Layla

Layla's POV

"Okay okay, Good morning everyone" he said as he rang a bell around the room to wake everyone up.

"Its morning again?" the girl who was staying at the other edge is the room exclaimed as she stretched her body, I think her name was Aisha but I am not sure.

"Yes Aisha, get up now" another girl stated, I did not even know who and where the sound came from but either ways.

I got up from my bed, arranged it before I headed to the bathroom, this is my life now I guess staying here for only God knows how long they are willing to keep me.

"Good morning miss Layla" one of the girls said, I have never seen her around though maybe she is new here, just like me.

"Morning, did you sleep well?" I answered back, desperately I am in need of someone to talk to anyone at least.

"Yeah I did" she said as she walked away, she didn't even give me the chance to get to know her name and I guess she doesn't want to know how my night went I suppose.

I quicky changed to get rather to take my bath as it looks like others girls have started to get up also, it is expected though it's a Monday morning and unlike me they all have school to attend.

I stepped into the bathroom and quickly brushed my teeth before I moved to the bathing area, and began to take my bath before the place gets crowded because it does get that way some days.

"Alhamdulilah (glory be to Allah)" I said as I walked into the room again to get ready for the day, I began to scan the room and it was a really big room I have never taken time to access the place before everyone since I came but wow it really is big.

"Girls, breakfast is ready" the man who woke us up said as he rang another bell, oh how i so hated the sound it makes.

"Yes father John" as usual they answered, this looked like their daily routine, he announce the activity of the day everyone answers in this hipnotic voice and they all move along with him to where ever he asked them to.

Come on let's go" some girl said to her friends as they preoced to the dinning hall.

"Aisha come on" her friend began to beg her, it seems she doesn't like eating because this is also like a routine they must beg her to go for breakfast everyday.

"Wait I said I'm coming" she said as she stumped her feet in the floor.

"Must we do this everyday?" Her friend said as she angrily waited.

"Sorry just a minute" Aisha replied.

"Come on Aisha, we don't want to go late for breakfast today you know they are serving fried yam and tea" her friend said trying to make her be fast.

"Okay okay" Aisha said as they left the room.

"Aren't you coming?" The girl from earlier said to me as she walked past me staring at Aisha and her friend.

"Yes I am" before I could answer again she left like earlier, maybe I have seen her before i just can't tell where.

I walked out of the room, it was remaining two girls by the time i was leaving, the dinning area is a bit far from our side but within 3 minutes you can get there.

I entered the dinning area and proceeded to join the line, some girls were already seated eating their food, but they don't look like they are from my room they should be from one of the other rooms, I was gently following the line and gradually it was only a girl in front of me.

"I would like three slices of yam, a piece of chicken and onion the side I would like chips" she said to the server, who began to dish out what she asked for.

"What would you like?" The server said to me as she handed the girl in front of me her tray.

"One of everything" I panicked, I don't think I can be able to eat everything but it's worth the try I guess.

"Here you go, have a wonderful day" she said as she gave me my tray.

I careful scanned the room for an empty table or the least occupied so that I can go to have my breakfast.

"Pttsss" I heard a sound from my side, it was like a whistling sound but not quite.

"Hey" I turned to see the girl from this morning waving her hands at me, she was the only one at her table, I quicky changed my direction towards her and proceeded to move to her.

"Hi" I said as I say down next to her, "I am Layla by the way" i introduced myself to her.

"I am Jasmine, nice to meet you Layla once again I suppose" she said as she smiled at me.

"Yeah once again" I said awkwardly.

"Attention children" the man who rang the belle shouted, yes Mr. John was struggling to remember his name.

"Good morning once again children, the busses are ready to take you girls to your various schools so please finish up your breakfast so you can start going, I don't want anyone of you to be late" Mr. John said.

"Okay Mr. John" the room echoed as the girls that were done with their mean began to move, it looked like everyone was wearing some type of school uniform and I had not noticed, they all began to exit the dinning hall.

"Aren't you going?" I turned to Jasmine, as she was also not wearing a uniform just like me.

"Oh no I have not yet been allocated a school that's why" she said.

"Oh so we must all go to school?" I asked surprised "but this is the first time they are going to school since I came" I added.

