“It’s not just that...” I began talking but suddenly the car ca to a stop.
“We’ve arrived,” the prince announced.
With such bad timing, we arrived at our destination and the conversation that I was having with the prince had to be put on hold. Prince Leonard got out of the car before extending a hand my way to help out.
“This place...” I murmured as my eyes widened in shock.
All my worries and the conversation that we shared had absorbed all of my attention and I didn’t recognize where we were headed until we had arrived. My hands flew to cover my mouth as I tried to stifle my cries of shock. My face and then my entire body suddenly felt numb from shock as my mind struggled to co to terms with the fact that I was truly back where it had all started.
“I can’t believe this...” I muttered as I turned to look at the prince while demanding silently for an explanation.
It was true that we didn’t always get what we wanted when we wanted it. Despite all the tis I prayed and wished that I could co back here, I knew well enough that it was nothing but a very distant dream. That was precisely why I couldn’t believe that I was now standing on the small path that led up to the orphanage where I grew up.
“Let’s walk from here,” he said as he held my elbow and urged for to follow him.
“Ok...” I whispered breathlessly as I looked all around to take in the familiar yet strange surroundings.
Wordlessly, I followed the prince down the path that I knew would take us to the front gates of the orphanage. The way my heart raced hard and fast in my chest was probably the only thing that made believe that what was happening could be real. Finally, I was back at the orphanage. I thought of Sally and then of the other girls that were still at the orphanage when I left. It felt like a lifeti ago since that day that everyone bid farewell. I was supposed to go off to find work but instead, I ended up being bought by the prince.
My eyes fell to his hand that was pulling by the arm as I struggled to co to terms with this unexpected turn in events. When the front gates ca into view, I suddenly felt a feeling that was very similar to fear.
“Wait...” I whispered as I yanked my arm back.
“What is it?” the prince asked as he turned back to look at with a worried look on his face.
My feet refused to take another step forward and it felt like they were now glued to the ground. Now that I was standing very close to the gate, it scared to go back inside. This place was supposed to be my ho and all the girls in the orphanage were supposed to be my family. However, after being sold off, I had started to see this place differently and there were tis when I realized that this wasn’t a place that I should co back to.
“I’m sorry. I’m just...a little scared,” I confessed hesitantly.
“There’s nothing for you to be scared about, Mila. I’m here with you,” the prince said.
I felt the warmth of his embrace as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled slightly against his much larger fra. His warmth and his familiar scent made feel at ease and I felt better almost instantly.
“I’m sorry. This is just very unexpected...and I’m not sure how I should feel...” I said before forcing a smile to my lips.
“Don’t worry too much. If this is too much for you, shall we head back for the day? We can co here again tomorrow or when you’re ready,” Prince Leonard suggested.
“No, I’ll be fine. Let’s go inside...” I replied instantly.
Since we had co all this way, I couldn’t just turn back and run from whatever truth was waiting for . I truly appreciated the prince’s concern but at the sa ti, I was certain that there was sothing that he wanted to show . This visit that he had planned didn’t feel like just a simple surprise for to drop by where I used to live. My eyes narrowed slightly as I stared at the closed gates while I wondered how the prince found out about this place. Was it possible that he knew all about my background all along? Did that information co along with when I was purchased?
“Ok, then...” he said before we walked together toward the gates.
To my surprise, no one ca out to greet us. Had Mada Monica known that soone as important as the prince was here to visit, there was no way that she wouldn’t co out to greet him. The orphanage was also oddly quiet, and I couldn’t see a single girl playing outside. The driver who drove us there was the one who conveniently unlocked the gates and opened it for us before bowing respectfully.
“It’s so quiet here...” I murmured as a tight knot started forming in the pit of my belly.
The place was so silent that it felt like there wasn’t a soul residing inside or anywhere close by. However, how could sothing like that be possible when just not so long ago, this place was filled with girls.
“Shall we go inside?” the price said invitingly.
“Umm...” I murmured with uncertainty.
I wanted to go inside to see for myself what was really going on with the place; however, I was sure that the orphanage wasn’t in a state that could be used to welco the prince.
“Let’s go,” he urged before ushering forward.
The front door of the building wasn’t even locked, and we were able to make our way in with ease. Just like the outside, the inside of the building was completely silent and void of life.
--To be continued...
Reviews
All reviews (0)