Returning home

Returning home is the best option. she breathed a sigh of relief. She convinced herself that This is the solution. The world outside is full of wolves, and I am still a small lamb. This is what the lady of this house said to me once, that lady with a great experience. She must have been telling the truth, and why would she lie? This is how Bella herself spoke when the lady surprised her. There you are, you ungrateful little swindler. I prayed to God that you would not find your way to us. I would have thrown you out myself had it not been for the old man's questions about you every day.

really? He asked about me! if I could see him, madam. Oh, you little ungrateful girl, do you think he loves you, no one here cares about you, he just prefers to keep you under his eyes, fear of shame has its grip on his demented mind, you silly ragtag, come in and don't make a sound as you can see everyone is asleep but me, Come on in I'll go to sleep and you finish cleaning that other girl left us and gone god knows where I won't let you escape me too, Jesus is crying for me, oh my bad luck And the lady began to curse her and Bella's luck together while Bella's eyes wandered around the place.

inside everything, as it was nothing changed The place is untidy as usual, with complete walls separating each room from the other, the rooms vary in size, most of them are spacious, and had no end, except for Bella's room. It was narrow in a strange way. One feels that he is in a prison cell. The walls are very tall and painted white. There is a bed in the corner of the room and an old wardrobe that has no doors. It contains some clothes, most of which are old and worn. The bed sheets are dirty and don't seem to have been changed at all. Bella quickly did what was asked of her and then went back to her room and fell into a deep sleep.

It was Friday night, a quiet night with a full moon rising in the middle of the sky surrounded by a group of stars that Bella liked to look at. Among them was a single star that appeared every day. Bella used to call her Stella, or so she remembered.

She was not just a star. She was the companion of her dreams and the keeper of her secrets. Bella did not have many friends, she hardly could trust anyone. the house lady who she trust her life was cruel to her and suspicious of all her movements, punishing her for what she did and did not, do and describing her with the worst words, this is how Bella developed a hatred for the entire human race, she hated everything that could speak, that meant in her imagination that could hurt her, or as she called it "execution without trial".

it all didn't matter now, Bella was asleep in bed unaware of what might happen hoping that there was under that rattlesnake's skin A delicate child who was frowning by the worries of life.

Bella finished her quite a night there and at the loud noise of Mrs. Eve from the end of the corridor, Bella woke up. Bella went to prepare breakfast. While they were making breakfast, Bella asked where she went..? She was interrupted by Mrs. Eve's scream. Don't ever mention her name, your curiosity is killing me. I can answer all your questions, but I won't let you disturb my comfort by talking about that girl. She's gone and that's enough, do you understand? Bella nodded in agreement. The lady continued to scold her. And by the way, take a shower. I put on some clothes for you. From now on, you have to wash them yourself. Be sure to do them today. Tomorrow I'll take you with me to Sunday church. You've lost your way.

Bella was not religious, but she knew God in her way. This is part of the price she had to pay if She wanted to stay here. She had to go to church every Sunday.

The lady did not allow her to do much of what her generation usually does. These are things that did not matter to Bella much anyway, but she did not like for someone to impose their opinion on her. The lady also prevented her from talking to Stella, claiming that this would drive her crazy one day. Bella wanted to tell her about Vera, to explain to her that Stella is her only friend, as it was the only sane thing in the absence of Vera, and the ray of hope in that dark room, that room with one small window at the top, the sun was shining on Bella's bed so she lay down on the floor, perhaps its coolness would decrease the midday heat, overwhelmed by her feelings, she tried to hide the sound of her wailing, she heard a soft, bitter voice, it was like a calm wind that patted her shoulders, so she calmed her nerves and listened.

That was Vera, and with a confident voice, she said, "Don't worry, Bella. I'm here now. I've always been here. You don't have to do anything of what you promised that lady, you can deceive her, It won't be difficult. You don't have to go to church if you don't. "If God isn't in your heart He will not be in any temple", Your friend shall not be of flesh and blood, that friendship will be ruined quickly Anyway If you wish to speak to Stella, do that, that old hag is so slumbering at night anyway.

What is wrong with you? Vera, I will not deviate from my principles, nor will I be one of the miserable ones who are expelled from the mercy of God, and do not you know that lying is a sin? Oh, that resourceful old woman, she has her grip on you by fear, she has chained me so tightly that I almost believed all the nonsense she said, after all, Stella is not only a star, you must remember that well and do not believe everything you hear, I am here to give you a lifeline If you want, go up now, and if you don't, I won't drown here with you.

Bella sighed and murmured, You always go, Stella goes too. Oh how far and free you are from all this Stella. But Lady Eve remains, she is as fixed here as this wall, A voice echoed in the room It was not Vera's, but Lady Eve screaming at the other end outside the house, Bella rushed to check the matter and found the lady inflicting blows on her friend, the one who accompanied her and carried her in the woods, and a miserable attempt she said, "Please stop, she is my friend, you do not know how much this snake helped me to get here, it will not harm you, Please stop, the madam get angrier and continued tearing the snake until it was mixed with dust.

