizbee last week." A smile spread across my face.
Finally, they were taking an interest in my life. I had always felt overshadowed by my siblings—never as smart as Diane or as brave as Denver. To compensate, I tried to be the perfect daughter, obedient and self-sacrificing.
"Yes! How did you find out?" I asked eagerly.
"Denver told us. We thought we should celebrate," my mom said, placing a plate of cake in front of me.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the cake they'd prepared. I turned to them, with a bitter smile on my lips and eyes silently asking, 'Why?'
"T-thank you, Mom... Dad," I managed to say through my tears. "This is rather... unexpected." I said as I munch over the cake decorated with that fruit, given to my mom by that stranger.
It pains me to think that despite giving it my all... my efforts always fell short in their eyes.
I did nothing wrong.
I firmly closed my eyes the moment I tasted an unfamiliar flavor burst in my mouth. I know, in my heart... something was about to change.
