Chapter 5 – The girl with the white stuffed animal

I heard the whimpering of a newborn baby.

"A congenital disease?"

It was a mother talking to a doctor, with a man holding her hand to calm her down.

They were all cat people, from children to adults.

"There is no health risk; we don't have treatment. It affects the left melanin of your body, it is as if it were done on purpose: an extraordinary coincidence."

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"How ugly!"

"She looks like a monster!"

"Look at her hair! It looks like blood, it's like a demon!"

"They say you'll be cursed if you look at her for a while!"

"Don't come close, I don't want to get infected!"

They were boys who harassed and disowned a girl every day.

Nobody accepted her, they maintained any physical and visual contact.

Some threw her backpack into the container to keep her away, others blamed her for crimes she did not commit, others spoke badly behind her back, generating unpleasant rumors.

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"When will she be happy!? When will they leave she alone!? We have moved multiple times and daily we get complaints as if she is responsible!" the mother shouted, crying in the middle of the night.

"I'm sorry for being born… I'm sorry…" she whispered broken and in tears when she heard it from the bedroom.

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After holding on for a while, the mother collapsed.

"Mom!"

"Aiko!" Frightened, the father and the girl ran to her side.

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"It's because of stress, his body is weak, at this rate…" the doctor explained, cursing.

The father held his seven-year-old daughter's hand tightly.

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"This will be our new home," his father announced as if he had found the right place.

"From today I will be your private teacher," said the mother with a vulnerable smile. "I'm sorry, darling, for supporting us both and leaving all the work to you…"

"It's okay, no matter what happens, I love you," he said with a smile that conveyed security.

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"Mom!" The eight-year-old girl approached her mother, sitting in a rocking chair, and hugged her legs; she looked through the window at an immense green meadow:

"Hmm?…"

"Why do you always put white flowers? Is your favorite color?" She asked curious.

"Don't you think it's relaxing? It transmits harmony, it is also said to bring good health. Did you know that it accepts any color on top of it?" she smiled at her, gently patting her on the head.

Her daughter lowered her gaze when she heard "is also said," because she did not have good memories of the rumors.

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"Dad?"

She was near the lake, watching her father prepare a boat for fishing.

"Today we will eat fish, prepare your stomach, Nugu!" She said with a smile.

"Fish!? My favorite food!" Drooling, she moved her tail at high speed.

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At the age of nine she learned to sew stuffed animals and made a white one for her mother.

"Mom! I have a gift for you!" She showed her a smile from ear to ear.

"Um… What?"

She showed her the stuffed animal she was hiding on his back.

"Tachan! A hedgehog! It didn't turn out well, but I promise I'll make you more!" She said happily, wagging her tail.

"How nice! I'll put it next to my bed to sleep," she flattered, trying to smile, and hugged her.

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The girl spent more time outside looking at the sky behind her house, in front of the lake.

Her mother became worse and, as a result, she was in bed more.

She went out daily to contemplate the starry night; she hugged one of her creations so as not to feel alone and she frequently talked with him.

"Did you know, Koly? I read in a book that shooting stars make your wish… If every day I manage to make as many wishes as possible, mom will be cured and then we would spend more time together." she smiled as she saw a ray of hope.

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One cloudy night, she waited for hours for it to clear to wish for them. The sky was not getting better and, since she was cold, she decided to go indoors.

…—Had I left the door that open?— She thought.

Before going up the steps, a few drops fell on his cheek, because of the darkness she couldn't see what it was.

She looked up at the second floor and saw two strangers carrying his father's blood-stained body with a dagger stuck in his heart.

"Is under! Don't lose sight of she!"

She trembled with fear, but she had the courage and the necessary reaction to flee towards the lake. The men had trouble getting off her and chasing her in the dark.

She pushed his father's boat with all his might, got on and stooped; she slipped silently into the calm lake.

"Shit! I do not see her!" She heard her in the background.

As the sky was cloudy, they could not see the surroundings clearly.

"Mom! Dad! Someone help me! I'm sorry, because I was born…" she cried and hugged her stuffed animal tightly; it was the first time she had gotten on a boat.

I couldn't stop shaking; nervous and not knowing what to do, she got up to look around her house. Her boat rocked and, as if a current of air had pushed her, she slid out.

She tried to stay afloat, but she didn't know how to swim, it was his first time in deep water. She splashed anxiously to get back up, but all she managed to do was push away.

His clothes made his movements difficult and she did not intend to give up his precious hedgehog. Exhausted and overwhelmed she sank; she held the stuffed animal of her to be a simple nightmare.

…It's all my fault! For being born! I… I wanted to make you happy… I'm sorry, mom…

～That's it, come closer to the rest of the colors and, please, I ask you, fill your happiness for me.

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I regained my senses and my existence. I woke up in bed next to her, she slept hugging me next to her hedgehog.

I was exhausted as if I had swallowed salt water. The voice of a young woman was so momentary that my memory immediately forgot it; the more she thought about it, the less she remembered it.

I stroked his head, it seemed like she had been taking care of me since I lost consciousness.

When I surprised her on the stairs, I reminded her of those events and that's why she got scared, I thought.

…If she were still alive, would she have suffered more?…

A few seconds later, someone placed a notebook in front of me.

"Are you ok?! Nugu said you collapsed and called me worried." It was Mugon, the mute girl.

"I wish I hadn't woken up…; I'm fine thanks." Without understanding the reason, she shed tears. "Why are you crying? The thing about wishing I hadn't woken up isn't because of you."

«Your attitude and dream reminds me of someone else, I am happy»

…Why would you be happy with someone like that?

The first time I saw her she reminded me of someone, but I was wrong.

It was impossible for us to know each other, she was a goddess from another universe and I was the first soul of Chiouri.

"I'm sorry… Be happy, or she will be sad too." I stroked her head to calm her down.

But more importantly, why did I dream something related to Nugu?

…Is this that gift?

"Being a god, is it normal to dream as if you were someone else or see their memories?" I asked to solve.

«No, it should be the same as when you weren't. "When you become one you forget your past lives, except the most impressive one," she wrote, thinking about it.

Now that I mentioned it, I couldn't remember almost anything. But my personality had not changed, as if it were predefined by the soul.

"And what kind of race are you? Are you kind of weird like the others? What makes you different? Your appearance is similar to that of a human," I asked indelicately.

She was stunned for a few seconds when she heard it.

"I am human!"

"Human?…" I stopped looking at her.

Wanting to convey something important, she continued writing; but she stopped when Nugu woke up.

"W-Why are you hugging me!?" In an instant she let go of me and moved away from me.

"It was you who did it… You were prettier asleep."

She was ashamed of the dubious compliment.

In her world they treated her like a monster, but I didn't see her that way.

I didn't want her to worry about knowing his past, so I didn't mention anything; It was not my hobby to remember unpleasant things.

"I hope you're ready today, don't fall asleep like that again, you scared me!"

…Fainting is not something I control…

I thought maybe it reminded her of what happened with his mother and she worried excessively.

"I'm immortal, right? You don't need to worry." I stroked her head and she wagged her tail.

"But you can suffer; be more careful."

…What if it wasn't my fault?

"Today I have already fulfilled our agreement."

Mugon wrote on a new page and showed it:

«I'm coming home, I've barely slept★»

"Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for taking care of us. Although you exaggerate" I thanked her although I disliked her presence as a human.

She smiled and fanned his hands as if it hadn't been a big deal:

«We are friends, right?★ You can call or visit me whenever you want★»

…I don't need friends.