After placing her siblings on a crib, the woman named Michelle Burton-Lockheart bathed Mirana and tended her wounds. She felt her heart break as she did. She dressed her then carried her to the kitchen.
Michelle fed Mirana with noodle beef soup, she watched as the child before her ate the food hurriedly like she had not eaten in days. She of course, gave One food too.
"Um, Mirana, what happened to you? Who did this?" Michelle cautiously asked.
Mirana looked at her for a moment before going back to eating her food. "My father beat me up for as long as I can remember. He was planning to sell my siblings, then that was when One bit him and we made a run for it."
"My life is nothing but filled with the pain and suffering my father gave me. My mother left two months ago, not once she ever defended me. My siblings are the only ones who gave me strength to live."
Mirana kneeled in front of Michelle while grasping her night gown. "I will do anything, everything!" She pleaded desperately. "Please let us stay here, I beg you. I don't want to go back."
"Please don't let me go back." She looked up and stared at her. "Please."
"Stand up Mirana, don't you kneel in front of me!" She hoisted her up. "I will never give you back to those savages ever again, from now on, I will be your mother and you will call me mom, alright." She said with utmost sincerity.
With those words, Mirana felt safe. Happy. Loved.
Days become months and they turned into years. Ten years after that fateful encounter, Mirana and her siblings grew evidently. She turned 17 and her siblings' 10 years old. For a 17-year old, she grew very beautiful, long brown locks that was a bit wavy at the tips. Paired with electric blue eyes, this defined her beauty even more. The same with her siblings.
Mirana tried her best to impress her mom. She studied hard, cleaned up the house, and took care of her siblings' daily necessities such as changing them and feeding them. This is the only way she could ever repay her mom's kindness.
Michelle is beaming with joy. She is so thankful they came into her life. She was not blessed to have children. Even if Mirana, Minajane and Minthos were not hers by blood, she considered them as her own. The first times Mirana and her siblings called her mom, their words gave her so much delight.
Michelle came out strong after being a divorcee at 29, she was married quite young. That is why she is very strict when it comes to men to not only Mirana but also her siblings soon. She promised herself to keep a keen eye. She will not stand that her precious children getting hurt.
She loved them so much, too much in fact. The past years had been tough for them. She struggled in finding the right people to work on their certificates and such. It was only due time when it was all settled. Michelle's husband Tim, coincidently has the name surname as Mirana.
What are the odds, it seems.
Weird as it goes, it fit in just right. Michelle did the best she could to sustain her family. She owns a well-known café that has a mini library inside and a flower shop. These businesses kept her busy but she made sure she can spend time with her children.
Michelle loved Mirana's strong will. When she asked her if she could take martial art lessons out of the blue, Michelle answered yes without any second thoughts. She knows that in case there are unwanted situations that call for self-defence, Mirana is capable of defending herself.
These lessons helped her a lot. Since Michelle knows Mirana is at the age where she could easily be infatuated with some guy. She always made it clear to her that she must not count on men.
Michelle believes that a woman can be strong on her own. And if she wants to persevere, she shall. When a woman wants to conquer, she will be victorious. Also, what really makes a woman is a heart that cares for her fellow sisters and accepts her faults and failures.
Tim leaving Michelle made her realize that Tim was definitely not the brightest crayon in the box, nonetheless, she was thankful for the memories. Also for the washing machine, refrigerator and the cute pastel pink vase decorated with dandelions found at the living room.
Thank goodness, Tim bought all those things before they divorced. A few things she is grateful for.
"Mimi, honey, did you water the plants?" She asked Mirana as she ironed her children's school uniform.
Mirana and her siblings go to Contanacious Kings Academy. A well-known school where all the smart, rich and talented people gather. It also has an elementary level and secondary level. Given, the levels are separated from one another. The elementary sector is just a 10-minute drive away from the secondary level. The school's tuition fee is no joke. The school offers a scholarship test to those who are smart, but don't have enough money to pay.
"Yes mom, hey, can I cook Carbonara for dinner? I'll also fry us some chicken. I took it out a while ago."
Michelle nodded in agreement. "Make the sauce you did last time, it was so good."
Mirana went to the kitchen and busied herself in preparing dinner.
As Michelle is fixing up in ironing their uniforms, suddenly Minthos and Minajane hugged her waist. Minajane of the left and Minthos on the right. They stared at Michelle's eyes.
"Mama, please carry me!" they said in unison. Michelle chuckled heartily. For a 10-year old, they are quite clingly.
"You do know Minnie and Minmin that Mama can't carry you both. Just one a time. You first Minmin." She carried Minthos and kissed his cheek as they were headed to the living room. Minajane is growing impatient and raised her arms high. "It my turn now Mama!" Minajane loved being carried by her mama.
Michelle carried her for a while then placed her down safely as it was time for dinner. She loved these little moments. She cherished each one. Their dogs followed them too.
After they finished eating, Michelle excused herself first because she had some paperwork to work on to. Minajane cleaned the table and Minthos swept the floor, Mirana handled the plates.
"Minnie prepare the bath, let Minmin go first."
"Okay. On it."
"Minmin, you excited going back to school?" Mirana queried as she dried the plates one by one.
Minthos draw his attentions to their for dogs. "What kind of question is that Mimi? Who ever get excited to go to school?" He petted Two's head. The names of their dogs are One, Two, Three and Four respectively. It was Mirana's idea. She thought that it would also keep track on how many dogs they adopted through the years.
"Your sister because she is going to take home for the second time the Quintessential Science Lad trophy." Minthos let out a sigh. "Yeah, probably only her though."
"How about you then Math boy, no plans with friends?"
"Correction. Ryan is the only friend I have in school. Snobby entitled kids" Minthos tsked." I tell you sis."
"How about Michaelis and Jonathan? Not your friends?"
"No... Yeah they are fun at times but we are more of acquaintances than friends." Minthos walked towards the sink to wash his hands. Minajane then arrived at the kitchen shortly.
"Bath's ready, Minmin."
"Oh thanks, Minnie." Minthos looked back at his older sister. "I never considered them friends since they only come to me or Ryan when they need help with homework."
Mirana wiped her hands with a dry towel and turned the lights off as she went upstairs. After 15 minutes, Minthos stepped outside the bathroom with a towel over his head.
"I'm done guys, it's your turn."
"Okay... Minnie, time for our bath."
Bathing took a while for Mirana and Minajane because they played with the water for a while. Mirana and Minajane went to their respective rooms.
Mirana plopped herself on the bed and thought about her life in school. Luckily she wasn't bullied but some students had nasty remarks about her social status. She never paid mind to them though. Mirana wasn't a loner. She, too, had a small group of friends.
School starts tomorrow and she needed to catch some sleep.
"Damn two months of summer break is too short for me." She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "School... How unentertaining."
Little did she know there was something in store for her. More than she imagined to be.