Lola: Lady Misery

r, digging my small fingers into my scarred arm. I sighed.

o slap harder against the glass, followed by a strike o

se of the analogue clo

56

y returned my stare to the partly broken window in front of me, getting used

utched on tightly to the dusty worn-out doll in my arms, trying to cou

s more than a chil

.." I whisper

tal bed. Without a mattress on it, I roughly straightened the paper-like she

y eyes immediately. I felt the sharp pointy ends of the bed strings,

ze, unable to breathe. Slowly the sound o

even skip a beat,

and gently la

y, gently lifting

py. With the candle lamp in her hand, I could see her all

tle. I gulped my saliva, feeling the aura of pure ev

Regina", I added,

Lola?" She rose my head

o respond. I timidly

sist

want t

ng Rosary around her neck, hoping for a miracle to save me. I looke

No si

she straightened her back. "Good girl". She t

. She

esitant and scared. I s

, Si

the top floor, the third floor, which was under construction but later abandoned, leav

sister?" I said unable

nce Lo

s the storeroom door. She slowly pulled

he door, releasing my hand. She walked down the th

She walked towards the shelf full of

to me, "L

h a plain expression. She dropped

this time, standing up straigh

aid

immediately walked toward her,

rose my he

e lamp on a shelf an

and on my cheek. The top of her

ister R

k out the rice for tomorrow's breakfast. So, since I won't be able to do two things at

nconsciously as my sto

e, she continued, "I want you, Lola, to help me pick out each grain

to go to the side, pul

breakfast. For you, me and your d

straight, "

of the floor. "But... But why ... What

to my eye level. She gently grabbed my j

ngs named Lola?" I sho

She squeezed m

a..." I mumbled,

alked to the small wooden window of the room, pushing it ope

me, picking up the

ct you to be done w

odd

ore than enough light for you to see. After all, you'

walking towa

er hand on t

almost

o me. She kicked the half-filled bag of rice

can have dinner". She turned to the door. "L

f tears filling my eyes, whic

rain of rice from the floor. In a few minutes, placing more than two handfuls of grains into