Traumatic Past : Only Den Can Ease My Pain

Anna's room was adorned with the joy of her infectious excitement. Her mother, catching a glimpse of this radiance, couldn't help but inquire, "You look very happy today, Anna. What's the reason, my little girl?"

With sparkling eyes, Anna eagerly shared the source of her joy, "Mama, today is Den's birthday, and I am very excited to give him the bracelet I made for him."

Her mother, admiring the intricacy of the bracelets, questioned, "Oh, my child. The bracelets are so pretty. But why did you make two bracelets?"

Anna, with a smile dancing on her lips, responded, "One is for me, and the one which has Den over it is for him."

A proud smile adorned her mother's face as she joyfully remarked, "Wow, my daughter is so creative." She then added, "Okay, if you are free, then go and arrange your toys; they are all over your room."

"Okay, Mama," Anna obediently replied, her enthusiasm undiminished. She dashed into her room, ready to tidy up her cherished collection of toys.

As Anna focused on arranging her toys, her father made a warm entrance into her room. "Darling Anna, my baby girl! What are you playing with? Look, Father has brought you your favorite sweets," he announced, presenting a delightful surprise.

"Baba, Anna loves you so much," Anna expressed her affection. Her father, noticing the evident happiness, couldn't resist asking, "My child looks very happy today. Can I know the reason?"

With uncontainable excitement, Anna exclaimed, "It's Den's birthday today, Baba!"

Anna's father gently held Anna's hands as he inquired, "Have you prepared any present for him?" Anna beamed with pride, directing her father's attention to the beautifully crafted bracelets laid out on her bed.

"Wow, they are beautiful, my little girl," her father exclaimed, admiration evident in his eyes. Anna, brimming with joy, embraced her father and asked, "Baba, will you go to the birthday party with me?"

Regrettably, her father explained, "My child, I wish I could go, but your mother and I have to go out for some work." Anna, with a tinge of sadness, persisted, "But Baba, he will be very happy if all of us go."

Her father, with a gentle smile, replied, "My child, we will invite him tomorrow for dinner." Anna, her spirits lifted, joyously exclaimed, "Yay! I am so happy. I'll see him again tomorrow."

Amused, her father chuckled and remarked, "But you are always teasing him." Anna, with a mischievous grin, responded, "Baba, I love to tease him." Her father, with a playful tone, added, "But he is much older than you, Anna, my child." Anna simply smiled.

With a touch of wisdom, her father continued, "Even though you tease him a lot, he cares for you so much, so try to be nice to him today." Anna agreed, saying, "Okay, Baba, but I will tease him a lot tomorrow." Their laughter resonated, creating a heartwarming moment between father and daughter.

As they continued their conversation, a sudden, loud knock reverberated through the house.

 Startled, Anna asked, "Baba, can I go and see?" Her father, a bit cautious, replied, "Let me go and see who's at the door."

As he opened the door, ten armed men forcefully entered their house.

 Anna, gripped by fear, instinctively hid beside the door.

 The atmosphere shifted as her father was seized by one of the men. Witnessing this, Anna's initial reaction was to run to her father's side.

However, a deafening sound echoed, freezing her in place. 

The only images etched in her mind were those of a man holding a gun, her father lying on the ground with blood staining everything. 

In that moment, the world seemed to stand still for Anna. The next thing she knew, she collapsed to the ground, consciousness slipping away.

Her eyes remained open, capturing the chaotic scene unfolding before her. 

Her mother's frantic screams reached her ears as she rushed toward Anna, but a forceful push diverted her mother's path.

 At that very moment, Anna succumbed to unconsciousness, the darkness enveloping her completely.

AFTER ONE WEEK

As Anna gingerly opened her eyes, she found her standing by her side.

With his support, she attempted to sit up, and when she asked for water, her uncle promptly fetched a glass and helped her drink.

Once discharged from the hospital, Anna maintained an unusual silence. 

The two of them were on a journey to a place unfamiliar to her, but instead of seeking clarification, Anna chose to remain reticent. 

The vibrant and cheerful girl had transformed into someone markedly different.

Throughout the journey, Anna stared out of the car window, lost in her own thoughts. 

Sensing her uncle's concern, he gently inquired, "Anna, won't you ask about your mother?" Anna turned her face towards him and shook her head, indicating her reluctance to broach the subject.

Her uncle respected her silence and added, "Anna, I know you were awake and heard everything the nurses were discussing." 

Anna continued gazing out of the window, the weight of unspoken emotions hanging heavily in the air.

"Anna, I promise you that I will always be there for you, no matter what," assured Anna's uncle.

Anna remained quiet as they were dropped off outside a cottage. 

The driver unloaded all of Anna's belongings, and her uncle opened the door, leading them inside. 

Anna silently surveyed the cottage, and the only words she uttered since leaving the hospital were, "Is this your house?"

Her uncle smiled, appreciating Anna's observation. He replied, "Yes, my child. I know it's small, but I'll buy a bigger one for you to stay in."

"I love your cottage," Anna replied, and her uncle's smile widened. He guided her to a small room and stated, "Anna, from now on, this room belongs to you. You can unpack your stuff now. I'll bring you something to eat."

