Once upon a time, there lived a girl. She lived in a forest in isolation away from the world. She was named Amelia by her parents who were there no more with her.

 Her parents died when she was seven leaving her alone in the forest. Fortunately, she learned how to survive in the wilderness from her parents. She lived in a small cottage left behind by her parents.

              .........................

     In the morning, she opened her eyes, the shabby ceiling of the house made of wood and the sunlight intruding inside her room through the small cracks greeted her with a "Good morning". She smiles slightly and looks at her bedside.

She was looking at a pendant. She open it and greets softly "good morning" and smiles. Inside, there was the picture of her parents whom she misses at night and greets at morning.

Amelia POV:

How many years have gone? It's already 10 years since I lost u guys... today's my 17th birthday... I miss you, mom...dad....*looking at the pendant with her teary eyes*

***

My everyday life was quite monotonous. I woke up early and greets my parents a good morning. As I live alone in this forest, I hunt my own food. Fortunately, there are no wild beasts except for some small animals ,else I would have died several years ago.

BUT something changed on my 17th birthday. I would never ever forget that day.....the day, I met "him"......

***

After I woke up, I go outside my little cottage, stretching out. I look up the sky. It was a clear day…very clear...even the Clouds couldn't be seen, but the birds were still flying high up in the sky.

I looked at them as they went off flying, wondering to myself "How can they fly so care freely? how I wished to be a bird myself." it was my silly wish of mine to be a bird since I was a child.

I picked my basket and went out into the forest to search for some edible wild berries and other fruits. I also collect herbs to sell them. Yeah, even though I lived in seclusion in the forest, it doesn't mean that I am out of reach from the outside world.

There is a small village near the forest. Though small, it was always bustling with people's voice and laughter. It was also one of the commercial center of the empire, so I get a fair amount of money by selling herbs. Luckily, I know most of the area of the forest so, it was not that hard to search for

herbs.

I explored the forest for about 2 hours and my basket was full of herbs and some fruits. I went home, put the fruits in another basket and grab my cloak.

I wore my cloak, not even showing a strand of my hair and walks towards the village with the basket of herbs in my hand.

As I frequently come and visit the village, most of the villagers know me, especially the aunties who sell their produce to me at cheap price.

As I walk towards the herb shop, I flinched hearing a voice calling me from a distance..."AMELIA"

I turned around to see.....

\*----------------------\*

      I turned around to see Michael shouting loudly from across one of the stores "AMELIA".

I sigh and wave back at him hoping that he would quite down.

       He came running towards me with a wide smile he said, "So, you are finally here. I was waiting for you to come and drop by the shop. There are many fresh veggies available." I chuckled looking at him as he explained his purpose for calling out to me,"alright, I'll drop by the shop after I finish my work". "Ok, I'll store the most fresh ones for u", saying this he ran back to his shop and I continue walking towards the herbs shop.

        Michael. He is like my closest friend in this village. No, maybe in this entire world. He is just like a golden retriever, with his bright personality he lights up the Village. He is loved and adored by everyone in this village including the young ladies. Furthermore, he not only had a great personality but also had good look. Brown hair and blue eyes with a sharped nose and thinned lip, he was the most popular among the young maidens.

I became friends with Michael when I was 6,yes before my parents died. When I tack along my mom to the village, he would be there at the shop helping out his mother. He and I got along quite well as I frequently visited the village with my mom. He would always come running to me as soon as he saw me, and we would play together until the sun waves goodbye to us.

...

          A while later, I reach the herb shop and exchange my herbs for money. I went out the store and started walking towards Michael's shop. On way there, I drop by a bakery and bought myself a small cake as it was my birthday. I didn't like really myself being down.

I reached the shop and I saw Michael's smiles. Sometimes, I wonder "doesn't his face gets tired from smiling all day?".

"You are finally here, huh." Michael said as he handed me a bouquet of jasmine "Here...*slightly blush*…take it." I stutter a bit, "Wh-what's this for…?" "Dummy, it's a birthday gift. *ahem*At least say thanks", he said with a slightly shy voice.

I chuckled, "thank you, Michael. I didn't expect you to remember it since you are a dummy head". "What? I am not dumb, ok?" Michael said. "Alright. Alright. But, you'll give me some discount today, Right ?" , I asked teasing him. "Of course", he agreed readily, his ears still red. I bought some veggies that would last me for some days and bid Michael goodbye.

***

I walk towards the forest. But something was off that day. Normally, I would hear the chirping of birds, the rabbit hiding behind the bushes and feel the cool beeze flowing by.

That day, everything was very quite like as if they are all dead. I just ignored all this ominous feelings and made my way to my home.

Looking back, I shouldn't have ignored those feelings and should have stayed in the village for only that DAY....

...*----------------*...

   I usually bath at night near a river in the forest. During the day, many hunters explore this forest to catch wild animals. As I didn't want to attract unnecessary attention, I preferred to wash up at night.

**

        I reached home and organized the veggies in the kitchen counter. I washed and cooked them. After finishing all these, I looked out the window and saw that the sun had already set. I take out the cake that I bought earlier for myself and organized the table with the foods that I prepared. I lit up a small candle in the middle of the cake and made a wish, "I hope that my parents will bless me from heaven and protect me from bad things..." I blew out candle and had my meal.

         After the meal, it was already dark outside. Around 10:45, I leave my house with a basket filled with my clothes. Yes, I was leaving for a bath in the river that I mentioned earlier.

The path that I was taking to the river was always eerie. But, it didn't scare me anymore as I came to realized that humans are more scary than wild beasts and others. I already encountered much life-threatening situation, but I always survived so, I didn't fear anything.

After walking for a while, I reached near the river. The river was not that deep, so I didn't fear about getting drown or anything. Moreover, I frequented this river that I didn't feel scare anymore.

I kneel down near the river and saw my reflection, my hair which is white and my pitch black eyes. I touch the water surface softly erasing my image.

I wasn't really fond of my white hair. I always used to think that my hair looks like an old lady but now, I love them more than anything.

     I started taking off my clothes, the cool breeze touching my bare skin, I shiver a bit. I stripped all my clothes and wrapped myself up in a thin towel that was enough to cover my bare chest to my thighs. Likewise, I slowly deep inside the river. It wasn't that cold since it was spring. In winter, I always found it difficult to bathe here...

The time that I like the most is at night. I love the silence, calmness and everything there was that could describe a beautiful night.

I closed my eyes slowly as I enjoy my bath, thinking about all the things that happened today like how Michael gave me flowers with a huge discount, how I traded the herbs that I collected since morning with the shop owner for a fair amount of money...

And the thought that I didn't have to go to the village for a while made me relieve .

I always preferred silence to commotions, so I didn't like going up and down the village even though it's fun. The village is lively but...it always tired me out.

As I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a rustling sound. I quickly turn around to see that there was no one, just darkness. I called out as I sense someone, "who's there?!" trying to hide my fears and gripping tightly the towel to my chest as I slowly walk towards the shore where my clothes were.

Everything became silent as if nothing happened, as if I heard it wrong.

I quickly took my clothes and dressed myself up.

Without looking back, I started walking fast towards my home... But suddenly I heard a small groan from nearby.

I stopped walking immediately and stood there, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. I was worried that it might be a villager who got lost in the forest, so I couldn't just ignore it.

         I walked slowly towards one of a thick bush and made my way in... I reached to the other side of the bush, and I was shock, "*gasp*"...

...*----------------*...