Tragedy

Outside, amidst the dappled shadows and rustling leaves, a scene of pure innocence unfolded as an adorable toddler with pristine white hair and enchanting purple eyes frolicked amidst the wildflowers that carpeted the forest floor.

The toddler, a vision of ethereal beauty, giggled with unrestrained joy as she chased after a butterfly that flitted playfully through the air.

Her long hair, as pure as freshly fallen snow, billowed behind her like a silken cape, catching the dying light of the sun in its shimmering strands. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of purple that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, sparkled with mirth and wonder as she reveled in the simple pleasures of the forest.

Watching over her with a tender smile was Anne, her mother, a woman of quiet strength and unwavering love.

She stood at the edge of the clearing, her heart swelling with pride and adoration as she watched her daughter's carefree antics. Despite the challenges and hardships they faced as they lived alone in the forest, moments like these made it all worthwhile.

"Dabria, don't run too far." Anne called after the little girl as she ran through the forest.

Anne's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Dabria's laughter, a sound that filled the air with its sweet melody. It was a sound she cherished above all others, a reminder of the pure joy and innocence that her daughter brought into her life each and every day.

As Dabria danced amongst the wildflowers, her laughter echoing through the forest like the tinkling of wind chimes, Anne couldn't help but marvel at the sheer beauty and wonder of her daughter's existence. In her eyes, she saw a reflection of all that was good and pure in the world, a beacon of hope and light in the darkness that surrounded them.

But amidst the joy and laughter, there was also a sense of sadness that lingered in the air, a reminder of the loneliness that she felt as she raised her daughter alone.

Despite the pain of Adrian's absence, Anne drew strength from the love that she shared with her daughter, a love that knew no bounds and transcended the trials and tribulations of their solitary existence. Together, they faced each day with courage and determination, knowing that as long as they had each other, they could weather any storm that came their way.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Anne called out to her daughter, her voice soft and gentle like a whisper on the wind. "It's time to come inside now, my darling," she said, her heart heavy with a sense of bittersweet longing. "The day is drawing to a close, and it's time for bed."

Dabria, her cheeks flushed with the exertion of her play, turned towards her mother with a smile that lit up the clearing like a beacon of light. With a final laugh, she skipped towards her mother, her tiny hand reaching out to grasp hers with a trust and innocence that filled the mother's heart with warmth.

Together, hand in hand, they made their way back towards the cottage, the fading light of the sun casting long shadows across their path. And as they disappeared into the welcoming glow of the cottage's windows, the forest fell silent, save for the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze

In the quiet stillness of the night, the cottage nestled amongst the ancient trees slumbered peacefully, its walls bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy above. Inside, Anne and Dabria lay entwined in each other's arms, their breaths slow and steady as they surrendered to the embrace of sleep.

Anne, her face serene in repose, cradled her daughter protectively against her chest, her arms a cocoon of warmth and safety around the child.

But as the hours passed and the night deepened, a sudden disturbance shattered the peace of the cottage, jolting Anne from her slumber with a start. Blinking away the haze of sleep, she sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sense of the commotion.

And then she heard it. The crackling roar of flames, the sharp snap of burning timber, as the cottage erupted into a raging inferno around them. Panic surged through her veins as she scrambled to her feet, her mind racing with fear and adrenaline as she fought to protect her daughter from the encroaching danger.

"Dabria, wake up!" she cried, shaking her daughter gently as she tried to rouse her from sleep. "We have to get out of here, now!"

But Dabria, still lost in the depths of sleep, only stirred slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion as she murmured softly in her slumber. Anne's heart clenched with fear as she realized the gravity of their situation, trapped in a burning cottage with no means of escape.

With a sense of desperation, Anne sprang into action, her mind racing with thoughts of survival as she fought to find a way out of the burning inferno. She cast about the room frantically, searching for a means of escape, but the flames raged around them, cutting off all hope of rescue.

And then, with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Anne realized the truth, they were trapped, with no way out and no hope of survival. Tears stung her eyes as she clutched her daughter to her chest, her heart heavy with the knowledge that they were facing their final moments together.

But even as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a fierce determination rose within her heart, a determination to protect her daughter at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing her own life in the process. With a steely resolve, she gathered Dabria into her arms, holding her close as she prepared to face their fate together.

