Everything started to change, but not for the better no - for her own detriment. After that frightful night, ill fare and misfortune began to fall on Aurora and her papa.
And it all began like this - first, after that night her papa ran mad like he literally became demented Aurora was confused for sure, if her father was now a mad man who would care for her. But unfortunately for her things grew worst as the villagers became hostile towards them.
"How can the messenger of the gods become demented. It's simply not acceptable!" they have said, Aurora remembered their words vividly.
"He is cursed! By the gods he is, him and his daughter is!" and just like that the villagers drove Aurora and her demented Papa out of their house, and down to an old cottage that was at the edge of the village - and starting from that day on they lived as outcast.
But it didn't end there - fifteen year old Aurora was as perplexed as ever - can she care for herself and her papa at the same time? But she must! She reminded herself that she must or else hunger would smite the both of them to death.
Even with her leg challenge, Aurora managed to walk down to the market place to beg - at least that was the only option. But that didn't work out well for her. As she walks from stall to stall begging for alms, the villagers would push her to the dirt, "Go away you cursed child, useless thing! I pity the womb that gave birth to you" they said, they all said after spitting on her and throwing rotting fruit and vegetables at her.
That day Aurora felt like dying - no, she wanted to die - they was absolutely no use of her alive, she was hopeless, torned, miserable and most of all shamed.
And there she was still on the dirt road covered with mud and rotten fruits - with absolutely no way of returning back to the almost falling apart cottage that she calls home and her demented Papa. What a life, one would say.
She was so hungry and tired, so out of exhaustion she fainted. But only to open her eyes to see herself at her old cottage lying on her simple quilt that has not been washed for days. She saw two girls in her cottage, and they were arranging everywhere neatly. Aurora was confused, surprised and shocked - she tried to stand on her feet but couldn't. She was spastic, which means that sometimes her legs goes through a sudden tight pain that paralyzes her legs for a while.
"Who are you two?" she asked, her voice weak and shaking.
"We are sorry if we have scared you, we mean well" one of the girl said.
"I don't understand" Aurora said because no one in this village wishes her well.
The girls smiled. "Don't worry, we know you wouldn't. My name is Amberly" she said
"And am Annika" the other informed.
"I am Aurora" she said awkwardly, which made the girls to laugh.
"We know" they both chorused.
"We saw what the villagers did to you this morn, and we don't think it's fair at all" Amberly said.
"We want to be your friend, Aurora" Annika informed.
"I don't think you should" Aurora told them, "I am cursed, haven't you heard?" she asked.
The girls exchange looks. "We have but we don't care" Annika said. And then Aurora's stomach trembled loudly, she placed her hands on her stomach and said, "Sorry"
"It's alright, we knew you would be famished. So I stole this from my Mama pot" Annika informed as she carried a plate of beans to her. Aurora's mouth watered at the sight of the food, hurriedly she collected the plate from her and started to dig into the food with her bare hands - she ate like she haven't seen food in months.
"Careful or you might choke" Amberly warned but she didn't give heed to her warnings as she continued to eat.
Amberly and Annika looked at each other and smiled. And starting from that day on they became friends with the cursed girl despite the warnings of their parents to stay away from Aurora, they still kept coming to her cottage to bring food and water to her - but Aurora knew that she can't solely depend on her friends, sometimes they wouldn't come over because of their parents and even though Amberly's parents were no more her aunt that owns a whore house would lock her inside the house.
So Aurora just knew that she had to fend for herself. So every morning that it rains, she brings out two wooden bucket out on the rain, and once the buckets are filled up she first washes her Papa and then herself - because if not their body odor would chase them out of their house. And lucky for Aurora it rains every morn. And she couldn't be more grateful because that was their only means of getting bathing and drinking water.
After that, Aurora grabs a small wooden plate and makes her way down to the market place with her face covered with a shawl - for if the villagers were to see that it was her, they would behave very antagonistic towards her, and she wouldn't want that. She usually stays at a corner near the baking shop because she likes the smell of freshly baked pastries, and someday she would love to be a baker. So as she begs for money she also spies at the baker when ever she is about to bake.
Sometimes it will be only two pieces of coin that would be tossed into her plate, sometimes it would be one - but Aurora cared not, no matter how small it was, she was grateful. At least she would be able to buy some bread for their dinner today.
And so this was how it went on for a whole month, Aurora begged at the streets of Aztlan. Until one day she was at the market place as usual in her favorite spot.
"Alms, please alms for the poor" she said with her tiny voice, dangling her wooden plate Infront of her. It was raining that day but it was only a drizzle.
"You are going to catch a cold" she heard a voice say. She raised her face and looked up to a young beautiful woman with extremely white hair.
Aurora glanced around the crowdy market place to see whether it was only her that was seeing this exquisite female.
"You need not bother, they can't see me" she told Aurora.
Aurora's eyes widened, "Why not?"
"Because they are not special, Aurora"
Aurora's mouth dropped, "How did you know my name"
"I know everything dearest child" she said as she crouched down to her, and smiled - a very alluring one, Aurora smiled back but her face was hidden behind the shawl.
"You are very special, Aurora and beautiful too" the female told her.
She dropped her face down, "Nay, am not"
The female reached at her shawl and yanked it off her face, immediately Aurora made an attempt to drag the shawl back, but the young woman was faster then her.
"Give it back" Aurora pleaded.
"And if I refuse?" she asked.
"Please I need it, you don't understand"
"Aye, I do why are hiding your alluring face behind this rag,"
"It's a shawl" Aurora corrected.
The female shrugged, "It looks like a rag to me." she informed before she shoved her hand into her coat and brought out a pouch - a very large pouch. She offered it to Aurora - who hesitated before she finally collected and untied it.
Her eyes widened and her mouth went agape at what was inside the pouch - t'was coins, golden coins. She couldn't believe her eyes at all.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked which caused the female to smile.
"Nay, you are not Aurora. I don't want to see you begging ever again"
"I... I don't know what to say" she said as she looked up at her.
"It's alright, dearest one. You need not say anything"
"Thank you" she said as tears threatened to fall down.
"Remember this, don't gave an ear to what they are saying about you and your Papa, they are the cursed ones and not you"
Aurora nodded as tears started to blur her vision and slowly it started to roll down her cheeks.
"And -" The female used her hand to raise her chin up, "Gorgeous you are, my dear so hold your head a little higher" she said lastly before she stood on her feet.
She gave the shawl back to her, "Promise me that you wouldn't wear that ever again"
"I wouldn't" Aurora assured.
The female smiled at her - for Aurora it seemed like that smile lasted forever. The woman turned around and started to walk down, but then she stopped, turned back to Aurora and winked - then she disappeared.
Aurora smiled even though she was as perplexed as ever. She looked down at the pouch of coins in her hands, she held it close to her and whispered, "Thank you."