Elián;
"Did you have fun today?" Queen Cassia asks me as we get to a hut, and I can not help how big my smile is when I nod.
The night is dark around us, but it hardly bothers me. The moon is bright, and there are lanterns all over the place, hanging from other huts.
The dark here doesn't feel scary. Rather, it feels serene. Like a calm little bubble you can just breathe and exist in.
"Elián?" Queen Cassia calls, and I come back to the present before looking back up at her twinkling golden eyes.
Of course, I had fun! I ate so many things, learned so many things about this place… saw beautiful creatures I've never seen before, and for the first time ever, I was made to feel good about my appearance, and important about myself. Today, I didn't feel ugly, weird, or odd.
I've hardly ever felt like that before.
Even though I just got here, I already feel like I belong. Like I never wanna leave.
"I did. I had loads of fun." I reply, and Queen Cassia smiles warmly at me.
