Lilibeth's Memory Part 1
1467 Words
I was an orphan since I am an infant. My parents left me in front of the door of the orphanage. Leaving a letter saying that they will come back and get me after a few months.
But many months later, my parents didn't come back. Instead there is bad news reached in the orphanage saying they died in a war. My parents didn't give me a name to the orphanage when they left me.
The orphanage took me in and gave me a name when I first came, Lilibeth. I have been shy and timid ever since I was a child, that is also a reason why another child at the orphanage bullied me and picked a fight for no reason at all. The leader of the bully is Elliz. When she saw me she always sneered and always tricked me.
It all began when I was five years old. There's a play about the princess, and one of the sisters at the orphanage who is taking care of us chose to do a raffle for a princess character.
"I want to become a princess."
"Me too, it's my dream."
"Sister, choose me!"
"No way! Please, I want to become a princess."
The little girls began to talk loudly wishing they were a princess. I'm not exempted to that. All girls wish they were once a princess in their lifetime.
"SHUT UP!!" a little voice soon erupted in the room. "Hmmpp. The princess character is all mine. You all are extras. Don't even think to fight me." Elliz glared at every child that voiced their opinion in wanting to become a princess.
The children are all scared of Elliz because she has a formidable presence that can make a person shut up.
Elliz always has a big dream. And she always told us that someday she will become a queen and marry a handsome prince.
"Elliz." The sister called her softly, "Don't be harsh to other children. All of you can become a princess."
"Hmmp. I don't wanna don't do that raffle. I'm only the one who can be a princess." Elliz declared and only ignored the sister's explanation.
The sister only sighed, helplessly she said "Elliz if you can't become a good child. A handsome prince charming will not like you." Seeing that Elliz began to calm, the sister continued, "You're a good child, aren't you? I'm sure a handsome prince will come and get you." She smiled.
"O..okay. Elliz is kind really." Elliz agreed. "It's okay if others can play princess because it's only a 'play' anyway," She remarked.
Knowing the child had a big arrogance, the sister only sighed and began to draw a name who will act for the princess character.
"Okay.. here's the name." the sister picked up a folded paper and began to wave it on the children.
The children look at the paper with excitement.
"The princess is... Lilibeth" The sister read the name and smiled at Lilibeth.
Lilibeth blushed and said "I.. always wish... to become a princess once ...." She stuttered while her head was down.
The children began to clap and cheer.
*clap* *clap* *clap*
"Lilibeth don't worry you are always kind to us."
"Lilibeth sis, god give you a reward for always helping us."
The children smiled at me and began nodding.
"I will do my best in the play." Lilibeth looked at them while blushing.
The sister chuckled, "Okay, kids let's wrap up. I'm sure Lilibeth will not disappoint us."
After the sister leaves. They soon began talking endlessly and expressed that they are excited in the play.
"Hmmp. It's only an 'act' anyway." Elliz sarcastically said.
The crowd soon began to silence. But the boys are not affected in the presence of Elliz. They only snickered and found it kind of funny.
"Hey, you're just jealous aren't you?"
"Shut up Elliz, how can you become a true princess with your attitude?"
" HAHAHA, Elliz are you a child of a king or something?"
"That's only in your dreams Elliz."
"I heard one of the sisters talking about us to father (The father of the church) and said that your father is a farmer and left you here because they can't feed you."
" Aren't you and Lilibeth both come to this orphanage on the same day? But Lilibeth's parents are both soldiers, they just leave Lilibeth here and promise to come back in a few months, but unfortunately died in the war."
"Don't tell us .. you dream of the prince charming that will come and marry you .. princess."
"Pft" laughter of the children can be echoed in the room.
Elliz 'ears become red because of humiliation. She stared at Lilibeth with contempt.
Lilibeth moved her head down, "Elliz if you want to become a princess, I will tell the sisters that I don't wanna become a princess."
"You just said that you want to become a princess... hmmmp." Elliz cried and ran outside.
"Elliz.."
I walked in the office of the orphanage and told the sister that I'm not feeling well, also telling the sister that Elliz is better than her because Lilibeth is a shy type and may affect the performance of the play.
The sister's sharp eye noticed something, she stared at me in a minute and said, "Are you sure it's okay?"
"Yes, sister" I smiled, "I always believe that anyone can become a princess as long they have the heart to protect and love others."
The sister smiled back to me, nodding, "Your right." She gets a box from the drawer, "Lilibeth all kind people will have a happy life. You just need to believe and pray for the others. Just stay who you are and your wish will be granted." She gave the box to me and said, "It's yours now it's my lucky charm since I was a child."
Opening the box Lilibeth sees a silver necklace that has a pendant of a leaf. She looked at the sister with her big adorable eyes. The sister can't help but pat her head and pinch her adorable cheeks. Lilibeth answered cutely, "Thank you, sister. I will take care of it."
That night, I happily slept. When the sun rose, I woke up and ready myself to walk downstairs to have breakfast and look if the sisters were already awake. I'm pretty early compared to others. The wake up call is 7 am while I wake up every morning at 6 am.
When I'm going down, I felt a hand behind me. That person pushed me causing me to become out of balance and fall terribly downstairs. My head hit the corner of the stair. Blood flows in my forehead. Before I passed out, I heard a familiar voice, "Lilibeth I will make sure to be great and become the best at the play, so don't worry."
At that time, the orphanage was so noisy. The sisters' worried voices and the childrens mutterings. Early in the morning, One of the sisters saw me and immediately called a healer. The children had been barred from going outside their room that morning and only allowed to do activities in the afternoon. A few weeks later after my injuries are healed.
The father of the orphanage called me. He kept asking what happened that day. I only lowered my head and told them that someone pushed me but she didn't know who. The orphanage doesn't have the resources to hire a high level magician or buy an artifact that has an ability to know the situation that day. And the only thing that the father could do is monitor the children. Starting that day the summer orphanage became strict.
From that day, the difference from the past is noticeable. Elliz kept blaming me that because of her they have an additional lesson to study, not allowed to freely roam inside the orphanage and still need to make a letter to do other things. She kept saying that maybe I only tripped at the stairs and blamed someone just to make it difficult for them.
Because the play had been postponed. Other children become disappointed and the impulsive children are angry. The days went by, the orphanage didn't get any leads and still doesn't have a suspect in Lilibeth's case. They put the end of strict monitoring to every child. The children also began to think that maybe Elliz is right and Lilibeth only tripped herself and exaggerated her situation. The boys distance themselves from Lilibeth while the girls raise their brow every time they meet Lilibeth.
Elliz began bullying me, harsher and harsher each day. The other isolates me, fearing that Elliz may target them next time. Day by day Elliz becomes the leader of the bullying.
I'm not fighting back and giving a complaint to the sisters. I just hide the bullying and the bruise inside my body. Every day is hell.
When I was eight years old, I met my savior.. my angel, the one who let me out in this hell. From the moment my angel saves me I vow to protect her.
- Writer
