Chapter 2

Tiredness overwhelmed my body, however I could hear the doorbell ringing, making me sigh in disgust, it was certainly not the right time for a visit, I smoothed my hair with my fingers and walked to the door opening and found a woman of medium height with very pretty curly hair with delicate features giving me a smile, while holding a tray full of something that exuded a very good smell reminding me that I was hungry.

- Hello, my name is Flora and this is Megan, my daughter. We have come to welcome you to our neighborhood! - The woman said, made room and showed a very pretty little girl who looked very much like the older woman.

- " Hello." - The girl said shyly, smiling and then hiding behind Flora.

- Hello, I am Ayanne, please come in, the house is still a mess, but at least the couch is free! - She smiles shyly, opening the door and making room for the mother and daughter to enter.

- Would you like something to drink? I don't have many options, but I have an orange drink. - I said, going into the kitchen to get the pitcher from the fridge and three glasses, pouring them, then sat down and filled my glass.

- We brought you some homemade cookies, I hope you like them, Megan helped me, she said she would love them! - She said it made me smile, in fact that smell gave me the impression that I would really love what was coming. The woman removed the plastic making a wind of wonderful smell go through the room, making me salivate.

- Wow, that smells delicious, looks like I'm really going to love your cookies Megan! - I said smiling at the little girl who smiled shyly and with her eyes sparkling

- I see you really loved it, my child, you were right! - she commented, smiling.

- Yes, it's wonderful! I would eat it forever if I could, oops, sorry! - I covered my mouth when I caught myself talking with my mouth full, completely forgetting my manners, they both laughed and soon started chewing too.

- Mom makes great cookies, if you want me to bring them every day! - Megan said excitedly.

- Oh no! Thanks, I don't want to give you a hard time, Megan! - I said I was grateful, but it would be too much trouble even if I wanted that to happen, eating cookies every day would be really awesome.

- Anyway, I have nothing to do, I can come over and talk to you too! - she insisted with big pleading eyes.

- My love Aya must be busy, he mustn't bother her. - Flora intervened.

- It won't bother you, so let's do this: you come on Saturdays and we stay together, okay? - I said, but I didn't really know if this would be possible.

- Okay, promise me on Saturdays we'll play together! - she said excitedly, coming up to me and extending her little pinky, which I accepted, sealing our oath. Flora started laughing at her daughter's excitement as she talked about what we could do in this leisure time, so we went to plan and eat.

- Where did you come from, Aya? - Flora asked me curiously, after a brief interruption of the conversation, but this was the part I didn't like, when meeting new people, talking about my life, for me was like a taboo.

- Well, I come from the southern Skagit Valley. - It wasn't a lie, but I didn't want to delve too deeply into that information.

- Ah, this town is beautiful, the flowers there are magnificent! - She said with a look of admiration, as if she was contemplating the scene in her own head, completely amazed.

- But why did you leave this wonderful city? - she uttered as she woke up from her reverie.

As she asked this question, a wave of sadness washed over me, as if I was being hit by the ocean waves, as if I remembered why I had left my hometown. Remembering that I had been rejected by many left me with great remorse for those who claimed to love and protect me, when I needed them the most they rejected me, being taken to five different homes was frustrating, even though I had been given to my old family and had lived happily next to Susan and Beny who had given me a good reference of family, love and many other things that had been denied to me throughout my life, even though their children still hated me, I could have a happy life next to the elderly couple. Noticing my delay in responding to the woman, I noticed that the two women were looking at me curiously, hurrying me to speak.

- I got a better job in the area of the college I attended. - I omitted the real reason I had moved cities, it wasn't a total lie, because I had gotten an internship with a very famous painter named Draven Leblanc, he was the best artist in our country, winning many exhibitions throughout his career.

- Oh, how wonderful! - said the woman smiling, seeming to understand my discomfort, or at least she seemed to. We talked for a while longer until I noticed that Megan had her head resting on her arm as she slept peacefully, showing how carefree she was, and how easily she could sleep anywhere.

- I think someone is dreaming! - I said jokingly.

- Yes! Oh my God! We talked so much that I didn't notice the time, I must hurry and put her to bed. - The woman said, getting up and taking the little girl in her arms.

- Yes, we talked so much, I didn't notice the time fly either, do you want some help? - I said, getting up and walking to the door of the house opening it.

- No, you can relax, this one is so light! - She gave a soft and amused smile at the same time, while hugging her daughter's body.

- I'll bring your clean plate tomorrow, then! - I smiled yellow and couldn't pass up the remaining cookies, I really wanted to eat them.

- A! Sure, take your time, have a good night dear! - She smiled and walked to the street.

- You too! - I replied before she left.

As soon as she left, I continued to look outside gazing at the starry sky, but soon felt again the discomfort from before, making me look around, when I looked at the house in front of me, seeing again the neighbor at the window seemed to watch me carefully, I felt neither fear nor insecurity, it was as if this was not his intention, and of course I hoped it was not really an act of intimidation, I looked at him again, trying to know what my neighbor looked like since the curtain did not leave a very clear view, but to no avail once my contact was broken, because, he moved away from the window.

- Wow, that was strange! - I said, shrugging my shoulders and heading back into the house.

The house was still a mess, but there was no point in rushing that night as I had eaten the cookies and didn't mind preparing something else since I didn't feel hungry, I just put away what was left in the fridge and headed to my room, taking out a pair of pajamas that was sampled in one of the boxes of clothes and then going into the bathroom getting ready to take a shower and letting the tiredness overpower me, reminding myself that the day had been tiring, but very pleasant and happy because now I was going to live a new life, so I had no reason to complain about the tiredness.

- Yes, Ayanne, now this will be your new life! - I smiled, lay down and finally slept with quiet thoughts.