My Protector

Epilogue

"Why must you be so difficult, Rumani?" He sighs.

"I already told you father. I don't want to." I tell him.

He sighs again and shakes his head. "All you have to do is is be there for the village and let the protector do his job."

"The village disrespects me. I doubt they would want me to look out for them as much as I don't want to. Plus, Ezra is doing his job."

"You're making it much harder on him than it should be by running off into the woods where it's dangerous. You know that-"

"But father-"

His hand flies across my cheek, knocking me to the floor with tears built in my eyes. I stare up at him in disbelief.

"You know not to interrupt me. Show some respect. I keep a roof over your head, give you a protector. You are a part of my family, you need to act as such instead of running off into the woods where you know there is danger lurking in the shadow of the trees." He states with calmness in his voice. "Do you understand Rumani? No more going off into the woods, or there will be consequences."

I stay on the ground and stare at it and nod my head. "Yes father."

It's disrespectful to look into the eyes of your elders when you're punished, or stand back up when you're knocked to the ground. I wait until my father turns his back on me and leaves before I start to cry.

Why does everything have to be so terrible? No one in this village respects me. How am I supposed to look after them when my father passes if they don't even want me too?

After a couple minutes of crying and questioning my life, I peel myself off the tear stained floor and fan myself with my hands to get rid of the redness to my face. I don't want anyone to know that I've cried. I rather the village think that I don't care than to see me cry. When I feel my color go back to normal I head to my room and stare out the window.