The Awakening

As the morning sun kissed my face, I stirred from my half-awake state on the jungle floor, wrapped in the blanket provided by that mysterious couple. Sitting up, the first thought on this beautiful morning evoked emotions - conversing with my one and only friend, My Hydrangea. I reminisced about our past conversations, visualizing my plant before me. With closed eyes, the image of my hydrangea became clear; I whispered, "With your beauty, I vow to share everything." Chuckling at my own weirdness, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. It's been almost two days since I left home, and the absence of Aunt weighed heavily on my heart. As for Uncle, who was currently in Gaza, his absence added to my longing. But I've made a promise to them - a promise to return as someone who is strong, persistent, and determined.

Pushing aside thoughts of home, I reminded myself of my journey's guiding principle: "The more you dwell on something, the more it troubles you." Yet, there were moments when I questioned if this mantra was truly suited for my journey. Sometimes, delving deeper into a thought was necessary for understanding it fully.

With a final effort, I banished all distractions and looked up at the sky, its blue hue captivating me like never before. There was something about it, something unique and entrancing.

Taking a deep breath, I felt the crisp air fill my lungs, clearing my thoughts. Closing my eyes, I immersed myself in the tranquility of the moment, relishing the calm.

Opening my eyes again, I shifted my gaze to the lush grass beneath me, each blade adorned with glistening droplets of dew. It was a peaceful scene, until a haunting memory resurfaced—the image of the bloodstained brook. In an instant, the tranquility shattered, replaced by a creeping sense of unease.

As I pondered that scene, it continued to trouble me, persistently lingering in my thoughts like an unreachable itch. The image of the blood-filled stream haunted my mind, leaving me unsettled and unable to shake off the unease it brought.

I resolved to confront my unease head-on. With each step towards the brook, my apprehension grew. Carefully inspecting the water's surface, I scoured every inch for any hint of blood. Anxious yet hopeful, I breathed a sigh of relief as my search revealed no trace of crimson. It was reassuring to see the water flowing clear and untainted.

Even though the brook seemed fine now, I couldn't shake the memory of seeing blood instead of water, and then there was Ana, crying and talking about broken promises. So many questions raced through my mind, leaving me unsettled. To ease my mind, I took a deep breath and decided to drink water.

As I crouched by the stream, confusion set in as the water seemed to avoid my touch, rippling away whenever I reached for it. It felt like a bizarre dream. Despite my confusion, I persisted, extending my hand once more toward the elusive water.

Finally, I made contact with the water, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. But as I savored this small victory, I felt a presence behind me. Turning around cautiously, I was greeted by the familiar faces of Orhan and Estella. With a playful grin, I quipped, "You two scared me! I thought I was about to have a showdown with a jungle ninja or something."

Estella blurted out, "Kelly, look at your eyes!" I couldn't help but quip, "How am I supposed to do that, grow an extra pair?" Orhan, with a chuckle, added, "They're blue!" Bewildered, I glanced at the water, half-expecting to see a pair of bright blue eyes staring back at me. As I redirected my gaze, I was taken aback to find my eyes had indeed turned a shade of blue. Confused thoughts swirled in my mind. "What's happening?" I wondered, puzzled by the sudden and unexpected change.

"Your life is destined to be filled with unimaginable events, revealing sights you never dreamed of witnessing." [ChuChu's words from "Navigating the unknown trial]

Closing my eyes, I sensed something extraordinary happening, sending strange sensations through my body as if a hidden force was awakening within me. I could feel my nerves tingling, hear my heart pounding, and sense my breaths deep down. With my eyes shut, images flashed before me: a majestic palace, like the one I was used to see in that dreams, an ancient tree, and a cliff illuminated by three bright lights piercing the sky.

Upon opening my eyes, I felt what ChuChu actually meant by, "unimaginable events."

The air crackled with a blend of surprise, anticipation, and an unknown feeling, creating an electrifying moment hinting at the extraordinary journey awaiting me.

ChuChu had shared facts about supernatural occurrences, leaving me uncertain about how they would unfold. Despite being informed of various tragedies by ChuChu, experiencing them personally felt different.

