𝖘𝖍𝖊 | yelena

1

Liya:

"Liya, please don't run too far off," the caretaker of my orphanage, Miss Daisy, said to me. I nodded my head quite aggressively as I was hyped up. Miss Daisy has never let any of us run out of the orphanage premises, she whispered something along the lines about us being Eldians.

Well, since she was talking to dumb kids, we didn't understand anything she said, and continued to beg her to let us go out. Since I was one of the elder kids here, she let me go buy something from the bakery down the street, she trusted me not to go far, handing me a small amount of money.

"I would ask another kid to follow you, but they're all sleeping and once they know I let you go the whole orphanage would want to follow," I giggled at her. It was 8 in the morning, and I had woken up to help my caretaker cook breakfast for the other kids. Today I turned 12 but our place didn't have much money to buy even a cake to celebrate each of our birthday. Feeling guilty she let me make a request that she would 100% fulfill.

And that's when I asked to go outside, to town. Of course she didn't want me to go but seeing my pouty face that she had a soft spot for, she instantly let me.

"I'll promise I'll be back before 9," and with that I took of running, my black curly hair that seemed to look red under the bright sunlight was flying all over, my little white dress flowing with the wind.

The orphanage was in a secluded place, far from town, on top of a hill, with a wide field for us kids to play around in. It took quite a long time for my little legs to reach to the entrance of the gates, a big smile overtaking my face as I finally took a big step outside.

I stopped my dramatic run, walking slowly as I tied my hair in a low ponytail, tucking the stray strands behind my ear.

"Where is the bakery?" I asked myself, as I walked around for awhile, not yet reaching the busy town. But once I did, my eyes widen, seeing people bustling around, greeting good morning to each other. Some adults saw me and gave me a smile, while some made a face. Tsk, child hater. My Eldian band was now visible as I already tied my hair a while ago.

My light green eyes glimmer in excitement as I saw many shops down the street. Heaven, I thought. My legs walked faster, my stomach growling as I wanted to eat a sweet treat quickly.

Bakery, bakery, bakery, I kept chanting in my head.

Aha! Anne's Bakery! A way too big signboard above a small shop. I walked towards the door, bells jingling as I opened it.

"Hi, welcome to-oh, a kid!" A loud cheerful old lady greeted me as I entered, her hands clapping as her cheeks looked like they were gonna burst from smiling too big.

"Donuts," I whispered softly. I want donuts. I didn't even hear what the woman was saying, my eyes was just focusing on the dessert in front of me. I looked like I was crazy with my mouth wide open, saliva threatening to spill out and my eyes in a haze.

"What was that dear?" she asked me. I lifted my right arm pointing straight at the circular goody that seemed to be covered in chocolate and rainbow sprinkles.

Yummy. I want to gobble it. Now.

"You want the chocolate donut?" I nodded my head in response. It wasn't like I was a timid girl, I was just too hungry to talk.

"One chocolate donut coming right up," she pulled out the tray and took the dessert that was soon to be in my stomach and proceeded to put it in a paper bag.

I didn't understand how money works so I just gave her all the money I had. "that's too much!" she exclaimed as she gave me back half of the pennies I put on the counter.

"Here you go darling," she handed me my food and I said a quiet "thank you" before leaving the shop.