(Flashback)
"Freak, freak, freak." The children's taunts echoed around little Iridessa as she sat beneath the stone steps of the orphanage. They hurled insults and objects at her leaving her bewildered and hurt. Iridessa couldn't comprehend why she was the target of such cruelty. She had never engaged in fights or tattled on her peers. Instead, she remained a quiet soul, her nose perpetually buried in books. Those books, filled with tales of elegant dresses, transported her to a world of imagination. When she wasn't engrossed in reading, her nimble fingers meticulously crafted tiny dresses for the dolls belonging to her fellow orphans. The needle pricks on her hands were a testament to her dedication and love for her craft.. Her fingers continued to work diligently, stitching together pieces of fabric to create something beautiful. Despite the pain and the cruelty surrounding her, Iridessa found solace in her craft. Each stitch was a testament to her resilience, a small act of defiance against the ugliness of the world. And so, she sewed on, undeterred by the chaos and noise that surrounded her.
" Iridessa, the loser,' " a girl with black curly hair said to Iridessa. She walked towards her, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her along. Iridessa made no sound, nor did she attempt to escape. She simply allowed herself to be dragged, starting to believe the cruel words hurled at her. She had begun to accept the label of 'freak,' knowing all too well that silver-colored eyes with flecks of gold were not typical for any normal human, yet they were her own.
The girl with the ebony curls forcefully pulled her hair back, a look of disdain etched across her face as she directed it towards Iridessa. In a sudden act of aggression, she slapped Iridessa across the cheek. Although Iridessa possessed the ability to retaliate, she made a conscious decision not to, knowing it would only escalate the situation.
"Look, the oddball still has the needle. Let's use it to pierce her," a boy sneered, leaning in closer to Iridessa. Iridessa's eyes widened, not because of the impending pain of being pierced, but because she realized they were about to snatch away her sole source of happiness. Gripping the needle tightly in her hand, she braced herself. However, before she could react, the little boy delivered a forceful punch to her stomach, causing Iridessa to groan in pain and collapse onto the floor. At that moment, they seized the needle from her grasp.
As the little girl with the bouncy curls ascended on top Iridessa's body, she pricked Iridessa's forehead with the needle. Then her sights set on Iridessa's eyes, but the girl was abruptly interrupted by a sudden eruption from Iridessa, causing her to let out a piercing scream. Iridessa tightly shut her eyes, but when she finally opened them, she found all the other children sprawled on the floor. The little boy who had taken the needle from her stared at her in sheer terror. Determined, Iridessa rose from the ground, retrieved her needle, brushed off the dust, and hurriedly made her way into the orphanage, tears streaming down her face.
Iridessa, what's wrong, honey?" Miss Caroline's voice was filled with concern as she stopped her in the hallway. She noticed the blood trickling down from Iridessa's eyebrows.
"What happened, sweetheart?" Miss Caroline inquired, but Iridessa remained silent, tears streaming down her face.
"Come with me, dear." Miss Caroline gently guided Iridessa towards the First Aid room. She had a feeling of what might have occurred, and she was determined to ensure that Emily and the other children faced consequences for their actions. Miss Caroline sat Iridessa down on a stool, fetched the first aid kit, and began tending to Iridessa's wound.
Caroline observed Iridessa sitting quietly, holding the needle without flinching. Iridessa's calm demeanor puzzled Caroline. She had been brought to the orphanage as a baby and had spent six years there. Iridessa was a beautiful and serene child who never shed a tear, even as an infant. She had always been captivated by dresses, but there was something about her that Caroline couldn't quite grasp. After tending to the wound, Caroline planted a gentle kiss on Iridessa's forehead, prompting a smile from the little girl. Suddenly struck by an idea, Caroline walked over to the cabinet and retrieved something.
"This is for you, Iridessa," Caroline announced, handing Iridessa a large piece of blue polka dot fabric. A bright smile illuminated Iridessa's face as she accepted the gift wrapped in transparent nylon. Caroline had been saving it for Iridessa's birthday, but she realized that today was just as special.
"Th...thank you, Miss Caroline. I'm very grateful," Iridessa expressed, closing her eyes as tears welled up. Despite her gratitude, a sense of sorrow lingered within her.
"Why are you always up so early?" Indiana asked, entering Iridessa's room to find her diligently working on her sewing machine. The rapid paddling of the machine had awakened Indiana, who was a light sleeper. Iridessa didn't respond, and as Indiana approached her, she gasped at the sight. Iridessa's eyes were swollen shut, tears streaming down her face as she continued to paddle on the machine, completely unaware of Indiana's presence. Indiana realized that this was one of those moments when Iridessa couldn't sleep, haunted by some terrible dream. Seeking solace in her machine, Iridessa would immerse herself in her work. Indiana knew better than to interfere, having tried before with unfavorable results. Instead, she moved closer and sat against the wall next to Iridessa's machine, gazing at her with tears welling up in her own eyes. She couldn't fathom the depth of Iridessa's pain, the traumas she had endured in her twenty-four years of life. So, she simply sat there, silently watching, until the first light of dawn broke through the window. As Iridessa's pace gradually slowed and eventually ceased, she slowly lifted her swollen eyes and locked gazes with Indiana.
Iridessa inquired, "Did it happen again?" Indiana swiftly rose to their feet and embraced her tightly. However, their gaze soon shifted towards what she had sewn, causing Indiana's eyes to widen in astonishment.