The next morning, Miranda sat absentmindedly on the street bench where she usually waits for her best friend, Loretta.
Today, they were supposed to meet and go grocery shopping together, after which they agreed to visit the library for new books.
While she waited, her mind went back to what Connie told her last night.
"She is doing this because the nurse who took her delivery when you were born told her that you are an evil child, and you are from the devil."
That information had shocked her to the bone, and she had no reason to doubt it since it was coming from Connie. He had never lied to her or given her reason to question his honesty in the past. In fact, he was freer with her than he was with their parents. So when he uttered such heavy words, the only thing she could ask was where he got the story from. And just as she expected, he gave her an answer.
"This came out of Mum's mouth. I've known for a while, but I kept it to myself. But I think you need to know this now so you can stop living in denial and ignorance. Mum said the day you were born, the nurse screamed and threw you away the moment she held you in her arms. When questioned, she kept repeating that you are an evil child. She gave no further reasons for her utterances except for the abnormal color of your hair and ended by saying they would only believe it when they started to see the signs. While returning home with you, their car was involved in a ghastly accident. Dad almost lost his life, while Mum sustained various degrees of injuries, but there was no scratch on your body even though you were sleeping comfortably in her arms. It was from that moment they believed what the nurse said. Mum said she went back to the hospital to look for the nurse a few months later and was told she died the same month you were delivered. That finally confirmed her suspicion and she believed it was because of you the nurse died. That was how her hatred for you started."
Miranda let out an audible sigh. She wasn't surprised she hadn't heard that story. Contrary to what Connie thinks, she wasn't living in denial. She knew exactly what was happening.
What she didn't want was for her brother to view their parents as bad parents. She had gone through a lot at their hands. Her mother especially had ensured to make life unbearable for her.
However, she tried her best to ignore all the mistreatment and make up good reasons for everything they did.
Now that she had this information, she didn't know what to think. She wished that the nurse was still alive so she could explain why a child having a few streaks of purple hair grow alongside her dominant blonde, signified evil. Just one person's careless words turned her life into a living hell.
If she hadn't seen her birth certificate, and the striking resemblance she had with her mum, she would have believed she was an adopted or a foster child.
Her parents didn't look to her as people who believed in such nonsense. So how did they even allow such words get to them, to the point of sowing such a deeply rooted seed of hatred for her in their heart?
A hand was suddenly waved a few inches away from her eyes, prompting her to blink and pull her head back as she snapped out of her thoughts.
"What were you thinking of? I've been here for over thirty seconds and you didn't notice." Miranda turned to her left to find Loretta looking at her with a worried expression.
"I was thinking of where we should go first. Grocery or library." Loretta's expression switched into a thoughtful one, her head tilting to the side and her brows arched as she considered the options.
"Grocery will take a shorter time, so I suggest we go to the library first."
"Good choice. Exactly what I thought." Miranda agreed, nodding her head and jumping up to her feet.
"What happened to your face?" Loretta narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Miranda's cheek.
"What do you mean? What did you see?" Miranda asked, slightly alarmed as she didn't prepare any explanation whatsoever before coming out.
She had looked at the mirror and was glad that her face had no marks. How did Loretta spot something she had missed?
"Your face looks red as if you hit it against a hard surface. Did you fall?" Loretta pressed lightly onto the reddened part with her index. "Does it hurt?" She asked, even before Miranda could respond to her previous comment.
Although Miranda could feel a slight sting, she shook her head in response. "It doesn't hurt. I probably scratched it unintentionally or pressed it too hard on the bed frame. It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Miranda dismissed.
"Alright then. Let's go." Loretta looked away from her cheek, much to her relief, and together they walked a short distance to the community library.
After going through due process with the librarian, they wasted no time moving to the new arrivals display section. Having heard just yesterday that the library had received a fresh delivery of books, they decided to be among the very first people to check them out.
While walking slowly and checking each book out, Miranda found a book with a beautiful grey and black colored cover. The title was not something she considered interesting, but the design of the cover already caught her attention. She reached for it and pulled it out.
Due to the slight force applied while bringing the book out of the shelf, the book next to the chosen one fell to the ground. Without paying full attention to the fallen book, she picked it up and made to return it to the shelf.
But she paused just before the book touched the shelf and read the title. 'To redeem a devil.' Her head tilted slightly to the side as she considered the strange title, picking interest instantly.
"That looks like something I'd read. I hope they have another copy." Loretta, who suddenly showed up beside her, asked, also picking interest in the book.
Her question prompted Miranda to look back at the spot where the book fell from and she beamed in joy when she saw another copy lying there.
"Haha… I guess there is." Miranda picked it out and handed it over to Loretta. They ended up buying three books each before heading to the grocery store.
By the time Miranda got home, her mother was already fuming. Of course, she knew she didn't take more time than necessary, as Loretta had noted earlier. However, she had expected her mother's reaction. It was normal and something she was already used to.
To avoid escalating the matter, she headed over to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She was excited and didn't want anything to ruin her mood. Her ears were blocked against her mother's infuriating words as she went about her work like she had no problem in the world.
She couldn't wait to get back to the confines of her room, where she could bury her head in a book and travel to an imaginary land. A land where she was free to do whatever she wanted and be whoever she wanted.
Seeing how Miranda wasn't defending herself or responding to the words she was spewing, her mother approached the kitchen, narrowing her eyes in suspicion as she realized the girl was going about her work, unaffected by what was going on around her. What was she up to this time?
***
Three hours later, Miranda was back in her room after having dinner with her family and completing her chores. She double-checked everything she was supposed to do to avoid a repeat of what happened last night.
She unpacked the three books she bought and picked the one with grey colored cover to start reading. A few seconds later, she dropped it and picked up the one that fell down at the library.
It was smaller in size than the others, so she knew she could finish reading it that night if the story was interesting enough. But above all, the book seemed to be calling to her.
***
In the dead of the night, the door to her room creaked open and her mother walked in slowly and quietly. Finding Miranda sleeping while hugging a book close to her chest, she approached the girl's bed.
After confirming that she was fast asleep, the mother looked around the place, noting that everything was in order. She turned around to leave, but after taking three steps, her brows creased and she retraced her steps.
Her eyes settled on the book lying on her daughter's chest. 'So this was the reason she was being so cooperative and talking less.' She reasoned, and quietly picked the book up.
The frown on her face deepened when she read the title of the book. Has the devil finally come for her daughter? Why would she be reading such a book? When did she switch from romance novels to devilish books?
With a determined look, she walked to the back of the house, taking the book with her. She set it on fire and watched it burn down until there was nothing left but ash.
No devil was permitted in her house, whether in the form of a book or any other form. It was high time she stopped the girl from reading altogether.