Anaka stood in front of a door. It was circular in shape, made of wood, and stood tall, towering over her. Though she did not know what was behind the door, she felt a great need to see what was behind it. As she stretched her hands out to grab the handles, her heart began to pound. As she opened the door, it made a loud creaking sound. When the door was completely opened, Anaka saw a poorly lit room that was filled with debris of all kinds. Anaka took a deep breath and then entered. As she began to walk, she heard the door behind her close. As she walked further, she began to feel very stifled. While she continued to venture through the room that had seemed to have no end in sight, she remained cautious as she had trekked through the rubble. Not only that, but in certain areas of the room seemed to be gaps that led to a bottomless abyss. While Anaka continued to walk further and further, she saw many things among the rubble. Some of the things that did stand out to her were a broken picture frame that seemed to be of a family, and one other item that stood out to her was a vintage watch, which was made of gold. What caught her eye was that the watch seemed to have been in good condition, but had seemed to have stopped working. Anaka had also found a Victorian streetlamp and a stained-glass window that stood upright amongst the debris. Anaka continued in this place that seemed to have no end. She heard something that sent chills down her spine. Someone called her by her name, but who? She then looked around and saw a teenage girl standing in the darkness. Her skin was grey, and her face could not be seen due to fog obscuring most of her face. To Anaka, the girl had felt familiar to her, but at the same time, she did not. As Anaka stood there, a great uneasiness fell upon her. Though she did not know who this girl was, Anaka felt the need to defend herself. She took a deep breath, then exhaled and extended her right hand out as if she was waiting to receive something. She did not know what it was, but she knew she was expecting to receive something; it had felt like something familiar to her. Then she saw small embers and sparks of light approaching her hand, forming an object. "Cling!" was the noise she then heard. What she was holding was a sword. Though she was still confused, she then darted towards the girl with her newfound weapon. The stranger had also created a sword just in time to block Anaka's attack. The stranger moved her right hand towards Anaka's head and then created an attack that disoriented Anaka, causing her to fall on the rubble. The stranger then extended her right hand towards Anaka, this time offering her hand to pick up Anaka from the ground. "I've fought tooth and nail just to reach you. Now it's time you come home," she tells Anaka. "Home? I don't know you!" Anaka exclaimed. When the stranger heard her response, her smirk left her face. "You don't recognize me?" she asked with a fragile edge. "I don't know you!" Anaka exclaimed one more time. After hearing this disappointing revelation, the woman took a few steps back and then turned around to leave. "Looks like you need some more time, but I tell you this and remember this well, one day when your world falls apart, when your body fails you, when you have none to turn to and when everyone turns against you, you will join me until that day I will be waiting, and that's a promise." The lady then began to walk away. "Farewell Anaka, or should I say, .... What Anaka heard caused the muscles in her jaw to tense and her eyes to widen. "Wait!" she exclaimed as she tried to dash towards the stranger. Anaka then wakes up from her dream in the hospital. It was morning, and the sun was out in all its glory. Anaka then got out of her bed, and she immediately did her usual morning routine. Anaka was a bit more upbeat today since her father was going to visit her at the hospital. Ever since her birth, she had been in the hospital and had never seen the outside; the hospital was all she knew. The reason why she was there was that she was afflicted by an unknown condition that affected her body and her organs. One noticeable characteristic of this unknown condition was two growths or projections that were both on one side of her face and were wrapped in bandages. As a result of her illness, most of her body, except her face, was covered in bandages as well. Some doctors suggested that her condition was not an illness but was an ability she had developed right after her birth, but from the various tests that were done on her, there was no proof of that. Some of the doctors even decided to call her an 'irregularity'. Since her father had not arrived yet, she decided to see how her best friend was doing. Her best friend, whom she nicknamed 'Rita', was from a country in Eastern Europe. Rita had always worn a ushanka, which was given to her by her grandmother before she passed away a few years ago. Rita had worn it wherever she went, whatever day it was, and no matter how hot it was. As Anaka ran to Rita's room, she had almost bumped into one of the nurses who was walking in the opposite direction. Anaka was then given a stern warning by the nurse as she continued on her way to Rita's room. Anaka then barges into Rita's room, where she had seen Rita sitting on her bed staring at the window as if she were daydreaming. The sun caused her blonde hair to glister and shimmer in the poorly lit room, and as no surprise with her ushanka on. Rita was rudely interrupted by Anaka, who had jumped on her bed. "ДОБРОЕ ГОРЕ!" Rita exclaimed due to being shaken up by Anaka's unforeseen arrival. "Oh, it's you," Rita said as she attempted to readjust ushanka, which had almost been knocked down by Anaka's antics. "So, what did you come here for then? " Well, I just came here to see you, and I wanted to tell you that my dad was coming today to see me," Anaka replied. "Oh well, good for you then, my mom and dad never visit me," Rita retorted. "I'm sorry. I never meant to rub you the wrong way." "It's no big deal, it's just that I wonder if I will leave here," Rita said as she then turned her head to face the window. "I always think about it too, but one thing I am always sure about: since I am still alive, I still have hope," Anaka exclaimed, trying to cheer up Rita. It was at that moment that both Rita and Anaka heard creaking noises coming from the door as it was opened. It was one of the nurses who had come to take Anaka to her father, who had just arrived. "Bye!" Anaka told Rita as she waved her hand before she left to see her father. It had been ages since her father was allowed to see her, and she was hoping that she would get news of her being discharged soon.
As soon as the nurse and Anaka had entered the waiting room where her father was, Anaka greeted her father, who had his arms open wide to hug her. 'Papa!' Anaka exclaimed before dashing towards her father to embrace him. He then hoisted Anaka up in the air as he and Anaka hugged each other. "Can I carry her outside?" Anaka's father asked the nurse. She responded by saying, "Yes, but you can't go far". Both Anaka and her father then went outside, but not without the nurse following them from behind to keep a close eye on them. "Security in your ward is very tight," her father jokingly said. "Yes, sometimes they wouldn't allow us to go outside and play", she responded. "Well, it is for your own safety, of course", her father said. "Yes, I know Anaka said as she was low in spirit". "So how is Amelia?" Anaka asked. "Well, she's doing okay", her father replied. Then Anaka asked, "Well, I was wondering when I will be able to come home since my birthday is....." "You aren't leaving anytime soon," her father interrupted. "But why?" Anaka asked in a confused tone. "The doctors said that your condition has not changed, so they are planning to move off the island to one of the newly built facilities with other patients as well". "They're hoping that some new procedures may help in finding out what's causing your condition and what can cure it". While he was saying this, Anaka broke down, and a thousand tears went down her face. "I know this is difficult for you to h____". "I've been here for my whole life, and I have never been able to meet my once". "I have not seen anywhere outside the hospital once; I hate it here!" Anaka then bolted back inside while her father pleaded with her not to leave him yet. For the rest of the day, Anaka stayed in her room and hid under her bed sheets to hide her tears. Since it was not normal for her to stay in her room, Rita decided to check up on her. As Anaka cried under her bed sheets, she heard knocking on her door. "I heard what had happened today, and I am sorry that you can't leave here"." But when we move to the other island, I promise that we will find a way to have the best time of our lives." "So, can you please come out?" Rita asked as she stood outside Anaka's room. Then Rita heard the door slowly open. Anaka then smiled at Rita and said, "Let's go". Both girls then joyously went to have fun with the other kids in the ward.