Raised to be mere objects, silent and obedient; condemned to live in a realm of terror where no daughter is safe. The story was forgotten by all those who chose to close their eyes to injustices, while others had their freedom and every one of their...
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Lilith stumbled fearfully behind five youths much taller than her, who looked at her with a mix of confusion, pity, and offense. Three smiling boys walked behind them.
They were at the port of Apis, where the market was also located, filled with fresh fruits and brightly colored flowers. The group moved through the crowd, which greeted them with excitement. The entire town had gathered to see them off.
Everyone was too tall for her; she couldn't see anything but a mass of bodies and the clear sky. She had to almost jog to keep up with the youths she was accompanying. She carried none of her belongings; everything had been reduced to ashes, lost forever. The little girl had spent two days in the care of the elderly couple who had saved her. With much sorrow, that morning they dressed her in a brown overall that the old man had kept from his childhood, and they sent her off with a cloth bag that contained only a green apple and a white nightgown tailored to her size, quickly sewn by the old woman.
They didn't have much money, but they had plenty of love to give her. However, Afrodísio Tábido Vetusto was sending the girl in search of a family in Vulpes.
The crowd shouted, the music was too loud, and no one seemed to care about her presence or well-being. They began to push their way up the gangplank leading to the galleon. Its size made it unmistakable: one of the royal ships.
The girl looked at the ship with admiration and fear. The stories about the open sea had always disturbed her sleep, but standing before a ship of such large dimensions made her feel as though she could cross the entire world safely, unaware that she was the only one who felt that way.
Large seagulls, with white or brown feathers, circled over the heads of the people, anxiously waiting for them to leave so they could return to stalking the fishing boats in search of their lunch.
As she moved forward, she noticed the dark wood of the ship, where foxes in various poses had been carved. At the bow, a fox twice the size of the others stood, eyes closed, enjoying an imaginary breeze. The white sails, slightly tinged with green, were furled high on the masts.
Once they boarded, the crowd began to cheer with more excitement, the shepherd dogs howled and wagged their tails, while the sailors ran from side to side, preparing to set sail. They began to drift away slowly, and the entire town waved them off, shouting words of encouragement and good luck. Lilith couldn't understand what they were saying due to her fear. Sitting on the ground in a hidden corner, she watched.
"Mom, help me," she whispered over and over, under her breath.
The sailors and the ship's maids hurried around, preparing everything for the journey.
