The Little Orphan Girl

Bulma had called Susie aside in a lone corner. Nobody was present there and the girl looked at the woman quizzically. What was happening? She didn't understand and Bulma was not really looking at her directly.

"Bulma…?" she asked in a hoarse voice. Her voice had been hoarse a lot lately.

"I don't know how to ask this but…"

"But what?"

And now she was really worried. Why was Bulma so anxious about talking to her? Was it about Bulla? Susie felt guilty about that even though she didn't want to admit it. She had been very rude and somewhat cruel towards the other girl and at the moment she honestly wanted to see her, to be certain that she was safe. No, she didn't love her like a sister but without Bulla Susie just didn't feel comfortable. It was as if something was missing. Something important.

"Are you being mean to Bulla on purpose?" Bulma asked in the most direct way possible. She was expecting a tantrum, angry words, anything but the calm expression on her face.

Susie had anticipated the question. And she knew that it was partly true. Partly because she didn't really expect Bulla to take it to heart in such a way. She was just trying to annoy her but the result happened to be something else.

"Not really," she replied carefully, "It was never on purpose. Usually I would be angry, and she would be mad at me too. Although I did understand something."

"What?"

"She wanted attention," Susie answered, "She thought that I was trying to steal you and Trunks away from her. I told her that wasn't the idea but she never believed me. She thought that you guys loved me more, that everyone loved me more. She voiced her opinions a lot on that."

And, with that subtlety, she threw the blame entirely on Bulma.

"But most of us thought that she was being mean. People didn't take her seriously. She hated me with a passion Bulma, due to this very reason."

The woman stared at the girl sadly, a few tears making their way down her cheeks. It was her fault… As a mother she should have known how to manage her two daughters. But she didn't. She didn't do her part well. She could not be a good mother. She had failed.

Instinctively, Susie wiped her tears gently and looked back at her, trying to keep herself appear emotionless but it wasn't easy. Her lower lip was trembling ever so slightly. It was her fault that the woman who loved her so much, thought of her as her daughter, had tears in her eyes.

"I've been so bad. I'm a failure. I should have known how to manage two girls. But I didn't. I couldn't!" Bulma cried, her voice shaking. Susie extended her hand and squeezed her shoulder hesitantly. She was not really good at comforting but she had to try.

"She'll be found soon," Susie said, "Just- we just have to make sure she knows that you threw me out of the house."

"What?!" Bulma asked in horror.

"Yeah. She'll return then, and I'll ask her to forgive me."

Forgive me.

Asking for forgiveness was such a foreign concept to her. There never really had been any need.

"I'll think about it."


The under construction building was damp due to unknown reasons and Bulla hadn't found a soul anywhere around. She was okay with it, for at the moment she really wanted some peace and quiet.

"Are they looking for me?" she asked herself hopefully. The food and water she had packed wouldn't last long and although she could always go back, or stay with one of her friends, she didn't really want to do it. Bulla was stubborn by nature. No way was she going to admit defeat, not to Susie.

She gazed out at the evening sky with anticipation and longing. There was a streak in the sky and she jumped to her feet. Maybe it was Trunks?

On closer inspection, she realised that it was Trunks.

"Bulla!" he called out, "Bulla please come to me! Bulla!"

The girl stared at her brother. He came. He came. All her anger dissipated at the sight of her brother. Of Pan who had accompanied him.

"Bulla I swear I'll be a good friend!" she cried out, "I promise! I know you're somewhere around here."

"Yeah we know that," Trunks called out, desperation in his voice. Bulla frowned. She did not like a desperate Trunks. Her brother meant the world to her.

But mom didn't come. Neither did dad.

"Maybe they are looking somewhere else," she thought.

"Bulla please come back!" Trunks called. He was very close to the building now and her heart started pounding. Should she go back home or should she wait?

"Please Bulla. I'll be a good brother."

"Trunks!" she called out, grabbing her duffel bag and running out.

The brother and the friend glanced at each other and ran towards the girl. Bulla threw her arms around Pan first and then hugged Trunks.

"You came?!" she cried, "You actually came!"

"Of course we did," Trunks said, ruffling her hair, "Mom and dad have been looking everywhere. So have the Sons."

"I'm so glad you're here," Pan said, "Never ever run away again, okay?"

"Okie dokie," Bulla said, although she didn't use that all too often.

"And now you don't have to worry about being loved," Trunks said, "Susie has left the house."

The earth seemed to part under her feet. Susie did what?!

"What do you mean?!" Bulla asked. It couldn't be true!

"Well, we figured that she was the reason you left. She herself felt very guilty about it so she left, saying that she was willing to do so if it meant you'd return."

Bulla stared at him. There had to be some catch. Susie left? She didn't want to believe it. True, she didn't like her all that much but…

… She didn't really want her to leave. Not because of her.

"Trunks," she said, "We need to go and find her."