The Forgotten Rose

The start of a new life

It was night outside, the candlelight was bright enough to make out the doors in the hallway, everything was so quiet, and even in the middle of winter, there was this warmth in the atmosphere, maybe it was because of the sweet feelings I felt toward the kids I watch growing up every day in the orphanage. Cries resonated in the hallway, I rushed toward the sound as fast as I could, and once I was in front of the door, I opened it only to see a scene that broke my heart, Lisa was crying and clinging onto the sheets and her beloved plush. I walked over to her, not saying a word there is no need, me and the kids here understand each other without talking, I sat on her bed and soon she noticed I was there she hurriedly hugged me as tight as she could like I would disappear if she let go. But luckily, she fell asleep almost right after, so I helped her back into her bed making sure she was comfortable, almost all the kids here have a tragic backstory, to that I always make sure they are well in here even if it is for a little time, sometimes they are here for a month, but I must be certain that their time here is unforgettable. I kissed her forehead and headed outside her room, closing the door as I walked past it. It must be past 10pm when I finish my tour so I walked back to the main hall where the next person will take after me, if the kids wake up, we must be there for them. I own the place, but they are too many for me to handle everything, so I hired two fantastic employees: Kira and Haileen. We have been working together for the past 2 years and I have no complain so far. I went to my room to change and go to bed. I could hear the bombing in the next city only some kilometers away, I fear they might be here already, ready to fire but awaiting a signal from the other soldier on the west side of the river. The first war being over was restful if only it could have lasted a little more, we could have left even with the kids, we are just fifteen, me included. Another bomb went off before the silence gained over our land. To my surprise today was warm, to anybody it could sound weird but here in the USSR it is rare to have those kinds of temperatures. I laid in bed and closed my eyes letting tiredness take over my body. Soon I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up early to walk to the market and pick up some vegetables, if there are any, if not I will get as much bread as possible. A group of people was gathered in a circle, they were loudly talking but still, nothing could cover up the man screaming at someone. I made my way through the crowd and saw an old man screaming at a kid, and I knew that the sound was going to alert the authorities, and this is the last thing we want. The man was about to hit the kid, so I got in between and received the hit instead of the child. He was startled by my actions and went to hit again but this time I dodge it, and swerved back, making him loose balance then I pushed him, and he fell when I hit behind his knee. Rare are the women who can fight in this country but my father and mother both knew how to fight so, very young, they trained me "just in case" but I know they had enough knowledge to predict a war was coming sooner or later. My father was well known in one of the highest ranks of this society. Even Stalin knew him, not in a good way perhaps, since not too long after the declaration of the second war, he was executed in public because, I quote: "He was a traitor and thug, threating the good nation Lenin worked so hard to build". The kid I was protecting ran up to me, hugging my leg tightly. Soldiers came to us; thanks to the fracas the people were making. They knew me by now, all the kids I am helping are kids I protect and that were living on the streets; because their parents didn't want them or died. The police always they came to see what was happening, they didn't care about the kids, but they pretended to. Why? I have no clue. After explaining the situation to them, they left with the man, not because he was abusing this child but because he said, "The regiment can go die and fuck Stalin!" So, I don't think he is going to bother anyone anymore. The kid told me his name was Ony and he is 4 years old. I asked him if he had any family, I could return him to, my heart broke when he told me, that his family wasn't in this country, but he doesn't know how he got here. I took him home, with for once, some vegetables, bread and a bit a meat. The kids are going to be so happy; I bring meat home and a new brother.
And it didn't miss: everyone was around me and Ony, their eyes were full of wonder and curiosity at the sight of the new member of our little family. He was really shy and hid behind me, trying to cover himself with my dress. I removed my boots and headed to the kitchen, I introduced him to the other kids, and they went upstairs to play. I took this opportunity to cook, it has been a long since I last cooked, with the ingredients I got at the marked I decided to do a simple soup with a bit of meat and potatoes on the side. By the time I finished with the food, it was about 10pm and I was about to call the kids to come eat when a knock interrupted my thoughts, somebody was outside past curfew. What kind of person would be crazy enough to break the law?! Especially with the troops looking in this area, because it is known by the authorities that our neighborhood like to disobey orders. I hesitantly walked to the door, peeking behind the curtains to see who the person was, who dared to do such a stupid and dangerous act. But I was not ready to see a woman and a man, dressed very nicely, surrounded by soldiers. The woman caught me looking at them through the window. I hurriedly open the door letting them inside, at that moment rain started to pour down and onto the streets. I feel very uncomfortable in their presence, and not to forget why they are here, which is also stressing me.