fly little bird

A cursed existence:

“Stay away from me,cursed one!” this phrase was one that Izza had heard time and again since she was able to speak and understand things.

“I am no cursed one, friend” the boy who had been yelling at her earlier had not anticipated such a response. “And if i was,” she said “it’s none of your business”. Izza took steps forward towards the boy who immediately ran away “that's what i thought” she uttered, satisfied.

  “Izza!” She turns around at the sound of her mother. With an exasperated sigh she follows her along “i told you to stay away from trouble! Come, we have to go fetch some water” her mother states grabbing her daughter’s arm.

  As Izza and Nemia, the mother, tradged along the path to the well, Nemia turns to face her daughter. “you know… it’s for your own good that i don’t want you going out”. Izza just nods her head in response, her thoughts elsewhere. “You can say it ,mother,” she says finally meeting Nemia’s gaze, “it’s because of my eye, isn’t it? I know you’re ashamed of me, and you have every right. I wouldn't want a daughter like me either.” Nemia’s eyes widen in shock “no Izza that’s not why…” but too late. Izza had already turned on her heel and was sprinting off in the opposite direction.

★★
 
 

The only sound that can be heard is the crunching of dead leaves under Izza's feet. The cold wind hits her pale round face and sends shivers down her spine. In her grasp, the jar that she was supposed to fill with water, earlier. But now as she moves down the road dragging the fabric of her dress reluctantly behind her, her thoughts drift elsewhere.

  “My mother is too strict with me,” Izza thinks. Her mind flashes to the recent marriage of her sister,Aliena, prompting a fresh wave of frustration.

  Aliena is the type of girl who knows how to keep her head down, the type of girl that never causes trouble. The big sister was too afraid of their father to even think about standing her ground, Aliena knew that the only solution to improve her circumstance was marriage, and so she did just that. The parents often praise her for her restraint, thankful that she never dares to complain. Izza on the other hand never understood and still doesn't understand why her sister would seemingly throw herself away through marriage. She cannot fathom the concept of submitting to the will of another.

  As Izza keeps walking, she starts to realize that she had wandered deeper into the forest than she had initially intended. With her eyes and ears alert, she hears the sound of leaves crunching in the distance. "Perhaps it’s just a cute animal," she wonders to herself. However, the sound repeats a second time, and this time it is accompanied by the rustling of branches above. Fearful that something may be nearby, she takes out the kitchen knife she always keeps with her and heads towards the direction of the disturbing noise.

  She suddenly hears the sound of a sword unsheathed. “Show yourself!” A voice shouts. It was a deep, velvety voice that echoed through the still air.
Taken aback by the situation, she stumbles and falls to the ground, which causes her jar of water to break into pieces. The sharp sound of shattering glass is accompanied by a hiss of disappointment from Izza.

“Darn it,” she complains, picking herself up despite the cold. She looks up, finding herself in front of a man who had just resheathed his sword. His eyes a piercing blue, and his long black hair flows down to his shoulders. He stands tall watching Izza with a careful eye as she brushes off the dirt and dust from her dress.
Before she could say anything else, the man speaks “well well, hello there” he greets with a smug smile.

“Hello?!” Izza responds, unable to hide her annoyance “you scared me!” She added then gesturing to the broken jar lying on the ground “and you broke my jar!” She glares at him accusingly.