IF ANYTHING CAN BE GOOD 1: Be Strong

Secret Revealed

ALICIA'S POV

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

"That Princess who is temporarily a slave is me" I laughed at my childishness.
"I hope you all enjoyed my true life story," I asked as the applause died down.

"Yeah, it was moving."

"Wow, so you're a Princess?"

"That's heart-wrenching."

"I can't believe you endured such trauma."

"You're incredibly brave."

"You're so resilient, and I admire that."

Several responses came my way.

"Thank you, everyone," I replied to them.

"Now, that's enough bedtime story! Get to sleep NOW!" a gin yelled. We call them gins instead of guards; they don't really protect us. They protect themselves.

We prepared for bed on the ground as usual, and as I drifted off to sleep, I was plagued by nightmares, more like memories still haunting me. But before I slept, I always did something...

"Thank you, Lord, for another day. I cover my sleep with the blood of Jesus! Tomorrow is blessed. Thank you, LORD," I prayed silently before drifting off.

*****

"Wake up, you lazy pigs!" Another gin yelled, and we were so used to it. After the yelling came the flogging.

After the flogging, we began moving. The gins got into their truck while we slaves walked.

We were famished, exhausted, but who were we to complain? I could only speak to God in my heart. Since Charlie died, I've been on my own. No one to say 'I love you,' but I'm grown now, so I don't need anyone to tell me that. Or do I?

We walked for what felt like a century until the gins said they wanted to take a break. So, we climbed into the back of the truck and sat on the cold ground, waiting for the gins.

A gin entered with a pot of food, but it was leftovers, more like spoiled food.

"Our lunch is cold, spoiled noodles with a small bowl of water. Eat this. I don't want anyone causing a scene," the gin said, and I felt like spitting on him.

"I can't eat this. I won't eat this. I'm a human being, and I deserve proper food, not dog's food," I protested. What was wrong with that woman? Did she want the gin to take the food away from us?

"Who said you're not a dog in human form?" The gin laughed.

"I did. And I deserve proper food," the woman insisted.

"Hello, guys, a woman said she wants proper food. Let's take her food and water so she'll starve," the gin whispered into his phone, but I could hear everything. The woman was too far away from me, so I decided to warn her of the impending danger.

Another gin came in, collected her food and water, and left.

"That's right! You're supposed to treat us like humans, not dogs," the woman said defiantly.

As soon as they left, nobody said a word to her, including me. We knew what was coming.

"Come on, guys! Stop eating. They're going to bring us good food," she said enthusiastically, and we all glared at her. I mean, all of us glared at her. "Why are you guys glaring at me? You're supposed to be appreciating me," she thought aloud.

We all laughed sarcastically because we didn't know how to tell her she was about to die.

"Why are you guys laughing?" She asked.