In that moment of complete confusion, I wanted to see her once more. It was a simple desire, just one more meeting to address the questions that lingered within me like unspoken whispers. The foremost query dominated my thoughts: "Will Estella and Orhan accompany me on this journey? Will they, too, experience the same emotions that currently consumed me?" I was fueled by the urgency to gain clarity on these pressing uncertainties. I harbored a hope that I would meet her for the last time, seeking solace and understanding, unraveling the mysteries that had suddenly woven themselves into the fabric of my thoughts.

Lost in those wandering thoughts, I was snapped back to reality by Estella's voice piercing through the mental fog. "Kelly, what happened?" she asked, her concern palpable. Despite my mind being lost in those strange feelings, my body still responded to Estella's words, and I looked up at her.

"Fe-Del is missing!" she exclaimed, her words barely registering in my mind. All I could feel was like emerging from a deep reverie, and suddenly, a palpable sense of urgency swept over me.

But it wasn't Fe-Del's absence that spurred my haste; it was as if a surge of unfamiliar energy had taken hold of me. I felt like a completely different person internally, even though my mind remained clear.

In my rush, I asked a question completely unrelated to the situation at hand: "Have you heard of ChuChu?" Estella, looking confused, responded, "Who's that?" She then reminded me, "Fe-Del is nowhere to be found!"

Trying to steer the conversation in a different direction, I insisted, "Let's forget about Fe-Del for a moment, but..." My words trailed off, as if they were trying to catch up to the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my head. My thoughts were all jumbled up, and I paused, trying to calm myself down and focus.

After completely removing the haste and taking a long breath, I finally spoke. "I swear, my brain was on a vacation without me!"

They both chuckled, and Orhan commented, "Your replies are suddenly funny. But if I recall correctly, during our first meeting, you were as cold as an iceberg and twice as frosty." I gave him a playful glare in response and retorted, "My apologies, Orhan. I must have been taking pointers from Elsa that day!"

Estella interrupted, saying, "Can you guys cut it out?" I turned to her, and she asked, "What was going on with you?"

Taking a deep breath, I replied, "I don't even know where to begin right now."

She insisted, "Kelly, you need to—"

Before Estella could finish, a bright light, like the one ChuChu always brought with her, appeared from behind a tree. We all turned to see ChuChu emerging, but something was different. She looked like she had been through a lot, with bruises and a pale complexion replacing her usual vibrant appearance.

I hastened towards ChuChu as she crumbled to her knees. This sight of her compelled me to envelop her in a protective embrace. It was a strange moment—my first witnessing of ChuChu in such a vulnerable state. Tears streamed down her face as she uttered words that resonated like a divine plea, "K-Kelly," she started sobbing, saying, "I was like a sister to you. Wasn't I?"

The weight of the term 'sister' hung in the air, leaving me in a state of numbness. It took me back to someone, someone so precious that I would've given anything for them. That person who felt like a mirrored image of myself, my guiding star in a sky full of darkness. They were my living treasure, the diamond amidst a sea of stones. I fought back tears as memories flooded back. It had been so long since I found myself alone again, stuck in my Friendless World. I pushed thoughts of that person aside, not wanting to remember them anymore.

Softly, I cupped her tear-stained cheeks, gently wiping away her distress. A strong sense of duty filled me as I reassured her, "Yes, you are. Tell me everything. Whoever did this to you, I'll confront them and fix it."

Her response was silence, compelling me to continue, "ChuChu, speak out the name, please," I pleaded.

She sighed while sobbing and said, "You."

"You did this to me, Kelly," she uttered, her words like a heavy blow to my chest. I felt numb, realizing I was responsible for her condition. And then it hit me – the true meaning behind her words, "like a sister to you. Wasn't I?"

At that moment, in my almost 15 years of living, I came to realize, "Sometimes, we believe we're only the ones suffering, but perhaps we're the ones unintentionally shaping someone else's pain."

"I'm sorry," I uttered.

She stood tall while I remained on my knees, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp knife. "Kelly, why apologize? Do you even understand what you've done?" I looked at her, feeling the weight of her words. "I...I don't," I stammered. "I knew it," she scoffed. "Some people apologize without meaning it." Her words hit me hard, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. But I held them back, remembering how tears were seen as weakness in this cruel world. "You were supposed to be my guide, Kelly," she continued, her tone accusing. "But instead, you've become the storm that wrecked me." I wanted to protest, to defend myself, but her words left me speechless. "Look at me," she demanded, gesturing to her bruised and broken body. "It's all your fault."

