***AVA'S POV***
Smoke filled the air, the fire intense. It was hard for me to breathe, i thought that i'ld die.
Sophie was the cause of the fire outbreak, on the act of strangling me some candles fell on the curtains in the chapel and the fire started.
I was so scared, i looked up at Mrs George, she stood so still unable to move. She must have been traumatized by the incident that happened ten years ago.
I closed my eyes, and a memory just flashed before my eyes. It seemed like I've been in this kind of situation before, but i was not certain.
I grabbed Mrs George's hand, and somehow we managed to come out of the burning building with few burns on our body. As we came out, i saw many people with water trying to put out the fire.
"My daughter, my daughter is in there" Mrs George cried out.
It was then that i realized that sophie did not come out of the building with us. Mrs Matilda George wanted to run back into the building to rescue Sophie, but she was held back by the wailing Mr Leo.
I took off my jacket, soaked it into the water, i poured water all over my body and i ran back into the burning chapel. I saw Sophie from a distance, and i ran towards her avoiding the fire at all cost.
"Alexis... Alexis" i shouted out her original name, without minding that she had a change of name recently. She collapsed, i covered her with my wet jacket and carried her outside the building. She was groaning in pains, she had more burns than i had.
I saw the rescue team with their water pipes putting out the fire, my vision became blurry and the last person i saw was Mrs George running towards our direction.
***
I opened my eyes and looked around, the environment seemed strange. I saw a man and a woman wearing all white and my vision followed their every movement.
I looked away and turned my head around scanning the room, just then i realized where i was. A hospital.
The two persons in the room went out, i sat up on the bed for like an hour, lost in my own thoughts.
And finally i stood up. Staggering a little, i got a hold of myself.
" I have made up my mind" i said to myself.
I saw a blue dress on the couch, i immediately pulled out the hospital garment from my body and i wore the blue dress.
I went out of the room, going forward i could see the main door. I left the hospital building and walked down the road.
l decided to leave and go faraway from Sophie and her mum Mrs George. I don't want to be a nuisance to them anymore, neither do i want to go back to the orphanage.
without having any destination in mind, my intention is to go further and further, far away from here. As a fifteen years old, i had to make this decision of starting over a new version of my life.
Walking through the cold street and the dark alley's, my stomach began to rumble. I checked into my little baggage and all i could see was two slices of bread.
"Oh! no money, would i die in the streets?" I asked myself.
I'ld be disappointed if i die before getting to eat a well prepared steak, or getting to meet my mother who abandoned me.
I looked up above and i saw a notice board in front of a store.
"Cleaner's needed".
Oh thank goodness, I've had hope" i said to myself as i ran down to the store that had the notice board.
"Good day ma'am i saw the notice board and i".
" You wench! Do you think that i am a joke? Get out of here, i don't allow minor's to work here". The plumpy woman who seems to be the owner of the store said even before i could finish my statement.
"Such a temper, what a manner of approach you have" i muttered to myself.
I turned around and left the store maybe it was not my own fate to work as a cleaner, perhaps i would get a better work.
My original plan was not to roam around the streets like this, i had thought that i'ld just get a simple job and perhaps sleep at the sauna.
I walked further getting a little bit pensive, i decided to take a break. I looked around and i saw a stool under a tree, then i went ahead and sat on the stool and for a while, i regretted leaving the orphanage home. The brightness of the day had started to dim, and i cannot even get my head around the circumstances that i have found myself in and i might have to pass the night under this shabby place.
I woke up to the noise of the buzzing flies.
"Oh it is morning already" i said to myself.
Just as i was about to get up from the stool that i fell asleep on the previous night, i heard a familiar voice call out to me.
"Ava"
"Jasmine" i said in response
"Oh my goodness is that you? It's so good to see you, how have you been?" I asked the girl.
"I've been well, what are you doing here so early in the morning? and you have lost a lot of weight" Jasmine said to me while coming closer to where i was seated.
Of course i should loose a lot of weight, I've been through a lot for the past couple of days. Jasmine was my closest friend in the Blueberry orphanage home back then although she is two years older than me, she was always considerate and good to me.
A few months ago, Jasmine got adopted into a middle class family and she had to move out from the orphanage home. I could still remember vividly the day that she left, i had cried my eyes out and Mrs George was the person that consoled me after Jasmine had left.
Oh just thinking about it makes me want to tear up.
"Why are you here instead of the orphanage home? Don't tell me that you ran away from there, did you? Jasmine asked me looking all curious.
"Well.. there was an incident and i decided to leave, not that i ran away." I said in response to her questions.
I told Jasmine everything that transpired within the couple of months that she left the orphanage, and she seemed surprised by all what i told her because her eyes widened looking at me.
"Uhmm... do you have a place to stay?" she asked me.
" No i don't. I was hoping to get a job and then sleep at the work place, but getting a work to do is a though one perhaps it's because I'm just a minor".
" Will you prefer staying at my house while you search for a job?" Jasmine asked.
"I'll tell my mum, and she won't object" she said again to me with concern in her eyes.
"It's fine, but i wouldn't want to be a nuisance to anyone" i said to Jasmine, as i got up from the stool.
"Of course not you wouldn't, or would you?" She asked.
" Of course not i wouldn't" i said and i squealed happily and walked along with Jasmine. My joy knew no bounds as i walked towards Jasmine's new home with her, i thought that i'ld die from sleeping out in the cold street.
