Faded Petal

Chapter 1 - Akiki - The Game

DAY THREE

If I had to squeeze all of my feelings for my friends all into one word, that word would simply be love.

I love my friends. They love me. Despite the current circumstances, we are all finding a way to remain happy, and the only reason we are able to do that is because we have each other. And no one else.

This morning, we are walking. And walking. The same as we always are.

George leads at the front like the mother duck. George is a very quiet boy, but he is caring and understanding. He's always looking out for us. I think that all of us would consider him our leader in a way. Even though he is not the oldest, he is the tallest by far, towering over the rest of us.

I'm not really aware of his story, and he doesn't seem comfortable with sharing it, which is completely fine by me.

I watch his steady feet as he plods along the dirt in his wellington boots. He treads out a path for us while pushing aside branches and bushes, looking back to make sure it doesn't hit anyone in the face as he lets go.

Behind him walks Edith. Edith is quite similar to George in the way that she doesn't speak much. During the little time I've known her, I haven't heard her talk a great deal, but I do know that she's an extremely sympathetic person. If one of us injures ourselves or gets a little overwhelmed, Edith is first to jump up and help them.

She is in her white gown today, holding it in her hands and lifting it slightly so that it does not get caught on any low branches, or drag on the dirty ground. She seems to wear this gown a lot. As much as it is impractical, it is beautiful- the way the sunlight hits it, she looks like an angel.

Edith is usually in her own world, daydreaming about whatever she daydreams about. We tend not to disturb her when she is having moments like this. She is only fifteen years old- the same age as George- but I always say she seems so sophisticated and grown up. She's tall, with silky light brown hair that brushes her back. She has the sort of face that you only see on grown-up women- full cheeks, rosy lips, long eyelashes and deep, soulful eyes. If only I was as beautiful as Edith, I would be the happiest girl alive.

Me and my best friend Beth follow Edith closely on the thin track, holding each others hands for balance. Although I am the newest addition to this small group, they immediately took me under their wing; which I am forever grateful for. In particular, Beth took an immediate shine to me, and from the moment we met we have been inseparable. 'Glued to the hip' as Charlie calls us.

Beth is everything I want to be. She is brave, talented, and always eager to experience new things and make extraordinary memories. We all look up to her in a way, although she is the youngest in our group.

Her black fringe is always pushed back from her pale face by a chunky headband- today it is red. A light scattering of freckles cover her nose and cheeks, and her hand firmly grips mine as she leads our way through the foliage.

With Beth being thirteen and me being fourteen, I am only a year older than her yet I view her as a sort of older sister. She cares for me, and when I'm with her I find myself doing things I would never be brave enough to do back home.

My little brother, our parents and I recently travelled here from Kenya. I feel my heart shatter a little every time I have to explain to people that not all of my family made it to England safely. On the bright side, my situation could be worse. I have a new family now.

Sometimes I get picked on for where I come from. People view me as different or even inhuman simply because my skin is darker than theirs. But not my friends. My skin could be the brightest shade of blue or a hideous orange, and they would not bat an eye. I look down again and Beth's fingers linked in mine, and smile. One of the first things that Beth taught me is that everyone is beautiful, no matter what you look like. It is the inside that counts.