Sophia's flute:
A minute ago, she was gloomy and sad. Sophia hadn't eaten since last night, she didn't have any food to eat. The 5 year old was already an orphan at 3. Her aunt took her in but maltreated her. She couldn't bear it anymore, she rather learn how to take care of herself, that was the decision she came up with. She'd usually sit under the mango tree by the market and cry:
If sickness hadn't taken her father, if her mom wasn't accused of murder, if she wasn't killed after the oath she swore, she wouldn't have been living like this!
Her village peer group despise her and call her daughter of a witch. She needed to get her daily meal. She's now as thin as the other homeless children. She cried everyday and asking God to bring back her parents. She'd become an adult at the age of 4!
Her only solace now is the flute given to her by a stranger on a market day, when she was begging around. That's the only reason she haven't died yet... was the song she played from her flute.
RE: STACH Short Story Contest #18: 199 words, 5 winners, 15SBD prize pool!