Your War, My War

| Chapter III |

No, no, no. I have to return home. I really was out here this long? His eyes furrow. 

"Are you alright?" He asked. I calm myself down and nod. I use my thumb to point to the door as walk backward toward it. I wave to him. 

"Goodbye, young one! I hope that one day we will meet again." He says, waving with a tool still in his grasp. A smile finds its way onto my face. I realize its existence and I stop in my tracks. I touch my face. I touch my heart. I love this feeling. I love it. 

I can't wait to see you soon, Mr. Gregory. Tonight, I ought to pray for you. You will be blessed. I ran through the streets feeling overjoyed. I didn't care who saw me, I didn't care what anyone thought of me. I was happy in my own thoughts, in my own world. 

Safely, I made it back to orphanage, I climb up the tree and reach to the window. I stumbled, rolling into the room. I entered with an echoing thud. I rub my leg, getting up slowly. I barely made it. Footsteps appear to be coming closer. I get out of the awkwardly indented room of the orphanage and walk in the other direction. Sisters spot me and ask me about my well-being. I nod saying nothing, but they insist on checking my body for injuries. I shrug off the help, waving my hands in front of my body. They smile and wave a goodbye, returning in the way they came. 

The bruise did hurt, but pain is all in the mind. I focus on another part of my body. I walk into a large room with long tables, and a few chairs at each one. A seemingly normal amount of people were there. The room wasn't completely filled, or completely empty. I'm right on time. I get my materials and then sit in my assigned seat. A few girls next to me talk in hushed voices until the teacher for today comes in.

9:00 P.M. School. The weather looked fair, partly cloudy.

Because of the different age range, the room is sectioned. One part is for the older girls, and the other side for the younger ones. In the end, we tend to read a lot of books and learn mathematics. Books are my teachers. All I ever learned was from a book. Whether I read it myself, or someone used it to teach, it was all the same. Although, it can bore anyone to read for extended periods of time. I make do. I fidget with different small items, giving my fingers and mind something minor to do. 

Along with academic things, we also learned things about women. How to talk, walk and function around a male human. Puberty was never overlooked, as that was the root to most talks, leaving girls grossed out. The topic of menstrual cycles was one of the most reoccurring themes. I thought it was quite odd that I never experienced any of this. I had hit my teen years, not understanding the sensation of this cycle. Other girls had very well felt it, but I hadn't. With their experiences, I was partially glad I hadn't gone through it, but teachers had explained that these cycles were important for reproduction. I'm young, and I don't prioritize love. Would future me prioritize love? I wouldn't know. It seems like there isn't much hope for me. Whether I wanted love or not, I don't like I'll ever get it. The folks at the church made it very clear. 

After a few hours of learning, it was dinnertime. It wasn't exactly dinner, but since older girls only got a breakfast and lunch, it was considered "dinner".  As the food was being prepared and finished, younger children would run around the classroom. Freedom. They would go to friends talking about whatever they found interesting.

They'd stop in their tracks every time they'd hear footsteps but become relieved when it is just a maid or another girl. Older girls would often help prepare the food, just as in the morning.

1:00 PM, dinner. No surprise if it is the same food as Monday's, and last Friday's and Wednesday's. 

Just as breakfast, there would be no talking and you are to remember your manners at the table. Once everyone was finished, there would be more cleaning and chores to be done. As older children got ready to go back to school, younger children got this time as a "playtime," as they do not do chores at their age. They are, however, introduced to the chores, as sometimes they watch older girls work their magic.