In a little park where many children played beside their families, which created a perfect ambience of harmony alongside the red and yellow leaves that announced the autumn season, dry leaves with warm colours decorated the floor, making a beautiful view. Everyone knew that when the last leaf fell from those trees, it would be the beginning of the cold and ferocious winter, but that also meant family Christmas parties.
Even though the atmosphere was perfect, on a solitary bench was a little kid of approximately 2 years of age; his black mane covered his eyes, and across his cheeks fell tears. His grey clothes were a disaster, and various scratches could be visible on his skin. His body looked fragile, like it would crumble with a push.
In his worn-out shirt, you could see the shield of the England flag, alongside the name Wool's Orphanage.
Tom: That was the kid's name. He was an orphan who was received just after being born; in childbirth, his mother had difficulties giving birth, and before dying, she named him Tom, since his father was called Tom Riddle and also Marvolo in honour of his grandpa. His full name was: Tom Marvolo Riddle Gaunt.
The little one wiped away the tears with his hands roughly. His eyes were full of resentment and hatred. He had been betrayed by a girl older than him. He thought that for the first time, he had a friend who valued him just as he was. he gave his trust naively, and in return, it was destroyed by a bet: Play his friend and then humiliate him.
He didn't know why the kids intimidated him and why the ladies started to take distance from him, except for one who treated him with care. Despite his short age, he started to comprehend so many things at the expense of hits and abuse from the other children, and it was one time when a kid broke his favourite toy; that kid had levitated from a dangerous height for a child, but less dangerous for an adult, at the end he had broken a leg and an arm in cause and consecuence of the hit on his head. Since then, inexplicable things have always happened in his surroundings; those things started to isolate him from others, due to being abnormal in their judgment.
With a yearning look, he saw the children with their parents. He also wanted a family, at least a mother or a father, any of them. He wanted it more than anything. Knowing that was impossible, he looked away and, better yet, something else captured his attention. It was a woman who had left an object between the bushes and run away. He couldn't see her well, but his curiosity was piqued by the basket she left there. That's why he left the bench and, with short but quick steps, arrived at the target.
Upon arrival, he was surprised to see a baby sleeping peacefully, as she didn't know she was in the open air, unprotected.
His eyes were attracted by a chain in the shape of a half moon with a pendant that seemed like it could have all existing colours on it. The chain was so exquisite that he couldn't resist touching it, but when he did, it was as if something pricked the tip of his index finger. On his finger, there wasn't anything, and that bothered him; he felt like something pricked him like a needle, but there wasn't any trace of puncture. He turned his gaze to the strange chain and was surprised upon discovering that it was now of a silver-like moon colour.
No, it wasn't like the moon. It was the same way as the moon.
Were his eyes playing tricks on him?
It's not like a kid of almost 2 years could think more deeply. But what he didn't know was that at that instant their fates were linked even in death.
— Tom! — Called a woman of about 27 years old who was searching for him with her eyes. She was one of the women who took care of the kids in the orphanage, and the only one who was good with Tom. — Have you seen where he went? — She asked the other kids, but they just denied without caring too much.
— If he gets lost, better for us — Said a fierce woman of 31 — Really, if I had known that kid was a freak, I wouldn't have accepted him and just had let him die with her mother — The hate was palpable in her voce, like if Tom wasn't a child at all, but a curse, a monster or a calamity.
— You're exaggerating, Rosario! — Higgered her tone, upset after listening to how she talked that way about a child, A CHILD that wasn't guilty of anything, for being special compared to the rest from there — Tom is a good kid; he isn't at fault for being born with natural gifts — She defended him with a strong voice.
— Natural gifts, pfs~ — Dropped a mocking laugh — That kid is a demon that the devil sent to destroy us — Alleged with a crooked expression.
— Those are only excuses to cover up your envy for something that you couldn't win — Refugio knew the truth behind the hate of Rosario; the two were cousins by her mother's side, who was the sister of the father of Rosario.
Rosario's sister was a witch, an astonishing surprise, since both her parents were Muggles, but now there was a witch in the family. In opposition to Rosario, although being twins didn't have the same luck as possessing magical abilities, concerning her, even though she wasn't born a witch, she was a squib, and could perceive magic. Since forever, Rosario hated anyone who had magic in them, and Tom was her victim.
— Sister Rosario! — Interrupted the fight of the women with a young voice. Refugio looked in the direction from which the voice came and saw Tom dragging a basket of fruits. She frowned at the sight of the basket. In a hurry, she got close and was surprised that what Tom dragged was a baby that was asleep inside the holder.
— This… — Lost for words, who had the guts to leave a baby of almost three or four weeks born — Where did you find her? — Asked scared, quickly handling the basket with care without wakening the baby.
— A lady left her there — Pointing to the bushes where he had found her.
— OK, let's go. It's getting late — She took the hand of Tom, and they headed to the orphanage.
All the caretakers of the orphanage reunited to see the baby, a new member.
— Poor thing, being abandoned without even being a month old — Said with sadness a woman dressed meticulously. Besides not having too much money, she tried to dress better. She was the owner of the orphanage, Miss Cole.
— Tom found her. — Informed Refugio while patting the head of the little one at her side.
Everyone remained silent because of the feeling of tension; he didn't pay much attention and got close to see the baby. She looked like a delicate doll. He extended his hand and covered her little hand with care.
— What are you thinking of doing to her?! — The striking scream made him jump and back up in fear.
— He hasn't done anything for you to accuse him! — Reacted Refugio in his defense — Stop trying to acusse him at every moment, I swear to god — The furious expression in Refugio's face made the other woman back up — Besides Tom has all the right to get close as he was the one that found her — She added while pushing Tom near the basket.
Tom, being suddenly put again near the baby, was surprised to see a pair of eyes like bright chocolate, so much so that for a moment he confused them for gold. The baby was awake and observing Tom steadily; her eyes were filled with curiosity, confusion, and innocence.
The women stayed silent, knowing that she was awake. They watched as Tom approached his hand with care and with fear of doing something to her. Rosario, seeing them, wanted to say something in response, but the intense look of her cousin made her shut up.
Everyone waited for what was about to come, but the surprise was great when that little hand grabbed one of Tom's fingers and then dropped a smile with a laugh that would melt the heart of anyone listening (obviously not Rosario). At that moment, for Tom, it was like he finally saw a light in his dark world.
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