CHAPTER THREE

I questioned the reality of the situation, unsure if what I was experiencing was real or merely a dream. The absence of words in the book initially convinced me that it couldn't be real, but the fact that my name appeared and it greeted me left me bewildered. Moments later, the words disappeared, only to be replaced by another line that read. ''As you know this is real''. Determined to prove it to myself, I grabbed a pencil and wrote a short sentence, asking. ''If this is real, then who are you?''. The moment I finished writing, my sentence vanished, as if the book had received my message. Shortly after, it replied. ''We just had a decent conversation in heaven and you have already forgotten about me, I'm hurt''. The mention of heaven made me wonder if this book was the angel I had spoken to before returning to my old self. Acting swiftly, I wrote back. ''You're the angel that I was talking to''. In response, my writings disappeared, and it replied. ''Correct''.

The book or rather the angel named Yezalel introduced itself fully as my guardian angel, assigned to protect and guide me. Filled with frustration, I wrote. ''Well, you're not doing a good job''. It was merely the truth- my loved ones had suffered and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being punished for no reason by a God who hadn't intervened. Yezalel reminded me. ''Ophelia... you know that I couldn't do anything without God's permission. If I disobey God's order, I will get punished and you will also face consequences, as I am assigned to you''. Though I understood this, I couldn't fully accept it. The lack of divine intervention, even in the face of tragedy, made me question God's intentions.

Curiosity took hold, and I inquired. ''So, what's the reason for you turning into a book?''. Yazalel responded through the pages. ''I'm not really a book, Ophelia''. Perplexed, I asked . ''What do you mean?''. Yezalel explained. ''The book we are currently using is our way to communicate with one another. I am like a cellphone''. Relieved that my guardian angel hadn't transformed into an inanimate object, I realized the book could be advantageous. It could provide information and answer any question by writing down a person's name or query. Excited by the possibilities, I requested. ''Can you give me the location of 'The Golden Masters'?''. Yezalel replied with a yes and the book immediately turned its pages, revealing a map pinpointing the whereabouts of the people I was searching for. A smirk formed on my face as I observed the hidden locations. With the pages returning to normal, a line was written. ''You're already making a move?''. Seizing my pencil, I responded. ''Yes, the earlier the better''. Having received my reply, Yazalel wrote back. ''Well, I guess I'll wait for you then''. A small smile graced my lips as I informed Yezalel that I needed to go. It bid me farewell, and I closed the book, getting up from my chair and making my way to bed. As I laid down, I gazed out of the window at the breathtaking night sky, the moon shining brightly. Determined, I felt my eyes grow heavy as sleep overtook me.

This time, I vowed to ensure everyone's safety.

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''Is that her... our sister?''. One of my brothers said in a cold tone, causing me to flinch. ''Yes, this is her''. The person beside me said, patting my head with his huge heavy hand. The roughness of his touch lacked tenderness . I mustered the courage to raise my head and meet my brother's eyes, but their gazes remained fixed on me. Feeling shy, I quickly lowered my head once again. I heard one of them emit a disapproving sound, which I found rude. ''Ophelia''. The man beside me called my name, and I looked at him. ''Introduce yourself to your other brothers''. He instructed, I nodded and raised my head. '' H-Hello, my n-name is O-Ophelia. It's n-nice to m-meet y-you''. I stammered, my voice saturated with nervousness.

''Pathetic''. The same voice spoke once more. ''Asher, watch your mouth''. The person beside me reprimanded. So his name is Asher. Why did he say that? Did I do something wrong? . ''What? She's so nervous right now that it makes me want to crush her into a million pieces''. Asher said in a terrifying tone, intensifying my fear. ''ASHER, GO TO YOUR ROOM''. The man beside me shouted, further contributing to my sense of fear. His voice was so loud that I instinctively covered my ears. As Asher's footsteps faded away, I uncovered my ears and looked at the person beside me. His expression was filled with anger but he sighed deeply and softened his gaze as he looked at me. ''I'm sorry about that. He's not like that every day. I guess something bad must have happened. ''He explained. I nodded, not fully comprehending his words. I glanced in the direction Asher had stormed off to. At that moment I vowed to avoid him at any cost.

Gasp* Gasp*

Gasping for breath, I woke up from my dream or rather my memory. I placed my left hand over my eyes, unable to believe that I was experiencing flashbacks to my past life, and of all memories why did that one resurface? It was a memory that I desperately wanted to forget, as it reminded me of my initial meeting with them. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. Afterwards, I headed downstairs and made my way to the kitchen. There, I saw my aunt preparing breakfast for the two of us. When she saw me, she smiled and greeted me with a 'good morning' to which I responded in kind. I took a seat at one of the chairs, waiting for the food to finish cooking. As my aunt continued with her preparations, I glanced around our house and spotted something in the backyard that caught my attention. ''Auntie, what is that outside in our backyard?''. I asked, pointing my finger towards the sack.

''Oh, that's filled with dirt for planting vegetables and fruits''. She replied. So we were going to have a mini farm in our backyard. My aunt chuckled, then continued. ''Looks like you're going to enjoy our activity today''. She was right. I would enjoy the day, as long as I was with her.

As we finished our breakfast. My aunt and I headed outside to start our gardening project. We put on our gardening gloves and grabbed our tools, ready to get our hands dirty. My aunt taught me how to till the soil and plant the seeds, explaining which plants would grow best in our backyard. She shared her knowledge and experience with me, making the entire process feel like a fun learning experience. As my aunt and I worked in the garden, I couldn't help but think back to that painful memory. The coldness in my brothers' voices, the heavy touch on my head and the fear that Asher had instilled in me. It was a memory that I had hoped to leave behind, but it seemed to haunt me even in my dreams.

But here, in the present moment, with my aunt by my side, I felt safe and loved. She had become my guiding light, my source of comfort and support. Her presence alone was enough to reassure me that everything would be alright. As we prepared to create our mini farm, I couldn't help but feel excitement bubbling up inside me. I had always loved being around plants and nature, and this project was the perfect opportunity to bond with my aunt and find solace in the beauty of nature. As we planted the first seeds in the freshly tilled soil, I felt a sense of hope blossoming within me. This garden would be a symbol of growth, resilience and healing. It would show me that despite the painful memories I carried, I had the power to create new happy experiences for myself. With each seed that I carefully placed into the ground, I let go of the negative emotions that had weighed me down for so long.

My aunt looked at me with a warm smile and said, '' Ophelia, together we will nurture this garden and watch it flourish. Just like these plants, you have the ability to grow and thrive, despite the challenges you have faced. Remember, you are strong and capable of creating your own happiness''. Her words resonated deep within me, filling me with a renewed sense of strength and determination. This garden would be a testament to my resilience, a reminder that I had the power to shape my own destiny. And as we continued to work side to side, the heaviness of my past began to lift, replaced by the hope and beauty that surrounded me. Together, my aunt and I would create a haven in our backyard, a place where love, growth and healing would abound. And as we tended to our plants and watched them bloom, I knew that the painful memories of my past would eventually fade away, replaced by the joy and peace that came from forging my own path, surrounded by the love and support of those who truly cared for me.

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