Chapter 2: Chapter 2
(Lena's POV)
"What is this?" my father asked, drawing a couple of words on the sand.
"L-E-N-A" I spelt delightfully. "That is wonderful my darling," he said, smiling. "Now, pronounce it little by little," he concluded.
I looked at the letters carefully and pronounced them in my head. Facing my father, he looked at me with a face that urged me to try.
Turning back to the ground, I opened my mouth in an attempt to make a pronunciation. "LE-NA?" I said in a "not so sure tone", looking at my father. "Fantabulous!" he exclaimed, picking me from the ground and throwing me high into the sky.
I felt happy and scared at the same time. Happy I got it right and fearful I might get injured from the throw.
Despite being afraid, I smiled in a way that opened the upper set of my teeth. Luckily, my father caught me in his arms. I, then, laughed at the successful landing. My father, who did not understand the reason for my laughter, joined me.
"Food is ready." my mother said, stretching her neck out to see us. "Okay darling." my father replied. Coming out completely, my mother walked up to me and stretched out her arm to carry me. I quickly ran to her and jumped up and down.
She carried me and made a signal to my father to join us. "I will be back in a jiffy," he answered and they both smiled in a way I do not seem to understand. They did it as if sending a secret message.
Taking me inside, I noticed a change in my mother's face. Her smile faded and a sad expression appeared on her face.
*******
"Open your mouth." my mother said, stressing the last word. I obeyed as I giggled, clapping both hands happily.
"What should we do now?" my father asked her. "I do not know. I am confused right now," she replied, scraping the grains from the body of the plate and feeding me. "You know, today is the last day and I do not want to annoy him." my father said as he rested his hand on the handle of the dining chair. "Please, do not do that." my mother spoke, immediately dropping the spoon angrily on the table.
"Calm down please." my father said. He looked at her deeply and turned to me. He did it in a way that made my mother realize I was there. "Okay," she responded to the signal.
"Daddy, I want to sleep." I broke the silence that lingered for a long time. I had lost my appetite for food because my mother was not feeding me happiness. I also felt uncomfortable and decided to lie about being sleepy.
Opening my arms wide, I turned to my father who pushed his food aside and stood to carry me.
"Mummy," I called, snapping her out of her thoughts. Smiling, she walked to where we were and gave me a peck on my cheek. "Goodnight darling." I knew the smile was not genuine but I had to feign happiness by smiling back.
I rested my head on my father's shoulder, holding him tight. All of a sudden, I slept off. Should I say it was because I faked being sleepy or I was sleepy?
It happened earlier than I expected anyway.
*********
"Where is she?!" I heard voices from outside my room. I was feeling a little bit of a headache and I felt like throwing up.
The temperature of the room was hotter than usual. I could not help but keep turning gently on the bed. "Daddy. Mummy." I said, moaning and sitting up. I rubbed my temples and sobbed quietly. I needed to see my mother for comfort but she was not there yet.
Looking around the room, I turned slowly. My hands and knees are on the bed, in a doglike position. Holding the edge of the bed, I supported myself to stand. I almost accomplished the mission when I felt a pair of hands on my waist.
I was glad. At least, my mother was there to help me. I, then, turned around immediately in a joyful manner. I was about to jump on my mother when I discovered something; it was not my mother.
"My little sweet angel. Look at you." the person said, carrying me from the bed. "Who is this and what is she doing here?" I asked myself. Seeing she was not my mother, I let out a cry and struggled to free myself from her grip. "Leave me!!" I said in a way that resembled a scream to me.
I looked at her and all she did was smile, showing her dimples that were deep into her cheek.
It was then, that I recognized her. "Aunt Ashley!" I said as I embraced her. Her smile, then, became wide. "How are you doing my beautiful Lena?" she asked. "I am fine," I replied, tugging her shirt.
"Good girl," she said. Then, she looked at me intensely and a tear dropped from her left eye. This was surprising to me because I had never seen her shed tears. I used my right thumb to wipe the tear that almost reached her mouth and hugged her tight.
Clueless of the ongoing situation, I prayed and wished all was alright. But unfortunately, things had become worse than I thought.
*******
"What will happen to her?" "Can you please call her cousin?" These questions were what I heard as I was being carried by my aunt.
As she opened the cotton wide, I saw family members I had never seen before. Not that they were celebrating but they all wore an expression that portrayed sadness.
Looking around, I came down from the arms of Aunt Ashley and walked barefoot. I staggered as I walked because my legs felt like they were going to pull off any time soon.
I had not taken three steps when my leg hit something that looked like a thick stick. "Ouch," I exclaimed in my mind as I almost stumbled.
Raising my head to blame my aunt for allowing me to get down, I saw two beings wrapped in leaves on the floor of our living room.
"Who are these?" I asked, walking to see their faces. I walked gently to where their heads faced.
"Mummy ....and ....Daddy?" I said, looking at everyone in the room. They began crying and that was what I did not understand.
I just stood there, expecting my parents to talk. That did not happen. I became speechless and just surprisingly opened my mouth.
Little did I know that that day was the beginning of my doom.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone