"daddy" Tania cries as she wakes up suddenly fom her dream, sweating wifh tears on her face.she looks about her confused at where she was,"oh no!" She says remembering that she was supposed to get the berries for her stepmother but had accidently slept after she rested for a while, she looked at the berries that she had managed to collect and picked some more so that her stepmother does not complain about a lack of berrie.
After picking the last ones she quickly makes her way back home. On her way she passes a clearing and stops there as her mind goes back some years....
"Tania!" Shouts a man as he takes a little Tania by the arms and flees for safety. "Hide here and stay here untill daddy comes and get you" .
"But daddy..."
"No buts!.... and remember daddy loves you very much" the man says with tears in his eyes.
"I love you too daddy"
"How much??".
"Very very much "
"Good girl, now stay here with mom untill I come back for you two"
"Daddy stay.. sta-yy-y..." the girl cries.
"Baby, there are people who need help out there, do you want me to help them?
"Yes..but"
"Tania"
"Ok but promise you will be back"
"I promise" the man says hugging Tania
She wipes her tears and continues walking, the pain that she felt when she heard about her father's death still the same after so many years. Her father saved so many people that day and died when he was trying to save a little girl about Tania's age, that girl became her best friend and was named Nancy.
She quickens her pace and makes it into her village just as it was getting dark.
"Why were you late?"her stepmother asks as she enters the house and leaves the basket in the kitchen.
"I'am sorry...I...." she replies scared.
"You what??...defiant?...huh."
"No, it's just that I....."
"What!!." "Meetin a guy cause I know that'be a lie. I mean who would want someone like you?? You're so ugly and fat."
"Next time I tell you to get somethin, you get it fast. Now get away from my face and no dinner for you"
Tania walks away and as soon as she enters her room tears start to fall down her face, she lies on her bed crying softly so as not to be heard.
"Shhh.. don't cry .." Nancy says as she pats her friends back.
"I-am f-f-in-ne" she tries to say
"Of course you are"she replies knowinly.
"How did you come in?"
"The normal way and don't try to change the subject" Nancy says.
"I don't want to talk about it"
"Ok but please sweetie" she says and holds Tania's face "know that you are very beautiful and any guy would be lucky to call you his.okay"
"Ok" she replies as more tears fall down her face
"Now stop crying. I'll come tommorrow and maybe then you'll tell me whats been botherin you" she says as she hugs Tania.
After Nancy had gone, Tania lies on her bed tired and slowly drifts off to sleep.
