Phoenix
I didn’t want to wake up from my deep sleep. No matter how many tis I tried, I couldn’t open my eyes. Maybe because I was afraid of the darkness that embraced every ti I tried to look around.
Or maybe it wasn’t the sleep but the reality that I was trying to avoid.
Death.
I must have died and gone to the Moon Goddess.
After receiving this much hate, I didn’t think any person would want to live. What was there for in that world anyway?
I blinked in confusion and this ti covered my eyes with my palm due to the bright white light. Was Moon Goddess playing so kind of a joke on ?
"Are you awake?" Soone asked softly, and I smiled like a fool, thinking that this might be Moon Goddess.
"Hello," I mumbled, keeping my eyes closed, "I want to rest so more, Moon Goddess. All that hatred has made tired. Okay?"
Moon Goddess chuckled softly, and I felt a soft touch to my cheek, "You are not dead, little one," she rubbed her knuckle gently on my cheek, "There is still a lot of ti in that."
The touch reminded of my mom before she started hating . Out of nowhere, I felt tears pricking my eyelids.
"M..Mom?" Goddess. Why was I missing her? She was never there for when I needed her the most.
"Uh huh," I felt a cold cloth against my cheeks, "Your tears will wash away the ointnt, girl."
Ointnt?
This ti I did open my eyes and blinked several tis, trying to adjust to the light.
The ceiling above was made of wood. A woman’s face was leaning over . Soft features, gentle eyes, and hair tied ssily.
She must be middle-aged, but the calmness on her face was sothing that I found rare.
"Y...You’re not the Moon Goddess?" I was feeling kind of stupid.
She chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, "Nope. Just a tired woman who loves baking. I’m Kiki."
Kiki?
She straightened and walked to the other side of what looked like a wooden hut.
"You were sleeping by the river when I found you. Thought you were dead," she shrugged, "but your heartbeat was good, so I brought you here."
I tried to sit up, but my body protested like it was made of wood. My cheeks stung a little.
Oh, no!
My hand flew to my face, and I turned slightly away from her, rembering my mask. She noticed it and smiled, "Don’t worry," she pulled a stool closer to bed, "I applied a salve and thankfully it worked. Your worms are very naughty. It took so ti to take the gunk out," she helped up, "Life taught better, so no need to feel conscious."
She placed a steaming bowl into my hands. The sll made my stomach growl embarrassingly loud.
"Bone broth," she sat on a stool, "It will give you strength. Wait... let bring so bread too."
I stared at the bowl and then at her. She brought the bread and offered it to .
I was still not sure if this was real or if I was dreaming.
"Co on," she nodded at , "Take it."
I accepted the bread and gave a little dip in the broth.
"What’s your na?" she asked .
I glanced up in confusion, "Hmm?"
"What’s your na, love? And please eat your bread," she pointed towards the bowl on my lap.
"Phoenix," the mont I said it, she started laughing. I looked up again in confusion and saw her shaking her head.
"I’m sorry... but seriously? Phoenix?"
"Yeah!" Ignoring the sarcasm in her tone, I moved my attention to the al and started eating the bread after dipping it in the liquid, "Because I’m strong and risen from the ashes, so I think it suited ," I explained to her, chewing my food.
The bun was fresh, and the broth tasted delicious.
I never told anyone why I chose my na. She was the first with whom I shared this.
And then I realized another thing. She was the first person, after Jai, with whom I was relaxed, without wearing a mask.
There was comfortable silence in the hut, and I didn’t want to think about Luna Raya, so I shot her with the first question that popped up in my mind,
"You live here, Kiki?"
"Not exactly," she took the empty bowl from my hands and walked to the kitchen corner, "It’s kind of a vacation getaway, my husband built it for ."
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, my loud burp beat to it.
We both chuckled, and I shook my head, "Sorry for that. I was very hungry, and thank you for being so kind, Kiki."
Thank you for not being a douche bag like Raya or Kiara or Tina or Tamia or my mom or my father ...
Argh. The list was endless.
"Stop thinking and go to sleep," Kiki commanded sternly, making jump.
"Sorry?"
"Whatever it is, Phoenix. It can wait. Right now, your mind and body need rest. Go to sleep and then let’s discuss what we need to do next."
Next?
There was no next.
I didn’t want to go back to that pack. Maybe I could help Kiki around here.
"What do you do, Kiki? I an for living?" As soon as I asked the question, my mouth got wide open for a big yawn.
"I’m a baker," she told sweetly and then passed a glare that resembled to my mom so much, "Now sleep!"
I rested my head back on the pillow and tried thinking about Jai. But my mind was so tired that it didn’t give enough ti to think and pulled into a deep slumber.
Fine!
I decided to take Kiki’s advice for now, not knowing that this was not the last one.
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