Blindly ignoring the scratches lining the expensive ground, I heaved and hauled my way to pulling a stool beneath the door handle.

  This is harder than pcating my crying sister~!!!

  Damn it.

  Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I hopped onto the stool.

  Wrapping both hands around the doorknob, I have no choice, my hands are tiny, I twisted the knob open.

  "Hap!"

  ...I twisted the knob open.

  "Hap!"

  I stared at the still unopened doors.

  "Ahem."

  Clearing my throat, I concentrated my strength again.

  "Hap!"

  Creak-

  I twisted it open this time.

  Let's lock these shameful memories away, forever.

  Hopping off the stool, I dug my elbow into the tiny gap in the door and used it as leverage to push the rest of the door open.

  And behind the door...

  Hm.

  A long corridor stretching horizontally from my left to the right filled with locked doors.

  This time around, though, I saw what I believe to be moonlight shining in from windows pced on the ceiling. There was some in the bedroom, too, but nowhere near enough to let me see properly.

  Soft fabric filled the ground and across the corridor were vases and paintings pced at intervals. I couldn't make out what exactly these pieces of artwork were depicting, but I had no reason to care about them for the moment-

  Is what you'd think I say.

  Entertainment!

  Something interesting!

  My heart practically pounded from my chest as shivers tingled down my spine; the fine hairs on my body rose as the heinous volumes of adrenaline pumped through my veins

  With my body shaking in excitement, I resisted the urge to walk over momentarily; I pushed the stool into the way of the door first to prevent it from shutting behind me.

  Then, after that was finished, I walked over to stand beneath the closest painting with a hop in my step.

  Csping my sweaty hands together, my throat bobbed as I swallowed my rising stomach acid. Every section of my body was celebrating at the moment, I was finally receiving something other than monotonous boredom.

  So, staring at the delectable artwork-!

  The delectable artwork-!

  The delectable-

  Th...

  ...You have to be kidding me.

  A white painting.

  Fuck that.

  It's not a painting, it's white paint spshed on a white canvas.

  My entire body stumbled backwards in a slump as joy and excitement filtered out like leaking gas.

  Why...

  Who does this...

  'Biting' my lips, I switched my attention to the other paintings lining the corridor.

  With hope tingling in my heart, I hesitantly walked over to the next one.

  ...Why?

  Then the next one.

  ...

  And the next.

  ...

  ...

  ...Haha.

  "Gyahaha..."

  I audibly ughed for the first time since meeting my mother.

  What did I expect?

  Helplessly shaking my head, Grumble~, I listened to the grumblings of my empty stomach and dragged myself down the rest of the corridor.

  I need food.

  If not food, anything.

  I can feel it sticking once more.

  I can feel the momentary peace dissipating like smoke in the wind.

  And taking its pce...

  Ba-dump.

  The desire to see my sister again.

  Ba-dump.

  And the horror of this helpless life.

  ...

  I'm not entirely sure how long I've walked for.

  Where am I?

  This corridor felt endless.

  Grumble.

  Tearing stomach pains stabbed my stomach, putting a stop to my zombie-like march. Curling up, I clenched my belly and sucked in sharp breaths.

  Where is the damn food?!

  All my frustrations began soaring up.

  Where are the people of this household?!

  Where is our mother?!

  Where is my sister?!

  Where am I?!

  Stumbling to the right in helpless agony, I colpsed on the wall and slipped down the smooth surface like a broken doll.

  Leaning my head on the wall, I raised my head to the ceiling.

  Gazing at the light sifting through the distant windows, I pondered to myself:

  Why is this happening to me?

  And as I stared at the windowed ceiling.

  As I ruminated about my helplessness.

  I noticed something.

  The painting above my head.

  The white painting.

  The white paint.

  I gulped.

  Rushing back up with sweat dripping down my neck and a suffocating premonition choking me out, I took a few steps back and stared at the despairingly familiar painting.

  I stared at it.

  Then stared some more.

  And:

  It's the same.

  The slight indents on the wall beside the painting, the texture of the paint itself, the way the rays of light cast themselves on the paint-

  The same.

  Then, I turned around.

  I looked at one of the many locked doors.

  But it wasn't just one of many locked ones.

  It's my door.

  Emptily giggling to myself, I walked forward, towards the quiet, open door.

  I pushed my way in past the same stool I had pushed into this position god knows how long ago.

