VinterKall

Kall

"It's cold..." I sighed holding the book I was reading. I looked out the window, I could see the white blanket that wrapped the trees in slumber, and not a single flower could be seen

I heard the door slam open. My gaze went to the woman holding the result of my exam. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?! WHY DID YOU GET JUST 95/100?! "I swallowed the lump in my throat, I held the book tightly and used it as a shield but it was pulled out of my grasp and used it to hit me. I felt the pain on my cheek and touched it,

' It's cold.. '

Ishe glared and threw the papers at me. "Simple numbers you can't even get it right?! You are seven years old! Are the lessons even going in that brain of yours' she shouted. I just bit my lower lip, afraid to speak because I knew she would be even more annoyed. " I'm Sorry mother ..." I slowly looked up and froze on my seat.

'Why is it cold...'

"You will not leave this room until you can answer the questions correctly" I closed my eyes at the force of the door closing. I slowly picked up the papers and held them tightly, holding back the tears that wanted to show.

"Not once did I feel the warmth of love in the Household" I whispered to myself.

The sun rose several times and the moon became my friend. One day, mother came to the room with a man. I looked at him closely. His eyes were as deep as the sea, his clothes looked educated. I did not move in my seat, studying their every move. "Ehem-" my attention went to Mother, "Evella, this is your next assignment. Make sure you can answer all the questions correctly or else" Mother insisted before leaving the room and left the two of us here.

'..It's cold-'

The man approached me as I stayed in my seat. Only now have I seen anyone other than Mother. I don't even know what my father looks like. Mother said, I look like that cheating man, I was dropped off at this household when I was three years old and left me with her. Dad never came back so she was forced to take care of me. Mom was not kind to me, I noticed that. But, I couldn't do anything because she was the one who gave me a place to stay and food to eat. I could do nothing but follow the conditions he gave me. I looked back at the man who was saying something, but I could not understand. 'Is he different like mom ..?' That's all that runs through my mind. "Would I feel w––'

"Elias" my deep thoughts were interrupted. I looked at him and his hand as if he was reaching out to me.

I looked back at him and realized he was introducing himself. "Evella, you can just call me eve though..." I said shyly. He smiled before getting books from his suitcase. "Let's start our session?" he said while opening the book. I just looked at my paper and took my pen.

'It's cold too...'

Every day he teaches me different subjects and every day Mother gives me a test to evaluate what I know. Mr. Elias taught me different techniques so I could avoid making mistakes. I made sure all my answers were correct because I did not want to get hurt. Previously, I got 96/100 in a short test and Mother poured my hand with hot water. It was a bittersweet memory now that I think about it

"AHH––" I screamed in pain before running to the nearest window I quickly opened it and buried my hand in the snow. Suddenly I felt the pull from behind me, I turned around and saw the man. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" he immediately took my hand and began to treat it. I stared at our hands, it was unfamiliar...

'It's warm...'

I look at the man, I watch him speak to himself. " sorry, sir .. "I said softly, and my gaze dropped. "No, I Should be the one apologizing because I didn't stop your Mother from hurting you, you are too young to understand what you are being taught..." he said. 'I am not used to the kindness he shows. I do not know what I should say in this situation

' This is new...' . I suddenly felt warmth all over my body. "What's happening?" is the question in my mind, I don't know what to do but return the hug he gives me.

'It's warm...'

While I was studying, a question suddenly came to my mind. "Mr. Elias? ..." I softly called the man who was quietly reading in front of me. He looked up and raised his brow, "Do you have a question, young lady?" I lowered my pen and leaned on the table," Can you recommend books that I can read after our session? "I asked. He looked up and folded his arms. "Ah-" he suddenly stood up and went to the bookcase. He returned to his chair and placed a book in front of me. I looked at it, "The Art of Living ..?" I read the title and looked at him. He just smiled and patted my head.

"You are not alive, you're simply just living" and then he left the room

I read it, the book became something that could fill up this hollow feeling in my chest. I stared at the door that I dare not to open. "It's been awhile since he visited..."my brows furrowed, "I want to get out..." I stood up and held the doorknob but I stopped midway, 'If I got out and mother catches me, what will happen to me? ...' I trembled and bit my nail. "No Eve, being locked in this room is not right..." I said to myself before opening the door. I was dazzled by the light in the hallway, I looked around. "The beauty of the outside ..." I was amazed at the big chandelier above. I started walking, 'I don't know where my foot is taking me but I couldn't care less. Everything is unfamiliar, why did she kept me in my room all this time?

'cold! ' I got goose bumps when I felt my hair being pulled. I cried out in pain and my blood went cold when I heard her voice. "What are you doing outside?! Didn't I say to never EVER leave your room?! " She pulled me violently. "Mother! I'm sorry Mother! "I whimpered, I held her hand tightly and tried to remove it but she was too strong compared to me. I looked around and found out that Mother had dragged me to the Kitchen. I groaned when Mother threw me on the floor. "You just don't learn, do you?!" Mother said angrily. "No worries, you will learn after this!" Mother took the boiling water over the stove.

'It's cold...' I looked at the table and saw a match. If only I were a little closer then I could reach it.

'It's cold...' I looked again at the woman in front of me, slowly approaching me long holding the boiling water. 'I want to feel warm...' My gaze went back to the match on the table. 'This was my chance—' I immediately ran to get the match and started a fire. She stopped and looked at the match in my hand. "... E-evella .." she slowly backed away from me. I do not know where I got the courage but I started walking towards her, she leaned on the kitchen island. "I... Take that down! The house will explode when it gets near the gas! "She said angrily. I blinked and tilted my head, "... mama..." I said slowly, watching her every move. "Let's heat the house... I'm cold..."

I watched the flame dance. The house that was very cold has now became hot for the first time. I hugged myself and started walking away. I was in a panic, the only thing I was able to carry was a thin curtain that slowly burned at the end. I looked around, I no longer knew where I was going. Everything I looked at had a soft white blanket wrapped on them, everything was white. I looked at my foot shivering in the cold. I took a deep breath, "we can do it, Evella... you endured the cold of that household, this is nothing..." I said to myself and continued walking, trying to wrap the short cloth around my trembling body.

I don't know how many days had passed, when I opened my eyes my whole body was sore and I couldn't move. "What is happening ... I can't even move my lips, I looked at my hand and was surprised to see ice forming tip of my fingers. I closed my eyes and listened to the howling of the cold air. 'Should I not have opened that door...' I thought to myself

'I wouldn't tremble here if I just didn't run away ... 'I hugged myself and curled like shrimp.

'The tenderness...' I remembered his question when he was still teaching me.

"Aren't you curious?" I looked at him. He hummed and leaned back to his seat. "..What is out there? Aren't you just locked in this room? " I stopped what I was doing and stared at my paper.

"..Yes..."his gaze softened and slowly held my hand.

'How warm...'

"Come out... It's warmer outside..."

I laughed softly and hugged myself. I can no longer feel my hand and other parts of my body. I looked up at the sky, and saw the beautiful yellow ball that I had only seen before in my window.

"Sir ... you liar" I laughed, "it's also cold here... but..." I kept closing my eyes. A smile etched to my

"Warmer than the cold household ..."