Stir

A little girl yawned as she stretched on a wooden bed which creaked as she sat up. Standing up, she climbed an old chair to get to the old wooden window which creaked open, letting the morning breeze blow in. The sky looked beautiful. The little girl wondered. She pushed away a few strands of hair as she continued staring at the sky. The little girl jumped down, walking over to the broken mirror that hung on the old wall; showing its cracks and letting her know, the walls would fall soon. The house was already old.

She stared at the young girl who had appeared in the mirror with a huge scar on her left face. She looked hideous, it wasn't her fault that she looked this way.

The little girl stroke the scarred part, losing herself in its view. Her grandmother had repeatedly told her that she was a lucky survivor of a huge fire incident. It still surprised the child that it had burnt only a part of her face and left the other part of the face still untouched and smooth. She wondered if she was going to be a beautiful girl when the scar would completely go away. The pains of the scars repeated every last day of the month, and the last day of this month was fast looming and she wasn't looking forward to it. She had promised her grandmother to be a powerful healer so she could heal her scars and take care of her grandparent's health and any other sick persons. She turned away from the mirror, heading to an old wooden chair as she picked up the cup of water, she had kept so close to the bed. Gulping it, she placed it back as she sat on the bed, she was strangely tired this morning. The room she was in, was little and scanty, consisting of only the old furniture in it; the old bed, a wooden chair and a few clothes placed on top of an old cabinet.

"Aurora, are you awake?". An old woman's voice was heard outside her room.

" Yes, mama". The girl responded as she made her mattress properly.

"Would you wash off and help me with feeding the goats?". The old woman asked.

" Yes, mama". The little girl responded as she walked to the door, opening it.

"Good morning mama, did you get enough rest?". The little girl asked on seeing her grandma standing patiently.

" Yes, dear. You didn't sleep well?". The old woman asked as she frowned at seeing dark circles under the girl's eyes.

"I did mama". The little girl said, her smile faltering. " Give me the basket mama, let me help you to the kitchen". She said as she took the object from the woman.

"Thank you, my child. Make sure you wash up before you join me in the shed, okay?". The woman asked, receiving a cheerful nod from the child.

" Yes, mama". The minor responded, turning to head to the kitchen.

The little girl took little footsteps as she carried a big basket that contains nothing, twirling it. She stopped, watching her grandfather who continuously chopped a particular wood with a blunt axe.

"Good morning papa". She greeted

The old man gave a hateful expression to the young child before scolding her. " Go away from here, I don't need to see your ugly face, it would ruin my whole day". "Go away, u bad luck".

" Cyrus!!!". The old woman rushed into view, pulling the girl into her embrace as the child had started tearing up.

"Hmph". The old man looked away, continuing chopping the woods.

" Don't cry dear, shh". The old woman consoled the child as she rubbed her back. "That's enough dear, why don't you take the basket to the kitchen, while I catch up with you". She continued, watching the girl give a nod as she sniffed.

The little girl walked away slowly to the kitchen as she sniffed and dried her nose and eyes.

Her grandma continued to watch her leaving, making sure she was out of sight before turning to glare at her husband.

" How could you be so heartless to speak to a little child that knows nothing, that way. Have you no heart, Cyrus?". The woman said as she placed her hands on her waist.

"You spoil that child so much, always defending her even if she's at fault. I do not want her greetings, she makes my mood sore". The old man said as he shifted a piece of wood he had cut out.

" Sometimes, I wonder about the heart you have. You are a human with no speck of compassion. She's your child and your blood - - -

"That's enough, Emmeline. The old man growled at her

" Bring down your voice, you beast. She makes your day sore? Yet you keep hitting her any day she ventures into the dark forest for solace. LEAVE THE CHILD ALONE!". The old woman yelled as she angrily left the stunned man.

Emmeline walked quietly to the kitchen. She had not heard a sound made by the girl, she was worried that the girl might have run away from home into the forest again. She walked into the kitchen to see the little girl fanning the clay pot placed on fire as she sobbed.

Emmeline felt her heart, break. The little girl didn't deserve the treatment she was getting. "Aurora?". Emmeline called as she squatted to the girl's level. "What's the matter?. Emmeline asked as she wiped off the little girl's tears.

" Papa hates me. Why does he hate me? Is it because I am ugly?. The child asked, tearing up

Embracing the girl quickly, Emmeline felt her eyes sting. She didn't know the right word to console her. "Your grandfather does not hate you. Who speaks such rubbish into your head? is it, McCauley's children?. She asked not receiving a response.

" Child listen. Your grandfather does not hate you. Your grandfather is simply annoyed because he is a woodcutter and supplies few required things to the market. Believe me, child, lots of people are owing to him as he owes to them too. Don't take it to heart, okay?". The woman said as she continued to stroke her hair

"Promise me something, mama".