Anna quickly interjected, "I want to throw away all my stuff except my clothes and this bag," pointing to one of her bags. 

Anna's uncle, still a bit shocked by her decision, gently asked, "Anna, are you sure that you want to throw them away?"

Anna looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. Trying her best to hold back the tears, she looked up, wiped them away, and replied, "Yes, I am sure."

Her uncle, understanding her emotions, took away the items she wanted to discard. Anna then opened her bag, revealing her father's picture. She stared at it with tearful eyes, kissed the picture, and placed it on the side table. She proceeded to unpack her clothes, placing them neatly in the closet.

While arranging her clothes, a card fell to the floor. Anna picked it up, a bit surprised by what was written.

 "You are invited to Den's birthday" adorned the card. Anna, not paying much attention, tore it off and threw it into the dustbin.

That night, sleep eluded Anna as she clung to her father's picture frame, seeking solace.

 However, the haunting scenes of the traumatic incident played over and over in her mind. Silently, she wept, the weight of the ordeal pressing on her young shoulders.

The desire to scream and release the pain built up inside her was overwhelming, but she held it in, weeping quietly into the night.

 Thoughts of her mother, who had abandoned her for a lover, added another layer of anguish. 

In her distress, Anna scratched at her cheeks, her body becoming a canvas for the silent suffering she bore.

At just seven years old, Anna's world had been ruthlessly turned upside down by the actions of cruel individuals.

 That night marked the loss of her innocence, thrusting her into a premature maturity that no child should bear.

"......."

Anna, seated on the floor, desperately covered her ears, feeling as if her surroundings were closing in on her. 

Tears streamed down her face, her breathing labored. Amid the chaos, she grabbed her bag and stood up, ready to leave.

Porsche's mother intervened, gently holding Anna's hand and mentioning, "Den is waiting." With that, she departed with the maid, leaving Anna in a state of mental turmoil, uncertain of where to turn.

Ken added, "He is waiting for you there," prompting a single tear to fall from Anna's eyes as she vacated Porsche's apartment.

In the backseat of the cab, Anna sat in a trance, her eyes swollen from constant weeping, and her lips dry.

 She stared blankly out of the window as the weather turned windy and cloudy, embodying a sense of helplessness. 

The journey ahead seemed to mirror the storm within her.

Anna found solace in Porsche, the only person capable of easing her pain and evoking positive memories from her past.

 Amid the speeding car, the wind rushed through the windows like a storm, slapping Anna's cheeks and tousling her hair. 

In that moment, all Anna desired was to be with Porsche, to face him, to call him Den.

The journey to her hometown stretched endlessly, mirroring the turbulence within her. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as Anna grappled with her emotions and the weight of her troubled past.

Gently retrieving the bracelets from her bag, Anna stared at them with lifeless eyes and wore them.

After a long hour of travel, she finally arrived in her hometown, a place that instantly transported her back to childhood memories.

The familiar sights—the small shops, children playing, and parents conversing—evoked a profound sense of déjà vu.

As Anna stepped into this nostalgic setting, her gaze turned distant, and her pace gradually slowed.

The surroundings seemed to blur as she walked down the familiar paths.

The memories of her childhood, particularly those shared with Porsche, flooded her mind, prompting her to quicken her steps toward his house.

With every stride, she ran faster, causing her hair to cascade from its bun, swaying with her movements.

Tears welled up in her eyes, although her face remained expressionless, encapsulating the complex emotions stirring within her.

It felt as if the world was spinning around her as Anna sprinted without hesitation, driven by the sole purpose of reaching Porsche's house.

 In her determined pursuit, she encountered an obstacle—an unnoticed rock that caused her to stumble. 

The fall resulted in injuries to her hand and leg, yet this setback failed to deter her.

 Ignoring the pain, she rose once more and attempted to quicken her pace, despite the throbbing ache in her injured leg and the bleeding scratches on her hand. 

The singular focus in her mind remained the urgent need to meet Porsche.

As Anna arrived at Porsche's home, she couldn't help but be swept away by the nostalgic winds of the past.

 The chilly breeze carried her back to the times when she used to wait outside his house, yearning for him to come out and play with her. 

One vivid memory stood out, a moment when everyone was upset with Anna, leaving her with no one to play with. 

Waiting outside Den's house, tears streaming down her face, he eventually appeared and embraced her, offering solace.

As Anna approached the door, her hand poised to knock, a rush of memories flooded her mind. With a beating heart, she knocked, and to her surprise, the door swung open.

 Anxious yet determined, she stepped inside, greeted by the distant sound of running water. 

A glance around revealed an empty space, prompting her to think of the backyard.

With each heavy step, her traumatic past clung to her like a relentless beast. Breathing became a challenge, cold sweats and shivers accompanying her every move. 

As Anna reached the backyard, she encountered a guy diligently watering the plants. Standing still, she watched him from behind. 

Sensing a presence, the guy turned around slowly.

Anna's condition deteriorated rapidly, though she fought to maintain control. 

As the guy faced her completely, Anna's eyes welled up with tears. 

Despite her attempt to smile, the overwhelming emotions took their toll, and just as she prepared to take a step forward, she collapsed.