As the flames licked hungrily at the walls around them, Anne pressed a tender kiss to her daughter's forehead, her voice trembling with emotion as she whispered words of love and comfort in her ear. "I will always love you, Dabria" she murmured, her voice choked with tears. "I will always protect you, no matter what."

And then, with one final glance around the burning wreckage of their home, the mother closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable. The flames engulfed them in their fiery embrace, swallowing them whole as the darkness closed in around them, their final moments lost to the inferno that consumed their world.

As dawn broke, the villagers had gathered at the scene of tragedy immediately they saw the thick smoke from within the forest. The charred remains of the once-idyllic cottage stood, a haunting reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded within its walls. But amidst the devastation and despair, there was a glimmer of hope, a miracle that defied explanation and left the villagers in awe and disbelief.

For amidst the ashes and rubble of the burned cottage, a lone figure emerged unscathed, a little girl with wide, innocent eyes and a halo of pristine white hair that shimmered in the sunlight like spun silk. She stood in the devastation, her tiny frame untouched by the flames that had consumed her home, her expression one of bewilderment and confusion as she surveyed the scene before her.

The villagers gathered around in hushed whispers, their faces drawn with concern and uncertainty as they beheld the miraculous sight before them. How could it be possible, they wondered, for a child to survive unharmed in such destruction? It was a mystery that defied explanation, a testament to the inexplicable forces that governed their world.

Moreover, they had never caught a glimpse of her before because her mother had hidden her away from the world, knowing how dangerous it was for her since she was different, so she had kept the knowledge of her daughter's existence hidden from the rest of the world until the tragedy befell them.

As the villagers approached the little girl, their eyes filled with awe and reverence, they were struck by the eerie stillness that surrounded her, a sense of calm amidst the chaos, a quiet acceptance of the tragedy that had befallen her home. It was as if she possessed an otherworldly presence, a connection to forces beyond their comprehension that had shielded her from harm.

But amidst the wonder and disbelief, there was also a sense of unease that lingered in the air, a fear of the unknown, of the inexplicable power that had spared the child while claiming her mother's life. Some whispered of dark magic at work, of malevolent forces that lurked in the shadows, while others spoke of divine intervention, of a higher power watching over the innocent.

But for the toddler girl, oblivious to the whispers and speculation that surrounded her, there was only confusion and sorrow as she searched for her mother amidst the ruins of their home.

"Mama!" She called out her name in a voice filled with longing, her tears mingling with the ash and dust that coated her cheeks as she clung to the hope that her mother would appear and sweep her into her arms once more.

But as the moments passed, there was no sign of her mother's return, no solace to be found amidst the devastation that surrounded them.

Suddenly, a man emerged from the crowd. He was a bulky man, but the tenderness in his kind eyes belied his physical appearance.

As he approached the crying child, he crouched down to her level, while the other villagers avoided her like a plague. They were afraid of her strange appearance and the bizarre situation of how she survived in the guttural fire that had claimed her mother's life but not hers.

"Come, child. I was your mother's brother, but she's not here anymore, so she told me to watch over you for her until she comes back." The man spoke softly with a kind smile on his lips and for a second, the girl stopped crying.

"Where is Mama?" The little girl asked with a small voice.

"She went somewhere far away, so come with me now, I promise you'll see her again." The man said as he offered her his outstretched hand.

The little girl took a step back, her small face masked with fear and uncertainty as she glanced at the people around her whose attention was all fixated intently on her. She was scared and confused, mostly because she had never interacted with anyone except her mother and she had never left the cottage. All she wanted was her mother.

The man, noticing her frightened state decided to give her some space before trying to persuade her again. Meanwhile, the villagers warned him to beware of the strange child.

"She might be your sister's child, but she kept her from everyone as a secret, you have no idea what forbidden creation she has brought into this world." One of the villagers spat out, their faces twisted with terror, some disgust.

"True, no wonder she kept her a secret from everyone. She must be a witch or a demon." Another villager implied and a loud clamor erupted from the small crowd.

"That's enough, she's only a little girl from what I see and she's terrified. If she was indeed any of those things you mentioned, then neither of you would be breathing for another second." The man who claimed to be her uncle snapped at them and the place fell quiet but still, the villagers had doubts and uncertainties about the peculiar child in front of them.

Her white hair and purple eyes were discernible features that could not be classified as human and the fact that they had no idea of what she was, made them even more afraid of her.

While the innocent little girl yearned for her mother, the villagers looked at her with fear in their eyes, as though she was a monster.