MORNING STAR

She was sitting on her pinky chair for a while.

All the time, the boy was totally engulfed in his studies, oblivious to the existence of the child who was eagerly waiting to get her brother’s attention.

“What you are doing in school?”

She asked while wagging her legs impatiently.

Her blue-green eyes beamed at the back of her brother, but he was like a cursed prince who had been turned to stone by the spell of an old witch.

He was always like that.

Did her brother have tried to enter a witch’s house?

Is that why he is always like a stone?

Her mind cooked a thought and her little heart began to worry about her brother’s well-being.

Getting up from her tiny chair, she slowly walked toward her brother and rested her head on his table to look at his face.

Her brother exactly looks like a prince!

As usual, his handsome face carried a hint of annoyance. His eyes turned to her, and she smiled, showing all of her baby teeth but he looked away, giving an uninterested look at the baby girl.

“Go away, Saya.”

He said, trying to concentrate back on the book he was cramming.

Anyway, she was not one to listen.

Still keeping her head resting on the table, she scooched closer, giving puppy eyes.

“Will you read me a story?” She asked with hope.

“No.”

The boy replied with an irritated frown.

“Then I will tell you a beautiful story.” She said enthusiastically, much to the annoyance of her brother.

“No!”

As he said, her face fell and a pout formed on her cute face as she tried to coax him, though the boy was displeased with the small creature who was always here to disturb him.

All he needed was peace but she was ruining it too.

He thought in anger.

With the feeling of a slight tug on his shirt, he looked at his little sister who was playing with the fabric of his shirt.

“What now, Saya?” He asked sternly.

“Can I sleep with you today?”

The toddler asked while still tugging at the hem of her brother’s shirt.

“No! Sleep in your room.”

“But it is scary to sleep alone. What I do if night monsters came to take me? I’m scared.”

She replied hoping to convince her elder brother, but he didn’t have time to play along.

Stupid!

All the things babbled by his sister were nonsense and she was wasting his time.

“Will you sing me a song till I go to sleep?”

The little girl asked again.

“Ask Maggie”

“She doesn’t know songs. She always forgets words.” She pouted, giving a long face.

Oh god! She is annoying.

“Saya. Go to your room. I have an exam tomorrow.”

Whatever her brother said, the four-year-old was determined to fulfill her demands.

She was really scared to be alone.

All of her friends in the nursery slept with their parents or siblings, but she didn't have anyone to put her to sleep.

Maggie was kind, but her stories were boring, unlike her granny's.

Shaking her shoulders, she protested, in need of staying with her brother.

"Mmmmm……."

Enough with this tantrum!

The boy was getting impatient.

“Maggie! Maggie.” He shouted their nanny's name, and she came inside running.

“Take her to the room.”

The woman nodded at the command of her young master and held the baby’s arm to escort her to her tiny room.

“Come, Little miss. Your brother is busy. Don’t disturb him, okay?”

The woman softly said as she picked the baby up and walk out of her young master’s room.

“But he is always busy. He never plays with me.”

The child said sadly.

"He is studying hard, so one day he can look after you."

Maggie said to console the little heart of the child, but her baby face held sadness.

“Why is he always angry with me?”

The question made the woman’s heart tug in sympathy for the motherless child.

“No, he is not angry with you, my princess.”

“Yes, I know he is angry. His brows were like this when he was angry,”

She said as she drew a horizontal line in space with her finger.

“Just like Papa, when he was angry.”

She has seen her father always angry but not at her. He was always angry with her brother and her brother was always angry with her.

Her father was barely home so he didn't have time to even look at her.

"They are all angry." She said with a pout.

“Let’s sleep princess, okay?”

The maid suggested as she didn’t find an answer for the child. She was much more mature for her age and Maggie didn't have answers to give her.

So distracting her was the only way the woman knew.

“I will sing you a song,”

“Okay.”

She gazed at the rising sun on the eastern horizon.

The white curtain danced to the rhythm of the soft breeze, which carried the fresh smell of the hillside. It was a luxury of living far away from the busy town.

There was no one to disturb her, nor did she want anyone.

She preferred this way.

Living far away from everyone.

Living far away from him.

At least that is what she used to say to convince herself.

This was her way of moving on.

This house was her healing place and indeed, the warmth of her grandparent still was there to protect her and secure her even after all those years.

She never once left here for the past year, refusing to meet anyone. Crying, sleeping, and crying again was her daily routine till she, herself, slowly crawled out from the memories and the person she wanted to forget.

She learned the way to control and survive alone.

But did she move on?

A long sigh left her mouth as she looked at the bright sky to find a path. She needed light to chase away the darkness and expel the void in her heart, but to this day, she has yet to find it.

She was still lost in the middle of nowhere.

Saya looked back at the envelope in her hand.

She needs to start over from somewhere and it is good to start from where she has left off.

As Elliot said, this is the best opportunity to start over.

This envelope carried the key to open the path she always wanted to walk.

This letter carried the hope for the life she dreamed of before being bewitched by the illusion.

She can’t hide anymore.

At least for the sake of people who are worried about her, she needs to face life other than living like a dead.

Saya walked to the sofa sat there relaxing on the cushion and closed her eyes.

She felt tired and restless.

Last night, she was fully awake.

Her heart or mind was not ready yet but she needed to take the first step forward no matter what. Otherwise, there will be no hope or life left for her.

She should start to live her life.

She needs to live her own life, rather than living in life someone has forced upon her.

Opening her eyes with a long encouraging breath, she picked up her phone from nearby and then dialed the number she knew by heart.

She knows he must be waiting for her call.

By the first ring, the call had been picked and a surprised and elated male voice came out from the next side of the line.

“Hello! Saya?”

" I think you are right. I need to start from where I left off. ”

She told in one breath and she heard his deep exhaling, but after that, there was silence for a few seconds.

“Elliot?”

“Yes, princess. I heard you.”

His voice was full of bliss.

“When does the semester start? I will pick you up as soon as things get arranged."

He spoke in a hurry bringing a smile to her face.

"Did you tell your brother?”

Elliot asked and she left a breath.

“Not yet.” She told hesitantly.

“Tell him. He will be happy to know and Saya...?”

“Mmm?”

“Thank you!”

Elliot said and she frowned at the phone.

She should be the one to thank him. He was one person who brought a smile to her face even for a brief moment. He was one reason she wanted to come out of the hell hole she locked in.

“For what?”

“For trying. For trusting me.”

He said with a smile, even though she couldn’t see it.

A small smile formed on her face. She is grateful to him for all her life.

“I will call you back. Take care of you princess.”

"You too,"

The line went silent, and she put the phone away.

Maybe today is the day.

The day to start her life over again.

She wanted to be happy.

She deserved at least that much.