The Girl Under The Moonlight

The moon was bright and I could clearly see everything around me but there's this feeling, the feeling of sadness. As I continue to walk in the park, this feeling seemed like it became a lit bit more specific.

Maybe it's because of thinking too much about this feeling that I didn't noticed that girl. Everything seems happy and calm around me except her. She may look beautiful and glowing under the moonlight while staring blankly at the sky filled with stars but there's something different with her aura.

When I stopped near her she suddenly looked at me. It was as if I was an intruder in the space she created for herself. The look on her face, I definitely know that. She then looked down the ground and sat on the nearby bench.

I don't know what's with me that night but I followed her and sat beside her. It's very quiet and one could feel the awkwardness between us. I don't know what came to me but I suddenly felt the want to ask her a question to break the ice.

"What are your favourite childhood memories?", that was the question that came out of my mouth before I could even think about it. I was about to take that back when she started to answer my question which began with a sigh.

This was what she told me. "You know when I was a child, my mom and me would always play hide and seek. I would try my best to hide from her. She would also laugh whenever she finds me. I also remember her teaching me household chores so that when I grew up, I would be able to stand by my own foot."

"When I come home from school, tired or not, she would be there to welcome me home. Whenever she would cry, I will always be there to comfort her."

"And my most favourite childhood memory would be everytime that I could see her smile."

I smiled at her. I really envied her at that moment because she had a loving mother by her side. I was jealous because I didn't get to experience that so much when I was young due to my mother's work schedule. We talked a bit more. We were able to share a lot of things to each other. It is getting later and later. I then remembered us parting on that fateful night.

The next morning I recieved an invite from my friend who is also my neighbor to come to their house to celebrate his cousin's birthday this afternoon. I felt embarrassed that I don't have a gift for his cousin and that I don't even know her so I told him maybe I shouldn't come but he told me that was fine.

I decided to go there earlier. Me and my friend chatted while the party wasn't starting yet and I suddenly remembered that girl and I asked him if he knew that girl and told him that I actually talked to her even though I don't know her. He asked me if what did we talked about and I recalled the events from last night.

Surprise was evident from his face then it suddenly turned into what looks like of realization. Apparently she was his cousin who was celebrating her birthday. Last night she went out of their house looking sad and lost in thoughts and came home as if some weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

His father passed away when she was little and after that event, her mother became depressed and abusive towards her. Her mother would always beat her and she would hide from her and whenever she found her she would laugh maniacally and beat her repeatedly.

She knew her way around the house at a young age because of her mother. Her mother would force her to do household chores and would yell at her if she made mistakes. When she comes home from school, her mother would welcome her with beating and yelling.

And the truly heart wrenching above all is that she was willing to take every single word and blow from her mother because she felt like that's the only way to comfort her and make her smile. She would only see her smile a few times.

My friend's mother was the one who discovered everything that was happening and rescued her. She wouldn't open up or talk to anyone and that's why my friend was surprised to know that she talked to me.

There was silence between us until his mother called us. It was time to celebrate his cousin's birthday. At that moment, I knew what that feeling from the night before was, it was loneliness. She was lonely all those times and I know that feeling cause I've been there.

Ten years had passed and many things had changed about that girl. I learned that her mother is being treated for her depression and other mental illnesses since then and still is right now. While that girl, she's happy now. I am glad she is happy now. She's living peacefully right now. She is the girl under the moonlight and I will never forget her.

"Honey, come inside. You seem deep in your thoughts. Mind telling me what you are thinking about?"

"It's not what. It's who. Don't ask anymore questions, love, and don't be jealous! I know that face already! If only you know."

"Alright alright. Let's just go inside. The kids are waiting. "

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RenaMaceyM