I tried to speak, to apologize again, but she wouldn't let me. "You're selfish," she spat out, her words like daggers. "You pretend to care, but you're only thinking of yourself." I felt a pang of guilt in my chest, but I pushed it away, refusing to believe her words. "You're a fake," she continued, her voice rising with anger. "A fraud. And I'm done wasting my time on you."

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces as she delivered her final blow. "Heartless," she whispered, the word hanging in the air like a curse.

My eyes widened at her accusation, "ChuCh-" but she continued mercilessly, "You are a complete heartless person!" she declared, cutting off my attempt to respond. "Your Uncle and Aunt just wasted their time raising you. How could they be so foolish? It's just so idiotic-" her words struck like daggers, each one with more sharp blades.

I shouted, "Enough, ChuChu!" My voice echoed through the forest, filled with desperation and anguish. I couldn't bear to hear any more accusations, especially when they targeted the people I loved. "What have they done to deserve this?" I demanded, my voice trembling with emotion.

But ChuChu wasn't finished. She pressed on, her words like daggers aimed at my heart. "Stop acting protective!" she exclaimed. "Everyone has left you because you're heartless, selfish, and rude." Her words cut me to the core, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. "No, it's not true," I sobbed, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own anguish.

ChuChu's accusations continued, each one more painful than the last. "You could have saved her that day, but you only cared about yourself," she accused. "You're a murderer, Kelly." The words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me reeling with shock and disbelief.

I collapsed to the ground, the weight of ChuChu's accusations crushing me. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in a sea of guilt and remorse. "No, it's not true," I whispered, my voice barely a whisper. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

But ChuChu wasn't listening. She had already condemned me in her eyes, and nothing I said could change that. As I lay there, broken and defeated, I couldn't help but wonder if she was right. Was I truly responsible for all the pain and suffering around me? And if I was, how could I ever find redemption?

On my knees, tears streaming down my face, I bowed my head until it touched the unforgiving ground. In that moment of despair, I fell into a heavy silence, my sobs subsiding into a numb emptiness. The world around me seemed to fade away, consumed by the weight of ChuChu's damning accusation. And then, breaking through the quiet, her voice sliced through the air like a blade, branding me with a damning label: "Murderer!"

ChuChu's relentless accusations pierced through the air like sharp daggers, each word cutting deeper into my already wounded soul. "It was you, who left her that day, right?" she spat out, her tone dripping with disdain.

"No, it wasn't me!" I shot back, my voice trembling with frustration.

"Yes, you did!" ChuChu's voice rose in pitch, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I swear, it wasn't me!" I protested, feeling the weight of her accusations bearing down on me like a heavy burden.

"You left her, admit it!"

ChuChu's accusations felt relentless, like a relentless storm tearing through my defenses. "You left her, admit it!" she demanded once more, her words echoing in the air.

"I didn't leave her!" I screamed back, my voice strained with desperation.

But ChuChu wouldn't relent. She continued to hurl accusations at me, each one more venomous than the last. And as her words grew louder, my anger reached its boiling point until finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

Kelly's pain erupted into a primal scream that tore through the stillness of the forest. In that moment of raw emotion, the very elements seemed to respond to her suffering. The trees quivered as if shaken by an unseen force, their leaves rustling in a frenzied dance. The stream, once calm and still, surged forward in a rush of water, swirling around Kelly in a display of untamed power.

And as Kelly's cries reached a crescendo, a surge of energy enveloped her, lifting her from the ground and propelling her into the air. Flames flickered to life around her outstretched arms, casting an ethereal glow against the darkness. In the surreal moment, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the scene with a blinding light.

Orhan and Estella took a few steps back, their expressions a mix of shock and awe. Orhan, completely taken aback by the scene, looked at Estella, who was staring at Kelly without any emotion.

Amidst this chaos, Kelly's eyes snapped open, their once familiar hue now transformed into a vibrant shade of blue. It was a moment of awakening, a revelation of her true power and potential. And as she hovered above ChuChu, Estella, and Orhan, a newfound sense of purpose surged through her veins, propelling her towards an uncertain destiny.

She declared, "This world has tested me, but now it's my turn to show it the strength within me!"