  The same bed I had rolled around pondering like an idiot just a while ago was there; the same terrace mother had held me in just hours ago was also there.

  Thud.

  Dropping to my bottom, I pnted my hands on my face.

  I don't get it.

  What is this pce?

  Where's the food?

  Where are the people?

  Where's my sister?

  And is mother truly...

  ...I have no idea.

  There's one thing I'm sure of though.

  I have no way out.

  At least not until morning comes and this pce comes back to life, maybe something will change then. Getting back up with a silent face, I pushed the stool back to where it belonged, closed the door, and used the bedside table to hop back on the bed.

  Lying there beneath the dim light of the night...

  Grumble!

  I was destined for a starving couple of hours.

  -----

  Gulp!

  Delicious.

  Gulp!

  More.

  Gulp!

  Give me more.

  "Sweetie, slow down, the milk isn't going anywhere." Mother's comforting pats thudded my back as I consumed copious volumes of food.

  I kept my grip on the bottle firm, I wouldn't give it up to anyone.

  ...Except my sister.

  The rising sun swept the bedroom with life, revitalizing the drowsy room with a sembnce of humanity. Mother held me in her arms like yesterday. Fortunately, she came with food, so it looks like she hasn't forgotten about me yet.

  "I won't mess up again, sweetie. I completely forgot that babies wake up overnight for food, sorry.."

  Her oceanic eyes held lingering regret.

  I'm not forgiving you though.

  There are lines that I need to draw, and this is one of them. Even the maid was consistent with the feeding times, having not missed a single session.

  If there's one positive to this all, it's the melting relief of being embraced by our mother; my body is pumping serotonin like never before, driving me to almost completely forgive her for all her 'sins'.

  But, as luck would have it, I'm not a baby mentally.

  Just because my brain tells me one thing, it doesn't mean I'll blindly listen to it.

  I know that sounds contradictory considering my retionship with my sister, but...

  Leave me alone.

  "Gyoo."

  Blubbering with milk, I sucked the st bit of food to fill my stomach.

  I'm trying to control myself.

  "Good job sweetie."

  Wiping my lips with a handkerchief, mother leaned me over her shoulder and patted my back. The inevitable burping session arrived.

  After that shameful experience, she carefully put me to the ground and said, "Sweetie, what do you think about going down to the garden today? Does it sound fun?" While she made it sound like I had an opinion, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door.

  Keeping up with her, I solemnly gazed at the doors I failed to escape through st night.

  Is there a contraption I set off? Or is it naturally set so that I can't leave?

  With these questions rearing in my mind, I stepped past the now-opened doors into the familiar corridor.

  ...Or I thought I did.

  Swoosh.

  A warm breeze brushed my tufts of brilliantly gold hair, caressing me with utmost care. My clothing was light fabric, allowing the wind to tickle my skin. The sun stared down from above, between the drifting clouds, and all around us were dozens of trees, bushes, and a myriad of blooming flowers.

  Hundreds of different colours spshed my empty canvas of utter boredom.

  And I malfunctioned.

  I couldn't grasp the sudden influx of wonderful information.

  Mesmerising, intercrossing yers of colour cast a picturesque level of scenery.

  White, so much white.

  My thoughts contradicted the sight I beheld, but it was the truth. I could see so much white filling the gaps in space. It hazily drifted around like an intoxicating mist between the colourful fields of flowers.

  Finally.

  After over 6 months of waiting.

  Something other than the monotonous, dreary bedroom entered my life. A sembnce of joy amid the insanity. One created not through the fun interactions with my sister but through an external pathway.

  My dull heart finally gained some colour, allowing the dry seedling to crack open with a clean, verdant sprout.

  "Pretty, right?"

  Mother warmly rubbed the top of my head then lightly tapped my back:

  "Go on, you can py."

  I...

  I almost couldn't believe my ears.

  I can py?

  Me?

  In this amazing garden?

  I can have fun?

  I can see the sun?

  I can run?

  Really?

  Seriously?

  My body hiccuped.

  Then, it turned itself towards its mother.

  My head twisted upward, to gaze at my towering mother.

  My eyes quietly questioned her:

  Really? I can py?

  And in response, with the warmest smile I've ever y witness to and with her dimples lightly revealing themselves; with the sun reflecting off her gmorous chestnut hair and the rays of light glimmering in the oceans of her eyes...

  "Of course."

  I received the most perfect answer of them all.

  BrokenNose