Ah, you small-minded fool girl, I thought you get rid of those illusions, tomorrow morning before prayer I will ask Father Giovanni to cleanse you of the demon that possessed you.

Bella knocked her feet on the ground angry, what did that poor snake do to you dammit, Vera may be right but I won't give in What good is the prayer you force me to when you deny God's grace every chance you get, May Father Giovanni cleanse you too, or are your plots and the side conversations in the closed rooms in which only the Lord knows what happens there, how many souls have you wronged or have you lost count, does all of this guarantee you forgiveness, may the Lord curse you all.

She opened the door to her room and closed it harshly, neither Stella nor anyone else would relieve her anger, she was determined to take revenge, she start seeing things more clearly now, but she knew that it would be a difficult long game, and without wasting any second she began to weave plans in her imagination, but she fell asleep at the ninth plan.

Vera woke her up before sunrise. Now, Bella, I'm so glad things turned out the way they did. Bella rose from her bed, you're happy! that my friend had died.

that's okay, it's only collateral damage, you won't get anywhere like this, you have to be stronger if you want to win.

We have to get ready quickly, remember today's Sunday, Bella said.

After breakfast Madame Eve smiled a sly smile, that was the first smile Bella saw ever, she said I see you are dressed now we have no choice but to go.

They kept silent along the way as soon as they reached the church, which was full so that they could hardly have a seat in that large hall. The Madame pointed to an empty seat in the middle of the hall from the right side. She ordered Bella to sit and wait for her there, but she went into a different hallway, she looked so stressed, then She entered a door, it was the only one there, and Father Giovanni followed her. Bella waited until the door closed and followed them. She stood there overhearing, but she arrived late. They had started talking a long time ago, but she heard Father Giovanni saying, "Don't worry, no one will know what happened to Stella, soon, no one will ever mention her existence, but what about Bella? Don't be afraid, answered Mrs. Eve, I can control her easily, and if she has seen something in the woods that day, she doesn't remember anything.

Bella opened the door suddenly, no, you wouldn't be able to control anyone, if you and this one who claims to serve the Lord want to keep me silent, you will have to stay out of my business. The two quickly nodded in agreement, unsure of what she was talking about, but they preferred to finish the matter quickly before she could ask more questions.

Madame Eve looked at her with eyes full of anger and rage. Now go home if you don't want to complete the prayer. As for me, I will pray and catch up with you. We will have a long talk at home. Don't be late.

On the way back, which Bella can hardly remember, she saw a group of boys and girls playing in front of a small shop. beside the shop there was a well-dressed and very attractive young man selling books on the side of the road, Bella approached him slowly and start to surf the books One by one, disinterested in time or Mrs. Eve's admonitions, and she asked, "Is there no better books in this town than this? Not one is new, and they are overpriced. I could buy a wardrobe for the price of two."

Well, my lady, you have every right in what you say, but as you can see, there are no one selling books here but I and there is not a single library in this big town, and it breaks my heart that there is not a single place in this town that one can enjoy reading in it for free. These pages have always been an escape for me from the cruelty of life, and it pains me to sell them, but the money is tight and I want money to leave this hellish place. A free spirit like me cannot stay here any longer, but it lacks money and I do not have a profession, but I am almost sure that you have A soul like mine that wants to fly and its wings got clipped so many times, and yet I can stay until I help you what you want You can come here every day and take whatever you want from these books you will not find them anywhere else, and know, my friend, that there is nothing prevents you from flying but you, otherwise no obstacle a passionate soul like you can not overcome.

Bella's face blushed, and a shiver spread in her soul that she had never experienced before. She was not used to anyone believing in her, but she quickly pulled herself together and asked him, "Can you suggest one of them to me, I have not read for a long time, so I have been given duties beyond my ability and I have been forgetting myself, but now I am Determined to gather my shattered soul, will you help me?

This is what my free soul can't stand, look at it as much as you can and take what you want and know there is nothing that would be dearer to my heart, me you humble servant Paolo, you should take it all, and I am here waiting for you if any of it becomes difficult for you, I will explain it to you, my lady, for I have read it so many times that I memorised it By heart.

Bella stood for about two minutes examining Paolo's face. What a face he had like the moon in the middle of the month, with sparkles of water on his forehead, because of his effort to convince her in this sweltering heat, his long black hair covering part of his eyes every time a breeze of air storm in, fascinated by him, she took two books without paying enough attention, Paolo bowed and gave her the two books, they exchange farewell greetings.

Bella went on her way, flowers blooming on her face, unconcerned by the bumpiness of the road. This day that she dreaded yesterday could not have passed better than this, even in her dreams. She always loved books, but no one gave her any shred of attention before, so she hurried home and arrived. She could not wait until dark to tell Stella, She had forgotten everything that had happened this morning.