"Mum this is my friend from the orphanage home and her name is Ava, she left the orphanage and she wishes to stay with us while she finds a work to do" Jasmine said to her mum, a beautiful woman already standing in front of me. Her beautiful face made me speechless for a split second as she rolls her eyes around scanning me.
"You didn't cause trouble and then ran away from the orphanage, did you?" The middle aged woman right in front of me asked.
"No ma'am, i did not" i replied to her as i brought down my eyes to avoid having eye contact with her.
"I trust Jasmine that she wouldn't bring in someone who causes trouble, because she already knows the consequences for it" Jasmine foster mum said to no one in particular, and then she gestured for Jasmine to take me into her room.
"I'm excited to live with you" i said to Jasmine as i got into her room, and she chuckled.
I totally loved the idea of staying with Jasmine, because even at the orphanage home i had been very comfortable with her. Earlier on, i tried my possible best to sound politely to Jasmine's foster mum to avoid having the worst first impression senario.
"I need to shower urgently, i have not had my bath since i left the hospital" i said to Jasmine.
" Of course you should, because you stink" she replied to me as she brought out a clean towel from the wardrobe.
I quickly took the towel, and i went into the bathroom to freshen up.
I finished bathing and i came out of the bathroom smelling all nice and feeling refreshed. I looked at the chair at the side of the bed and i saw some clothes laying there, and i looked at Jasmine.
"You can use them to your satisfaction, they are all yours. They might not fit into you well, but that is all i can offer to you right now."
I was so greatful for having such a caring friend, i had left the hospital without thinking on how i'ld live my life without anyone by my side and without any money to fend for myself.
"Thank you very much" i said to Jasmine with a heart filled of gratitude.
"I thought that you'll be a douchebag the first day that you fought with one of the girls at the orphanage, but you are indeed a nice person" i heard Jasmine say.
" You mistook me for a douchebag?" I asked Jasmine raising an eyebrow, confirming her statement from earlier. And then we suddenly found ourselves laughing so hard.
I quickly changed into one of the clean dress that Jasmine had brought out, and i layed down on her bed to rest.
Earlier, Jasmine was coming back from the grocery market when she saw me.
I gasped. I remembered that Jasmine had told me that she bought stuffs for making breakfast and that her mum would be preparing the breakfast.
"Oh were are my manners? don't i need to assist your mum in preparing the breakfast?" I asked Jasmine.
" Not really" she replied. "My mum prefers doing the cookings herself" she added.
" But i need to earn my keep" i said back to her.
" If want to earn your keep, be of a good conduct" Jasmine replied.
Just then, we heard her mum call out to us, we went out of Jasmine's room and we followed the aroma of the freshly brewed tea to the dining table.
The dinning table was set for three. Scrambled eggs, hotdog's, grilled tomatoes, bacon's, fried mushrooms, sausages, buttered toasts and a big jug of tea.
I had not eaten such a delightful meal in a long while, and i was so excited at the sight of the meal that Jasmine's mum had prepared.
"Dig in" I heard Jasmine's mum say, as i hurriedly ate my breakfast. After eating, i and Jasmine did the dishes and cleaned up the house. Jasmine dad travelled for a business trip, and he would not be back for the next two weeks.
Later at noon, i and Jasmine decided to go to the beach to relax and play and of course we took permission from Jasmine's mum before going.
The sun began to set over the horizon and cast a warm glow on the beach, i and Jasmine walked along the shoreline, our feet sinking into the soft sand. We had been friends for ten years, since i came into the orphanage home, and had grown up together.
As we walked, we chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company. I and Jasmine had always been quite different Jasmine was confident and outgoing, while i was quieter and more reserved but our friendship had endured. We had shared many experiences over the years, from sleepovers in our various rooms back then at the orphanage and school projects, to the annually vacations of the orphans and emotional support.
We arrived at a quieter section of the beach, we kicked off our shoes and laid out a large, colorful blanket. I reached into my bag and pulled out a book i had been excited to read, while Jasmine pulled out some snacks and drinks. As we lounged in the sun, we talked about our future dreams and goals. Jasmine was determined to be an actress, while i had an interest in banking and finance, but unfortunately for me i have no one to support my dream.
The the sun began to set, we decided to take a dip in the ocean to cool off. The water was chilly at first, but we quickly grew used to the temperature and began to frolic in the waves. We held hands and stooped down to look at small fish and crabs in the shallow water. As we emerged from the water, we paused to watch the sunset, its colors and beauty taking our breath away.
As we lay back on the blanket, exhausted but happy, i suddenly turned to Jasmine and said,
"Do you remember when we first met?"
"Of course," Jasmine replied. "You were standing outside the gate of the orphanage looking so unkept." Jasmine said again while she bursted into laughter.
I smiled and said. "I can still remember that you were the first person that i saw when i came"
Jasmine laughed. "And I remember thinking you were the sweetest, quietest girl I had ever seen." She said.
Happy to hear this, i said. "You know, I'm glad we've stayed friends all these years. It's rare to have a friendship that lasts so long. All other girls at the orphanage always quarrel now and then with each other."
Jasmine nodded. "Me too. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you in it. You have always been my best friend."
We lay on the blanket, watching the stars twinkle in the darkening sky, we talked and laughed until we were both too tired to continue. We packed up the bags and headed back to Jasmine's house. Jasmine's mum had warned us to get back home before 7 pm.
Our friendship was the kind that endured the test of time. Ten years was a long time for anyone, let alone two young women who had grown up together. We knew that our friendship wasn't perfect, but we also knew that we were stronger together than we would be apart. We had each other's backs, always, and that was enough for us.