Finally, it was a relief to enter the bathroom which was cooler than the scorching sun outside. Moreover, it was quiet. There was no one who could mock me.
After the "business" was finished, I headed to the washbasin and mirror. But it turned out that I wasn't the only one here now, there was a group of women looking in the mirror in the corner. I heard them talking about something, but I tried not to listen.
But their words immediately hit me.
"Look at her,"
My heart was beating fast.
I swallowed and continued to fix my hair in front of the mirror, trying not to attract their attention. But it was too late. I knew they wouldn't just stay quiet.
"Hello, princess." one of them said approaching me. However, seeing the evil expression on his face, I knew, he didn't like me being the princess of the Chinese clan.
"Where is your kingdom, destroyed?" he continued to mock me. His friends chuckled.
I took a breath, I knew I had to be brave to face them.
"Wait, are you actually called princess or queen?"
"That's right," another chimed in.
"Are you actually called dragon or snake?" another joined in the mocking.
I wanted to go all out, but my legs refused.
"A dragon should have wings,"
"A snake shouldn't have horns,"
"Eh, I know what she is, a monster!"
"That's right!"
"A monster that even mirrors break when they see her!"
What do they actually want from me!?
"Go,"
Go? That word stabbed my heart. My heart beat faster. Father? Mother? Go? Did they experience the same thing as me that they left? Did their different love make other people angry?
"This world is not friendly to a child monster who is called a queen." the woman continued her words in a cold voice.
When my eyes could no longer hold back the tears, someone approached me. No, not the woman. But she was bigger, stronger. Zuri, Zuri Nyota.
"What! Who are you? Black girls are just annoying!"
Zuri didn't answer, she stared at them sharply.
The women were scared. They immediately ran away like sheep in a panic.
"T-thank you," I said softly to Zuri.
"You have to be careful out here, these people are not friendly. If you need help just call me." Zuri said. It seemed like she didn't hear my thanks. Of course, I said it in a small voice. I still couldn't believe what happened in the bathroom.
I kept thinking about it until I lay down on my bed.
I have to thank her!
I got out of bed, and took a pencil and paper.
"Thank you Zuri,"
I slipped the paper under her bedroom door hoping she would read it soon.
Finally I could sleep with relief.
The next day when the sun greeted me, I saw a paper in my room that said:
"That's what friends do :)"
A small, almost imperceptible smile finally appeared on my face.
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