NARRATOR'S POV
"Sofia, if you don't mind. Can you tell me what your life was like before?" Rachelle's question echoed in the kitchen, which made the other uncomfortable and uncertain.
Should I answer or should I remain in silence? The other pondered inside her head. Rachelle had been nice she thought however, the question was far too personal and was way beyond her comfort zone.
Sofia stared at Rachelle, her black orbs are gleaming innocently- they are so beautiful it reminds her of the night sky. Sofia wonder was her eye similar to hers when she was alive- did they sparkle brightly a well?
She was kind and gentle- beautiful and smart, no wonder Alexander love her so much.
"Sofia?" her soft voice brought her back to reality.
"A-ah well… I" she muttered.
"You don't want to tell me? It's okay I completely understand" Rachelle reassured her but the Sofia already made a decision.
She will tell her.
"Well, I" she pursed her lips, uncertain where to start but Rachelle patiently waited.
"I used to be a worker in the tavern- located near the edge of town" she explained while Rachelle just nodded to indicate that she's listening.
"It was a simple life, I worked- day in day out to provide for myself. You see I don't have any family, I was abandoned in the monastery in another town but moved away once I was old enough. I never really made any friends so I was pretty much isolated, I was fine though since it was my choice, to begin with" she simply replied.
"I see, thank you for trusting me and telling me what you just told me" with that Rachelle flashed another smile.
"Ah! The cake is ready" Sofia pointed out.
Standing up, she quickly took out the cake and placed it on the table.
"We should let it cool down first" she stated.
Suddenly, the door opened- revealing Andrea.
"Hello, I will be taking the basket so I could pick some wild berries" she informed the people in the room, before grabbing the basket on the top of the table.
"W-wait! Andrea, can I come along? I've always wanted to try forging but I never had the chance to do so" Rachelle shouted excitedly before Andrea could exit the kitchen.
"Of course Miss you can" Andrea stated as she turns to face Rachelle.
With an enthusiastic giggle, Rachelle followed Andrea.
"See you later Sofia" Rachelle said before leaving the other on her own.
The eerie silence enveloped Sofia, the memories she shared with Rachelle have reminded her of someone. The person she trusted, the person she loved and treasured, and the very person the destroyed everything.
Just like that, her previous life played out in her mind with every detail, as if she's reading one of those books in the monastery.
Once upon a time in a distant village, stood an old monastery- a place where the holy lived and the unwanted were abandoned. One starry night a young girl gave birth however, she was too young to become a mother while the father runaway- leaving all the responsibilities to the other. But she can't do it by herself therefore with a broken heart and a teardrop in her eye, the young girl placed her child in a basket to leave it behind.
The morning came and a nun had found her- a child so small, innocent, and vulnerable. The nun picked the child up and as she did a piece of paper fell- written in, is a five-letter word "Sofia".
Before leaving her mother gifted her a name- which is all she'll ever give.
Years had passed and the child grew, it was her sixteenth birthday, and tomorrow she'll have to leave the monastery. Excited and scared the girl stood in the middle of the chapel, staring at the cross- she took a deep breath, she was calm and relax. Knowing fully well that this moment is the calm before the storm.
At last, the day had come, a bag in hand she travels to a different land. The head nun had talked to a man, kind enough to proved her with work at his tavern.
Finally, her life is at her full control- she worked in the morning until the dusked had gone. And at night she will be at home in a small rented room.
Months had past and things are getting even better, she has made a friend from across the street. He was a young man just the same age as she is, nice and caring he is like a prince. With his shining gray eyes and smooth black hair, he could swift anyone off their feet.
Every morning he will walk Sofia to work before going to his own- out in the fields. In the afternoon he will wait until her task is complete, just to walk with her out in the street.
Their life was the same every single day, until one night he knelt in front of her.
"Sofia, Will you be my wife?" he asked her.
In shock, she stood still- face bright and eyes are wide.
"Yes!" she replied with enthusiasm in her eyes.
And there begun their new life and the end of the other.
Days have gone and he became a different man.
"I told you not to talk to anyone didn't I?!" he shout to the girl standing on the other side of the room.
"B-but I…" she stammered, trying to explain her side.
"No! I had enough! You are such a whore!" he shouted again.
"Do you think he loves you?! Do you think, anyone would care about you the way I do?! Well think again!" he continued.
"I'm the one person who will Sofia! I'm the one who can love you! The only one who will take care of you! So why are you doing this?!" he went on, not giving Sofia a chance to speak for herself.
"You're betraying me each day!" there is no end to his ranting.
This happened several times before and she knew it will happen over and over.
She can't take it anymore, she has to end it all- she does not wish to live such a miserable life.
"I'm leaving" was the only thing she told him before turning.
But even she could touch the knob however, she fell flat on the ground- dizzy and confused.
Sofia tried to stand up, only for her to grab by the arm and to be thrown across the room. What a brute he turned out to be, was he even the same man she believes to be?
She lay on the ground with tears in her eyes, her body hurt and she can't force even a squeak.
"Sofia, I love you… I really do. But you're not giving me a choice" he told her before seating in her abdomen.
"You're forcing my hands, this all your fault" he said with tears in his eyes.
"If I can't have you then no one else can" with that he grabbed her by the throat and squeeze it hard- cutting her breath.
She struggled, she kicked and screamed but all seemed futile.
And with her final breath, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Sleep now darling" is all he said.
She was wrong- he was never a prince, he was just a delusional man with his head stuck in a dream.
"Sofia, we're back" a voice called out, it was Rachelle with a smile on her face.
"We collected a lot of berries, we should put them in the cake" she told her.
"Of course" she replied before taking the basket in Rachelle's hand.
"Are you alright?" Rachelle asked, she was unable to her true feeling behind the dull glass eyes However, she can feel something- something dreadful and saddening.
"Of course I am. We should finish the cake soon" was her only answer.
Nodding in agreement, Rachelle started putting the icing on the cake. She wanted to ask her what's wrong but sometimes all that people need is to be left alone.
And that's what she'll provide her.
The chance to heal on her own.