Kindness from strangers
Brid
“My daughter, Mary, found you lying on the shore of Lake Mars. We went fishing, and she decided to explore the other side, and that's where you were. We brought you here, and you stayed unconscious for six days. You have a head injury which, fortunately, we were able to treat. But, I don't know about the internal damage, here in the middle of the forest we don't have a thing. We'd have to go to town to see what is going on with you.”
I put my hands on my head and touched a bandage. At that moment, the memories of the last thing I knew came to my head. I believe it must have been when that Wolf threw me to the other side of the cell and hit my head from the fall.
“Oh! We also fix two broken ribs for you, too. Your discomfort will last for a while, but you will certainly heal. I won't ask you about what happened, but I do want to know if you have a family to talk to. Let them know where you are.”
The lump in my throat prevented me from answering, only a sob escaped my mouth. My crying started without me being able to stop it, like a river.
“Pa, Brid is crying, is something hurting her? I will take care of you to make you feel better.”
Oh! Fate, hearing those words made me cry even more. Finally, someone who was interested in my life. And when I finally managed to contain my crying, I wiped my eyes with my hand.
“Mary, thank you for taking care of me. Nothing hurts, and I owe everything to you. You're a good girl.”
I directed my blurry eyes to Han's silhouette, saying, “I thank you both for everything you've done for me. Han, I don't have a family. My parents are far away, and I don't know where.”
I can’t tell him about the wolf community. “There is something very wrong with my eyes, I can't see well. I can only make out silhouettes.”
“Oh! Sorry to hear that, let me see.”
I listened as Han approached the bed and sat down next to me.
“Look up,” I did. “Now to the sides.” After a few seconds, Han said, “Your eyes seem like they are fine. The blow that was on your head must have been responsible for this. We can't do anything about it at the moment. Only at the end of the month does the truck with supplies come up here. The nearest city is several days' walk away. And your condition is not good for doing that.”
“Pa, can Brid stay with us? She said she had no family.” My face was simmering with shame, but when Han spoke, I felt immediate relief and gratitude that I will never ever forget.
“Sure, Mary, if Brid is OK with that of course, you are welcome to stay here, with us.”
“Are you staying? Will you stay? Yes, stay.” Mary insisted very effusively, stealing a smile from me, the first in a long time.
“Thank you both of you, I will never forget your generosity, and forever, I will owe you a debt.”
Despite the desolation I was in, Mary and Han had managed to return some warmth to my heart.
∞∞∞
After a few days, I was finally able to get out of bed. I was not only injured but malnourished when they found me. Han and Mary fed me, numerous times a day. They made sure my strength would return. Now, the real challenge began because I was distressed about my vision. I was hoping it would be temporary, but with all days recovering, nothing has changed.
If that monster hurts something by hitting me like that, it will most likely heal. I am a wolf, and although Leaf is not with me, my genetics still is, or so I thought.
“Brid, Brid, where are you?”
That little girl stole my heart from the moment I heard her scream “Pa” for the first time.
“Here I am, Mary, by the well.” Her little footsteps approached quickly.
“Brid, look what I brought for you.”
Mary had something in her hands, I couldn't make out what it was. So, I raised my arms and touched the target. It was a flower, and I could tell by touch which one it was. It was one of my favourites, wild daisies.
“Mary, they are beautiful. How did you know they were my favourites?”
“Ah! I didn't know, but from now on, I will bring you many.”
From now on? I don't know where my life will end, but for the moment, this is my place, with this beautiful family. They did not hesitate for a moment to help me. I owe them my life.
“Come on, Mary, help me draw water from the well. We have to prepare the food and do some cleaning. Will you help me?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Little Mary began to jump in her place full of excitement and energy.
“Let's go then.”
Mary helped me with the buckets, and we lowered them with the handle, and we were able to take up three of them. She helped me with one, while I dealt with the other two. It was not easy; however, we did it.
Usually, this is done by Han, but he went to check the traps to see if any animals had got into one of them. I was famished, and the thought of eating made me rush to get everything ready.
We went into the cabin and left the buckets in the kitchen. It was small and there was not much, but it has what I needed to cook.
Mary and I did some cleaning that got us tired, but we had to hurry because at any minute Han could come back.
“Mary, do you want to learn how to bake bread?” I saw out of the corner of my eye how Mary turned to see me immediately. She grabbed the sleeve of my blouse and said, “Really, would you do that?” I smiled and nodded my head.
“My mom, she couldn't teach me. She said that I was small, that when I grew up, she would teach me herself to bake one.”
I was silent, carefully listening, I've been here for several days, and I don't know anything about them. “I'm so sorry to hear that, Baby. What was your mom like? Do you remember?”
“Yes, she was tall and pretty. She loved me very much. Until she didn't come back from the forest.”
“How? She just disappeared?” I felt so bad hearing this. Did she walk away?
“Yeah, Pa, he said he couldn't find her when he went looking for her. He only found a few footprints. However, they weren't hers. Pa said maybe an animal caught her. He also said, there are some people who like to steal children and women. That is why we rescue you. Pa, he thought that you had escaped from them.”
I had not heard of this before. Is it true that a group of kidnappers hangs around here? When I recover, I will search for her. It is the least I can do for them.
“Mary, let's start with the bread. I think you are old enough to start doing it. Help me collect the ingredients and put them on the table.”
Mary went from here to there, opening doors and taking out the ingredients. I was happy to make her feel good. Poor girl, no mom at such a young age. And Han? A single parent in the middle of the forest? That must be tough.
While she was putting the ingredients in a container, I asked her, “How old are you, Mary?”
“Pa said I'm seven. That day I was born was the first of the year. But I don't know when is the first of the year.”
I note her tone of voice with a bit of annoyance. It must be ugly, not knowing when you will have your birthday. My parents always celebrated mine, and until recently, with my mate.
Kael, what is he doing now? Is he thinking of me? Will he miss me, or is his new mate taking up all his time? Bile filled my stomach, souring my mood. A tear escaped my eye because the thought of him only brings me sadness because I miss him so much. Even sometimes I am short of breath without him, believing I will not be able to breathe.
