Solgaret

THUD THUD

The wooden corridor creaked beneath Aster's feet, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the empty, dimly lit passageway.

The air was heavy with the stillness of dawn, the sun's rays slowly creeping over the horizon. As he turned left, the corridor split into two paths: the right led to another dark passage, while the left revealed the top of a staircase, disappearing into the shadows below.

Aster hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the staircase. Then, with a deep breath, he began his descent, his hand grasping the worn, knob-like railing for support.

THUD THUD

As he descended, the steps creaking in protest, he turned right, and then again, his footsteps leading him down another narrow staircase.

'This is like a maze in hell….' He thought.

Finally, he spotted the end of the staircase, which once led again to two split paths left and right, the right one being graced by warm sunlight spilling in.

Aster finally reached the floor, turning and heading down the path on the right.

The path gave way to the entrance of the building, the white sun slowly getting visible as Aster kept walking. He reached the opening, and breathed in the fresh air of dawn.

"Haaaaaahh…..It feels….fresh" He sighed as he took in his new surroundings. He had never been allowed to be in this part of the orphanage before. The first thing that he had noticed was that he was in a garden, with the smell of freshly cut grass and watered poppies releasing their earthy scent.

In the middle of the poppy garden, lied a straight, cut path towards the entrance gate of the orphanage. The path was bordered with precisely cut tall bars of grass, each having some gap in between them, pink roses emerging out of the green pillars in a rough pattern.

The metal gate loomed large, its black iron bars imposing and strong. A sturdy cross crowned the top, its sharp lines and angles a striking contrast to the surrounding air. The gate's rugged beauty was undeniable, it's intricate design truly…..pretty.

It was wide open, revealing a honey brown carriage, and the main star of the show, clad in his black overcoat standing beside it. It was none other than Marcus, his soon-to-be-stepfather.

He stood tall, tidying his white glove of one hand with an other hand. \

For some reason, Aster felt a sense of happiness, feeling his heart lighten and warm up, a gem of a feeling that was available to him, after seeing him.

"Marcus!!!" He shouted, leading Marcus turn back to face him and wave at him, with a warm smile spread across his face.

As Aster ran towards him, he couldn't help but think.

....

Was this really the end?

The long and sufferable years of his life that he had spent in that place, had come to an end.

Was he finally liberated from the hell disguised as an orphanage?

The painful memories came flushing down in his thoughts. Being bullied by the other kids, being beaten to ascertain death, seen as a horrible and disgusting presence by the nuns and the other orphans.

All Aster knew, was that…..he was going to start a new chapter of his life.

A happy life, starring peaceful days and comfortable nights, where he wasn't constantly awake due to the unbearable pain of his stinging wounds.

He wasn't even gonna stop running.

He would not even take one glance back.

The reason? I think you could make that out.

This was going to be a new beginning for him.

A new start.

To the life which he had only ever dreamed of.

A good start.

Yet,

it was such a terrible start.