I woke up unusually early. I got out of the bed, and watched the rising sun. I love watching the sun, it's calming me down. It was cold, but it didn't bother me. I loved the fresh morning air. A lot better than in the place where I were living before. It kind of reminds me of the place where I were born. It was so long ago, but I can never forget the sound, warmth, smell... You can say it was perfect place, because it has everything you'll ever need. It wasn't much, but, for me, it was enough.
But, even the perfection has its limits. The thing that has made me to run away was restrictions and rules that had gotten stricter by the years. I didn't want to be controlled by the others, so I ran away. I've been living in several different places after that, but I haven't been able to call any of them home.
I have opened my eyes and saw the sun fully risen.
- I'm going to be late - I said and got dressed up in a hurry. Thought I still don't know why were I in such a hurry.
I stormed down the stairs, put on a three sizes bigger coat, and got out of the little house in which I lived alone.
It was a beautiful morning: sun was shining, birds were singing and sleepy people were walking on the street. They were either going to marketplace or to work. I didn't have any work to do and I need not food, but still I like to walk among the people - I find them very interesting. They are loud and noisy, but that's the part of their charm.
The people around me were selling different things. On the left was an old woman selling the flowers, next to her was a younger one who were selling fresh vegetables. The old man was walking down the street yelling: - Fresh bread! Buy the warm and fresh bread!
The people riding a horses were passing through the crowd. One rider was careless and didn't see the child in front of him. He almost has run over it, but I reactied fast and moved the child out of the way. The horse rider was yelling while he was getting away, but I didn't listened to him - I were looking after the child.
The crowd has gone silent. Everyone has been looking my way. The child mother snatched the child from my arms, like she was afraid of me. Everyone looked like they were afraid of me.
I got up and turned towards them.
- What's going on? - I had asked quietly and took a step forward.
- No! Don't come here! - some woman yelled.
- Stay away from us!
- Monster!
- She's a witch! Guys, she's a witch!
I looked at them yelling and accusing me for being witch, and begun feeling sick. A though crossed my mind: I moved to fast. They'll find out.
- We have to do something!
- We need to protect our children.
- Execute her!
- Let's burn her.
- No! - suddenly yelled a man from the crowd. - First we need to see if she really is a witch. We cannot just kill her without a proof. Tie her up, and follow me - said he, then turned around to lead the way.
* * *
Here I am again. The only place that I had always visited, in every place I've lived - the church. Somehow the atmosphere in the church has always been calming me down after my strollings through the village. But not today. Now I have to knell in front of the people who were accusing me for the crimes I've never done. I could see the hatred mixed up with fear in their eyes.
The man from earlier stood beside me, but kept his distance. He was wearing long black robe. Cross was hanging on his neck.
"Oh, he must be the priest", I thought. "He won't let them kill me".
- People, we have gathered here to decide on this childs fate. As you can see, she is quiet and obedient, so I believe she means no harm. However, the decision is not solely for me - it is for everyone in this village. So I ask each of you to tell us for what crimes you are suspecting her?
His words were wise. The tone of his voice was very calm, as expected from the man of God. But, somehow, I still couldn't believe that they won't find me guilty. I had a bad feeling about this.
- Father, I have seen with my eyes what she's done. No human being could have moved that fast.
- I've seen it to.
- Once I have been working on the field when I saw her getting out of the forest with her bag full of strange grass and weeds.
- I have been seeing with my eyes that she's going back home every day before the sunset. Why would she do that if she's not hiding something?
- That's right! - yelled the crowd.
- And the way she speaks, like she's not from this world.
- The clothes she wears is strange.
In no time, everyone started arguing with each other and the church was filled with noise. I frowned. This is ridiculous. They don't have a concrete proof of me being a witch, but they are not giving up.
Suddenly, the crowd started yelling: - Kill her! Kill the witch! Kill her!
The priest tried to calm them, but it didn't work thus time. People have started to pulling up pitchforks, swords and wooden clubs. Some of them had crossbows. I could sense malice from them.
The priest still haven't given up.
- Listen to me, plea... - he was hit. The place where he was hit was getting wet. The blood has trickled down his robe on the floor which was getting dirty. It seems like nobody noticed. He was falling. I scrambled with the shackles on my arms and legs, and ran to catch him before he hit the ground. I cushioned his fall, and turned him around to look at his injuries. It was severe and he was bleeding a lot, but I still have time to heal him. I freed my hands from the shackles and grab the arow that was struck in his chest.
- Just wait a little, I will help you - I said quietly. He looked at me. His eyes were familiar. I didn't know if he understood me - he just kept looking at me, like he was searching for something.
Finally he smiled at me. I looked at him confused.
- Hang on, I've got this - I tried to reassure him. He continued to look at me. - This is going to hurt a bit - I said, then pulled the arrow out of his chest. The blood was pouring out, I have to be quick.
- Hey, what is she doing? How she have got out of her binding? - yelled one man.
- Wait, what...? Oh, my God! She killed him! She killed the priest! - yelled the other one.
- Someone stop her!
A few people were pulling me away from the priest.
- No, please. You don't understand. I can help him! - I were trying to explain to them.
They were laughing at me.
- You, a witch, help a human? Did you realy think we would believe that? You've done enough. You hurt him, and even tried to kill him. For that, you wil burn - said one man, while the others were dragging me out of the church.
- No, please listen to me. He is dying. I can help, please, let me help.
They were silently dragging me to pile of the wood. The rest of the crowd were yelling while they were flowing us.
- Burn her! Burn the witch!
They tied me up for a wooden pole in the middle of the wood. Tears trickled down my cheeks. Clouds have hidden the sun and sky. I heard thunder getting closer.
- Hurry up, it's going to rain.
I looked at them with pity. They are truly miserable.
- Look, she's trying to bewitch us with her eyes.
- Gouge them out - suggested one.
- Yes, yes!
The man from earlier stood in front of me. I looked at him.
- You don't have to do this. Please, just let me go. I'll never again come back.
- Hm, you're good with words, witch. Shame that I can't keep you for myself - said he disgustingly, and pulled the knife.
I started to pray. In the same time, I were wondering where did I made mistake? Why they're doing this to me? I just wanted to live amongs them, was I asking for too much?
- NOOOO! - I screamed while he was gouging my eyes. Blood trickled down my cheeks. The sound of thunder was near.
- Light the fire - said the man. Soon, the sound of fire eating away the very little chance of escape were heard. I couldn't move, nor I had the strength. I couldn't cry. It was painful, a hundred times more painful than casting my family aside and running away from home. But, I was still alive.
I smiled. A maniacal laughter broke from me.
In the next moment, the thunder soared through the sky and hit me. I didn't feel a thing.
"So, this is what dying feels like? In the end, it's not that bad", crossed my mind, and I were gone.