LILLY The morning light peeks through the small window of our home, signaling the start of another day. I wake up early, as always, completing my chores before reheating last night’s meal for my grandmother. I don’t worry about eating—I work at a restaurant, and the owner, an old man who treats me like his own, always ensures I’m fed. As I sling my worn-out backpack over my shoulder, making sure my clothes are neat, I hear my grandmother stir from her room. I rush over to her, planting a kiss on her knuckles. "May your old hands be blessed, Granny," I whisper, like I do every morning. She pats my hair gently, her wrinkled fingers warm against my scalp. "And may you prosper in all you do today," she prays in return, thinking I'm heading to work. In truth, I’ll spend a few hours at the restaurant before heading to school—something she must never find out. Just as I turn to leave, her voice calls me back. "Little One," she says, and I sigh internally, knowing what’s coming next
Last Updated : 2022-12-10 Read more