Wonderland

Chapter One

𝕆ℕ𝔼

Alice hates mornings. Not to get her wrong, the sunlight is refreshing and beautiful. But not as beautiful as the moonlight and stars. To Alice, there is not anything more beautiful than a gorgeous night sky during a full moon. Not even her best friend, Eta, who Alice has had a crush on since middle school.

Alice rolls under her blanket, blocking the sun from her eyes, "Eta is beautiful though." She mumbles to no one in particular.

After laying under her covers for 20 minutes, Alice finally gets enough energy to get up and get ready for the day. She rolls out of bed and drags herself to her small little bathroom to get ready.

She lives in a small apartment. Not as small as a studio apartment, but still small. The apartment has a tiny little kitchen, a small area that is supposed to be the living room (although Alice just turned it into a reading nook), a little bathroom with a shower, and her bedroom. Alice decorated her apartment with fairy lights and giant cotton balls meant to be clouds to give it a more homey look. It is small, but it's hers. And that is all that matters.

There isn't much Alice can do with her short hair, so she leaves it down. When it was long, she would do so many different hairstyles. A year ago, it was long, wavy, and a gorgeous blonde color. She used to get compliments on her hair all the time. But that was before she decided to chop it all off. It's a relief. She has yet to regret chopping it off. No matter how many people tell her they miss it.

Alice stares at her reflection as she brushes her teeth. Her vibrant, blue eyes stare back at her. As she stares, Alice wonders which one of her parents had that eye color too. At least one of them had to: right? If not one then, both.

After she finishes brushing her teeth, Alice walks out of the bathroom back to her bedroom. She takes a big stretch and yawns, "I should have gone to bed earlier." Alice walks over to her dresser that has all her clothes in it and takes out a baby blue t-shirt with white lace around the neckline. She grabs her white mom jeans, headband, and shoes: then she's all set. Alice usually likes to wear flowy dresses or pleated skirts, but since she is going to the Orphanage she does not want to risk the kids seeing up her dress somehow.

When Alice finishes getting dressed and putting the headband in her hair, she grabs her small, blue backpack that she uses as a purse and runs out of her apartment door. She is running late, after all.

Waiting for Alice outside in her car is her best friend, Eta. Eta is a beautiful girl. Anyone with eyes can see it. Her hair is thick, long and beautifully falls off her head. The black color of it compliments her almond skin tone nicely. Eta's upturned, golden-brown eyes turn to Alice as Alice walks up to her car and opens the door, "It's about time! You're late, and since you're late, I'm late for school."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to get out of bed this morning." Alice says, getting in the car and shutting the door behind her. Eta has been driving Alice to work for two years since she does not have a car herself. Alice started working in the Orphanage at age 16, although she still lived there at the time. The orphanage mother, Devera, was kind enough to offer Alice the job. When Alice turned 18, she moved out of the Orphanage, and Eta jumped on the opportunity to start driving her to work (even though Eta takes college classes). Alice walks back home on her own, there hasn't been a single day where Eta missed picking her up. She is the most thoughtful, caring person Alice has ever met. And Alice loves her for it.

Of course, Eta would never know about the feelings Alice holds towards her. Eta has expressed no interest in girls their entire friendship. So she's content at being friends. As long as Eta is in Alice's life, it will be okay.

As Eta drives Alice the short 5-minute drive to the Orphanage they talk about anything interesting going on in their lives. Alice talks about a new book she's reading while Eta about all of the boys after her. Eta almost always rejects them; she has such a high standard in men. But anyone that looks like her would and should.

Eta pulls up to the Orphanage and parks the car. Devera immediately comes outside to greet Eta like she always does. Devera is a kind-looking woman. Her black hair stays cut super short, but the soft curls give it volume. Her eyes appear deep set from her wrinkles. She's the type of woman to bake you cookies and stroke your hair when you cry. Being in charge of the Orphanage, Devera raised Alice. And to Alice, Devera was her mother or at least a good replacement.

Both Eta and Alice get out of the car as Devera gets closer to them. "How are you?" She asks Eta while giving her a good, hard squeeze. Eta pulls away and smiles at the old woman, "As good as always."

Devera nods, "Good, good." Then turns to Alice and softly wacks her against the head, "You're 20 minutes late." Alice rubbed her head where Devera hit her, pouting, "I know, but give me a break! It's a Monday and Mondays always suck." Devera moves her hands to her hips and shakes her head, "Always with the excuses, Mija."

Alice started walking towards the Orphanage, swinging her arms, "I'm not sure what you mean!"

"That girl is going to be the death of me one day," Devera says to Eta as Eta gets back in her car. Eta laughs, "She'll be the death of me before she's the death of you, I swear."

***

After a long day of helping the children with school, playing with them, and serving their meals, Alice says goodbye to Devera and the kids. The kids are always sad to see her go, but they all know that they will see her again tomorrow.

Alice steps outside as a cool breeze blows on her skin. She ended up staying a bit longer than she usually does; it is starting to get dark out. Alice loves nighttime, but the problem is the Orphanage happens to be in the middle of a forest.

"Okay, I could either take the main road back...which is way longer OR take the shortcut through the forest." Alice bites her lip while looking at the path made by so many people walking through the forest. If she goes that way and walks at a steady pace, she should make it home before it gets too dark.

Having made up her mind, Alice walks towards the path in the forest.