Little Rose – Chapter 3 – A New Beginning

When I gain my consciousness next, I heard a gentle voice calming me down. “Don’t touch your face, my child. The acid bottle left by your attacker at your opened grave, had destroyed your face totally, the left side of your shoulder, chest and your upper arm.” “Oh! By the way my child, I am an eccentric old man or rather an eccentric doctor, who lived a secluded life after the death of my wife. I got a son, married in London.” (I heard a melodious laughter, followed by a barking of a dog). Then the doctor with the nice voice continued, “You have been in and out of consciousness and fighting your nightmares for many weeks. I was afraid that I might loose you to this terrible death of yours. Another laughter followed suit, followed by another by a bark and then total silence.

Even though I was awake, I do not know where I was or how long I have been in this place, the dates, weeks, months or the years. I was trying very hard to keep myself awake and register what this kind man was telling me but alas I fall asleep once again. I got up with a loud scream and in agony, calling out Keith to save me, sobbing uncontrollably. “Save me, please. Save me, Keith. Please I beg you Keith. I was in such pain. My face, my shoulder, my arm and in fact my entire body was crying out in pain. Suddenly, I felt a gentle touch and a needle piercing into my right arm, followed by a gentle licking of an animal (a dog, I asked myself?). Then I heard the nice voice again, “You will be alright my child. Have faith in this old man. You are safe with me. I have given you some analgesic injection to ease your pain and as for your body and mind, it will take time to heal. Barry here likes you. Barry is a white Labrador and he is the one who found you. You shall thank him once you are healed, okay? Rest now.” With these words spoken, there was total silence and I guessed the kind old man and the dog must have left the room, leaving me alone to slumber into sleep.

I do not know how many months may have passed. I was slowly healing with the exception of my face, shoulder and arm. There were many times where I got up with nightmares and my body drenching with my own sweat. All the time I was always soothed and settled down by the gentle voice.

My face was always in a wrapped. I wanted to have a look at my face but my request was always gently rejected. The kind old man told me that I was not ready to see my scar face. He told me that God was merciful on me that the acid left at my grave did not destroy my eyes. However, he did promise me that as times goes by, he would leave little holes in the wrap so that I could see him and Barry, my saviour.

I woke up one fine sunny morning and saw the faint figure of the doctor sleeping in his chair by the desk. Barry on sensing me being awake gave a loud bark, which startled the old man for he jumped from his chair, almost falling down. Upon seeing this funny sight, I laugh out loudly. “Well good morning my dear. Finally after four months you are alive, living with the world. No more crying, okay?” Laughter follows suits as he walked towards the bed. “Can you see me?” After nodding my head, he holds my right hand and gently asked me if I am ready to tell him my story and how did I land in the wilderness? I was hesitant at first but finally told him my story. He was very sober and after a long pause, he told me, “My child, your face is totally disfigured and you have no belongings with you at all. I have to give you a new identity and name. I am a famous plastic surgeon but due to my eccentric ways, I have offended many people and left my doctorate world behind. But I could not do so without knowing you and your sad story. He told me about skin grafting and what he needed to do and how long it will take. Laughingly he said, “I shall give you a beautiful face for we don’t have any original picture of yours.” “Oh! Wait. Barry, she needs a new face right?” Barry barked loudly, wagging his tail. “So are we in agreement Barry?” There was another bark and laughter from the old man.

My transformation started and soon I got a new identity. I was very beautiful with a sharp chiseled nose and high cheekbones. I got photos of mine with other children at the orphanage, with Angela, Keith, Bob and people at the school and café, all in my mobile phone. I missed seeing my original self. The new face in the mirror was like a stranger looking back at me. I began to withdraw within myself and father (the kind doctor adopted me and insisted on me calling him father) notices my withdrawal. I explained my insecure feelings to him, my fear, my depression and feelings of isolation and what will happen to me if my friends do not recognise me. He encourages me to be brave and face the world. He also decided to put me back to school in London, where my adopted brother was staying. Oh! No. My adopted brother was another young eccentric cardiologist, who got a beautiful wife and two kids.

I have been staying with father for almost a year and a half since my tragic incident. One day, father came back with a plane ticket in his hand. The next thing I know I was on my way to London to study business management, which I have always wanted. Time flies in London and I fell in love with my new family and with my niece and nephew. I was no longer Rose from the orphanage but Daffodil, a flower that symbolizes a new beginning and rebirth, according to father.

I have been with Tom and Mary for more than four years. I love the kids but deep down, something was always missing in my heart. During my free time I would visit the chapel near the ocean to cry out my sorrow to God. Oh! how I missed Keith, Angela, Bob, the children at the orphanage, Mother Superior, who must be pretty old now and of course my miracle angelic mother, Sister Cathy’s grave. I got no news about Angela, Keith and Bob. Upon my insistence, father did a private background search on them but nothing came to light. In fact I got to know that both Keith and Bob were heirs to the world’s oldest large businesses and it shocked me to the core. When father told me this, he jokingly said, “Rose my child, you may have offended the big party out there to receive such a terrible punishment. These people eat the small fishes in the ocean alive” and he laughed out loudly in his melodious tone and hugged me tightly and told me not to worry about it.

Five years in London was more than enough for me. A part of me was always missing and no matter how much I looked into the mirror to look for my old self, I always see a stranger staring back at me. Deep down I know I was the same Rose but circumstances have changed Rose to Daffodil and hardened her heart. I called father one day and told him I want to come back home, as I was home sick. He refused to listen and asked me to stay longer. I told father that I was really home sick and five years of separation away from him was enough. Father only agreed to allow me to come home after much persuasion from Tom.

I found myself landing in New York. When did father move away from the old rusty town to New York? I shake my head and smile to myself. Surprisingly, a driver was also waiting for me at the airport. I was full of curiosity and when I asked Mr. Brown, he told me in a serious voice, “Miss, I think it is good to direct your questions to Sir?” Silence. I burst out laughing. Where did father find such a man?

We drove in silence to a nice small Romanian structure villa. “Is this our house, Mr. Brown?” A nod from the driver and suddenly I heard the loud barking of Barry followed by father’s footstep and his voice saying, “finally you have your way and you are home.” I nod my head with a big smile and hugged him so tightly, almost choking him. “Let me go girl. You almost suffocate your old man with your strong hug,” he said laughingly.

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