Beyond The Gaze: A Love Unseen

Chapter 15

Elysia's POV:

I wiped my nose and sniffled, burying my head in my knees once again.

Why does this keep happening to me?

What did I do to deserve this?

Why can't mother love me?

They said parents abandoned their children in foster home because they didn't want us.

Even at the foster home, Mrs. Thompson made it clear that she didn't like me. That's probably why she was friends with mother. But I've never done anything to harm anyone. So why do the grown-ups in my life seem to hate me so much?

Are all grown-up women like this? Will I become like them when I grow up?

"I don't want to be like them," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

Suddenly, a gentle nudge on my head made me look up in fear, thinking my mother had returned. But I was astonished to see Nova, nudging my head with his own. His innocent eyes locked onto mine, his white fur marked with dirt. He surely ran a long way to come here again, just to find me.

"Nova!" My eyes lit up as I gazed at my only friend. I had told him to stay away from this place, but he always managed to find me. Thankfully, mother hadn't noticed him, otherwise she would never allow it to wander around near me.

It had been nearly three years since I had helped Nova with his injured leg. Since then, he had been my constant companion whenever I sat outside in our backyard. He had grown quite a bit during this time, much bigger than when I first found him.

I stretched my arms out, inviting him closer. He snorted softly and settled down beside me, rubbing his head against mine, trying to offer comfort. I hugged him tightly as my sobs grew louder.

"Nova! Let's promise to grow up together and escape from here," I said, looking at him through my tear-filled eyes. He let out a soft snort as if understanding my words.

"What if we don't have parents, we still have each other. We'll live together and be happy."

Nova didn't have parents either. He was a lone horse, and I didn't know where he had come from, but he was good at sneaking around. We would run away and live together.

He responded by nudging me to lean against him. I rested my head on his back, and he turned his head to circle it around me, providing warmth to my shivering form.

"Do you think my parents left me because I wasn't good enough?" I murmured, voicing a question that had haunted me for so long. Nova didn't have the answers, but he offered a silent understanding that felt just as comforting.

I wished I could see my parents one last time, to ask them why they abandoned me.

Why did they leave me when parents are supposed to love their children, like the other children I had seen?

But it was impossible to have my questions answered because I had never met my parents.

I don't know who are they or where are they...

There was no one who could answer me...

The rumbling of my stomach pulled me back to reality. I looked down, realizing that I hadn't eaten properly in days. Nova's presence had momentarily distracted me from the pangs of hunger.

Unexpectedly, Nova nickered, as if eager to show me something. When I turned to look at him, he nudged me gently, prompting me to climb onto his back.