•|Dedicated To|•

Unfortunate orphans out there

♦

I stood stoic in front of my grave. A cold wind blew through it. The graveyard was empty so was my heart. The headstone said, "LAYS HERE THE ONCE ALIVE STAR, WHO IS NOW A THOUSAND OF STARDUSTS THAT BLOWS THROUGH EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLDS".

The white flowers spread here and there, showings symbols of fake love and respect which were shown to me while my body laid in cosy and expensive, wooden coffin.

No emotions, no pain, no happiness and no warmth flowed through me. I stood there as my blonde hair flowed with the cold breeze. I didn't shiver even. Clearly, I am now just that stardust which is attached to each other to form a human body, which is neither sensual to any kind of feelings nor visible to any human eyes. And speaking of feelings... I left having feelings a long time ago.

The last leaf of a tree, that stood with its skeletal body besides my grave, dropped on my grave, reminding me of this life. My memory is as clear as water. I was an adopted child, who had step-siblings, just like Cinderella. But they are a little different. I was harassed by my three stepbrothers and severely beaten by my step - sister. My mother was, however, little compassionate towards me. I smiled faintly as I remembered my mother's smiling face.

My stepfather, unlike my stepmother, didn't even try to know me, the only answer he would give me was -" Isn't it done enough for you, child? Then why are you complaining like this? You are lucky to have such a rich family to adopt you, otherwise, you would be left to die in that tumbled - down orphanage! ".

Last year, I started suffering from vertigo and high fever and had a tiresome month. I tried to say it to my benefactor, but he turned deaf- eared to it. I spent several sleepless nights, getting up occasionally for getting breathless after continuous coughs. Therefore gradually, I developed dark circles under my eyes. But these dark circles could not suppress my childish innocence.

This month, many relatives came to our overtly -decorated, lavish-looking house, for the Christmas party. As my conditions worsened last week, few stared me with sympathy. That hurt my benefactor's highly-priced ego and forced him to call medical help at the house to cover up his embarrassment. I didn't remember much though.

I just remembered a word that slipped the doctor's mouth - "Cancer. " My tired eyes widened at his word. Streams of tears made their way through my face. An uncontrollable and shameful fear, that I had suppressed in me from that day when my fever grew up, now made its way in my mind in an overgrown state.

My benefactress was the only one stay in my room nights after nights. She patted her soft palms over my warm head. One morning I heard her say, "Last two days of her life, Let me stay with Estée, please". I can say, I already understood that my life is nearing its end. I could not raise my head, I could barely talk, I just laid there crying silently. The benefactress, whom I remembered I called her ' mother ', last night said me a story so that I could finally go to my final sleep.

"There was once a humble, innocent and beautiful star, named Estée, who remained unloved and unwanted. One Christmas, God blessed her and called her to him, away from the torture. He made her the blessed stardust. Now, this stardust was given a purpose, this stardust went flying to all those unloved stars and gave them the love that they deserve... ", I didn't remember any more sounds.

Next morning, when I opened my eyes, I saw my soulless body on the bed, the sheets painted with blood. I heard a few men say that I coughed out the blood. I also heard my benefactor say, "Why did she die in the house? Now we all have to suffer the consequences!! I have to spend more spondulicks on her - The unholy brat... ", as my 'mother' cried her heart out. Now I am away from the torture, I felt somewhat comfortable. And now I am here standing in front of my grave. A sound of bells ringing from a distant place flowed through the silent graveyard.

Today is Christmas. Everyone is happy, so am I. Everyone has new promises, so have I.

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