ASCELLA: The Untold (Untold Stories 1)

01

I slowly pulled the bowstring of my bow along with the arrow and tried to aim for the pheasant. Letting go of the arrow and staring towards where it's headed surely is the most heart-pounding moment when hunting with a bow and arrow. 

As expected, it hit my target. I went to where the pheasant fell and held its feet to the sky. I turned around and decided to go to the market to buy some bread. I went home and saw my mother fixing my bed, I looked at her and smiled. I could never ask for anything more. 

Having my mom beside me, a house that is stable enough to stand during storms, and food to eat during the day is enough for the both of us to live. Even though I know this won't surely last but what's more important is that we have each other. 

"You stink, Ascella! I prepared a bucket of warm water inside, you should wash," Mom said as she went near me and smelled my forest-like scent.

"You'd rather have someone who smells like this rather than having no one beside you," I uttered and placed the pheasant on the table.

"You're....." I immediately turned my back to look at Mom when she began to breathe heavily. "You're just like your...f-father," she stuttered.

I sighed when I saw her teary-eyed. "Of all the people in the world, why would you always say that I am so much similar to Dad?" my blood boiled when he mentioned Dad. We promised each other not to talk about him when he left us with nothing.

"He's still your dad, Ella," she answered while cleaning the pheasant.

"I'd rather have a dead father than to recognize that scumbag as my dad," I nagged.

"What an odd thing to say, El-"

"End of conversation, Mom!" I shouted while I was on my way to our little bathroom.

My dad left us when I was four, he said that he can't live with Mom anymore and that he was so sick of living life so poorly. My mom has a weak heart that's why I don't want her talking about Dad. She's the only one I have, I can't afford to lose her. I went out and wore my clothes to join her for breakfast. She said that she needs to go to the city square to ask her friend to repair my corset.

Alone at home, I don't know what to do so I decided to go to my favorite place. I brought my bow and arrow in case I encounter something. My mom named me after the star from Sagittarius, she said that I had my birthmark under my armpit and therefore named me 'Ascella'.

 I was headed to my favorite place, it's at the end of the forest by the river stream. The river stream was caused by the falls, I love the silence and solidarity that's why I admire staying there. I sat down at the same place where I would throw stones and let my feet dip themselves on the water. 

Something caught my attention, I noticed something move along the woods. My curious feet followed it, after minutes of walking and following my instincts I reached the end of the stream and found nothing. I was catching my breath and found myself thirsty. My mom always told me not to drink water from the river so I had no choice where to drink.