"Well yeah, this is the beginning of a new term(school session), you came when they were in holiday" still surprised at the information I was given but I just decided to not interpret her.

"Don't worry you'll get assigned one too" she said cheerfully.

"Where are we? A cult? What is this place?" I asked desperately, why did they leave me here I don't want to be here, I want to go home.

"Don't be silly dear, we are at the orphanage home, the one for young girls, it's not a cult" she said still smiling.

"Is everything okay?" She asked as I began to dissociate a bit.

"Yes, I just want to go home" I replied to her.

"But this is your home now, you've been here for a month I'm sure your parents would've come for you if they are close by" jasmine stated, "you don't remember where you came from? Or where you lived?" She continued.

"No, I don't think I can" it's true, that was why I was brought here in the first place, I don't recall anything that happened to me and also no one is coming forward to claim they know me, every information about myself that i know was told to me by the police force.

"Don't worry, some of the girls here too have similar case with you so don't be scared we are your family now" she said as she smiled at me.

"That's weird, but I was told they'll help me get out soon" I wasn't sure what was going on but my heart bargain to pound like it wanted to come out of me, my chest began to feel heavy.

"Yeah, some do and others don't" she said casually as she continued eating "eat up, you need the energy"

I looked around it we were just 5 girls remaining "so all of us are new?" I asked.

"No not all, some are done with school" she paused to take a bite off her yam "someone like Aisha who has been here since was a child, she finished last year according to what I heard" she said.

"Oh so different reasons bring people to the orphanage? I was told it was just a temporary home for teen-agers"

"Well yes it is now, it was a regular mixed orphanage when she came, for all age and gender but they changed it to accommodate only girls, and also it is temporary for all, they would keep you till you turn 20 years of age, from there you are on your own" she replied me.

"Okay" I froze for a second, I was 20 years old at least that's what the cops told me, what's going to happen to me? Where am I going to stay?

"Any problem?" She asked as she saw the worry on my face which was very hard for me to hide I guess.

"Not at all, I'm good" I said as I began to eat my cold breakfast, something is not adding up with what she is saying or maybe I am an exception?

Why can't I seem to remember anything? I can only remember from the day the cops save me and those other girls that's all, by the way I wonder how the other girls are doing but that is none of my problem I should be worried about myself.

"Hey, don't worry you'll be fine" she tapped on my back, I was spiralling and panting heavily as I began to think deeply.

"Don't worry about me, I am okay just having headache" i replied, she seemed very considerate about me feeling distressed.

"It's okay, you can go to the nurses office" she advised.

"No I rather lay down and rest I think that would be better for me" thank God I asked for one of everything, it wasn't really much so I ate everything fast, the orphanage has a no waste policy and they are strict with it.

"Okay then later" she stood up with her tray as she left the table.

"Bye" I said as I concentrated on finishing my meal, I was done in no time and also processed to go drop my dishes and head to the room.

I began to walk to the room alone as there was no one left in the dinning hall except me and the lady who was doing the dishes and cleaning.

"Haa" I let out a sound of relief as i walked into the room, I quicky locked the door behind me and went to my bed.

"No use this one" Aisha's friend said, they were already in the room before I came and i guess they were arguing about something i couldn't care less about.

"I think pink is better"

"Purple is"

"No pink is"

"Purple"

"PINK!" Aisha shouted at the top of her voice I don't know maybe she was trying to prove a point.

"PURPLE" now they both started yelling.

" NO PINK"

"Come on now, lower your voice" jasmine said, she was also back I guess and she sounded extremely tired.

"Sorry for the disturbance" Aisha replied to Jasmine in a low tone.

"See you are disturbing the place" her friend said.

"Zainab, you are the one disturbing, I don't want the purple...." Oh so her friends name is Zainab, oh she has a really nice name I suppose.

Well at least the orphanage isn't a bad place I believe and all I need is to get my memory back I believe if I do that I would be able to go back home and end all of this once and for all, I wonder if they miss me back home, I wonder if there was ever a home for me to begin with, I need to know what happened to me and why it did, i want to leave this place and move on with my life, forget this ever happened.