The refugee
I grew up in a very small and peaceful town called Palma. Despite frequently feeling like the black duck, I cherished and valued every aspect of this town. I was different then Palmans. Nobody knew where I came from. The schoolmaster, Miss Pali, found me in a small boat on the river Inara when I was 4 years old. She named me ‘Aelia’, ‘the daughter of the sun’, because of my blond-blue-eyed features which were unfamiliar to Palman locals.
Palmans had a special interest in almost every branch of arts and science therefore I was lucky to receive an exceptional education from the town's schoolmaster. By the time I was 18, I was able to speak, read, and write in many languages. I could design small devices, I could sew and I was able to play the piano quite well.
However our peaceful life in Palma came to an end when Hondorians invaded the town. Miss Pali forced me into the boat that she found me in and I left the town in the same boat that I came there with. I was on my own now, all alone. I was in the boat for 5 days, trying to get away from the invaders as far as I could.
I saw a town on the horizon and I decided that I was gonna take my chances there. I have never been outside of Palma, It was going to be the first town that I was going to visit. My first impression was that people looked more like me, taller and more slender then Palmans, but they looked mean at first glance. As I walked on the street everybody was staring at me with a weird impression on their faces. I went to the tavern to ask for information about the town elders. As I entered the tavern, silence fell over the room.
“Excuse me, sir, I was looking for the elders of this town.”
The bartender was looking at me with a shocked impression. He was standing behind the counter with his dirty beard and old clothes.
“Sir, do you speak my language?”
“Uhm.. Yes... I do... You are looking for who now?”
" The elders of the town , sir”
" Do you mean like the governor? ” he asked with a confused impression on his face.
A humming started in the tavern. I did not intend to create such attention. I got the address of that governor guy and learned that the town was called Pomaria.
When I reached the governor’s place, his maid opened the door. I explained my situation and asked to speak with the governor personally. After waiting at the entrance for a while, the maid escorted me to the parlor room. The governor was there, he was a middle-aged man with a good posture in a very nice suit and looking at me with the same confused impression on his face as the people in the tavern.
“Pardon me sir for disturbing you at such a late time, but I am in a stressful situation and seeking humanitarian refuge until I find a way to stand on my feet again.”
" Please miss, sit down. How can I help you? ”
“Sir, my name is Aelia, shortly ‘Lia’. I am from Palma.”
I told him what happened to our town and how I ended up here. He listened to me very carefully and welcomed me to stay there for the night.
" Oh thank you very much, sir. I hope I won’t be a burden.”
" You are our guest until we find you a safe place ma’am. Please make yourself at home” he said very politely.
I stayed at the governor’s place for three nights and I was treated like a queen. The maids bathed me, they lent me silk dresses of the governor’s daughter. I was not used to wearing such revealing clothes but I had to admit they looked amazing. The governor kindly asked me not to go out because first, he needed to explain to the people of Pomaria that I didn’t pose a threat to them and make sure they understood it.
’It is for your own good Miss.”
" Of course Sir, I understand ”
I felt a great appreciation for the governor. He was so generous and kind to me. I wished that one day I could return the favor.
