As many people can imagine, everyone has their little secrets. So did Elphaba Thropp, the girl that would later become known as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Although in her case it was not so much her own secret than the one of her mother.
Miss Elphaba Thropp happened to be the first born daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, who was away often, leaving his wife alone at home.
The woman had long forgotten that she once loved the governor and always awaited his being gone with anticipation.
There were several flings and affairs, but one was of particular importance for Miss Elphaba's story.
One night, just as the governor had left, a stranger knocked on the door, offering the governor's wife a misteriously coloured elixir and she was happy to welcome this wondrous diversification into her house.
And one can imagine, this little incident did not remain without consequences!
Several months later, a little girl was born.
The day was supposed to be the happiest in the governor's life, finally, they had been blessed with an heir for his position!
But as he saw his daughter for the very first time, he felt as if everything he had looked forward to had been shattered and destroyed in a single tick of the clock.
In shock he stared at the little being, that was so fragile, so innocent, feeling nothing but hatred welling up inside of him.
This couldn't be his daughter, it mustn't be his daughter!
This little baby right there had green skin.
No child of his could have green skin!
He couldn't imagine someone with green skin ruling over his land one day, no one would pay her respect if she looked like this!
It was a disgrace!
"Take this thing out of my sight!"
"But governor, she is your daughter!"
"I said to take it AWAY!", he screamed at the midwife, who was cradling the cabbage coloured child in her arms.
From this day on, the very first that Elphaba experienced, her life was a struggle.
Wherever she went there was laughter and mockery, there wasn't a single person she could have called her friend.
Two years into her life her sister had been born, Nessarose, the only person that would ever show at least signs of sympathy towards her.
But Nessarose had her own weight to carry seeing as her legs refused to let her stand or walk, so she was bound to a wheelchair since she was little.
On the day Elphaba's family gained a member, it also lost one and the little girl stood quietly next to her mother's bed, watching her father cry and did not fully understand what exactly had happened.
It was also when she saw something peeking out under her mother's pillow and quickly, tiny green hands reached out for the curious object, a little glass bottle filled with a bright green liquid.
What could that have been?
Elphaba decided that it must have been something very important if her mother had kept it so close to her, even while sleeping, so from this moment on, Elphaba cherished and protected the bottle like it was a highly valuable treasure.
Elphaba was glad that her little sister was different from other children, too, that way they had each other to play with when nobody wanted to have something to do with the two of them.
The only difference was that their father adored Nessa, loved and spoiled her to no extent, treating her like a princess and abandoning his other daughter.
Elphaba was never able to quite grasp this concept but she, too, loved her sister very much and took good care of her while their father was gone.
During these times she often got very protective of her little sister and sometimes, when she became really mad, something strange happened.
Things would fall down, sometimes people would move in funny ways, as if they were dancing.
Elphaba's heart would beat faster, she hadn't wanted this to happen, hadn't wanted to frighten her sister who was then whailing in her little wheelchair and Elphaba would run into the house and hide inside the big wardrobe with the mirrored doors until someone would pull her out of it, forcing her to apologize for scaring her baby sister.
Elphaba had never had it easy.
The torment of getting stared and laughed at carried on no matter how well she behaved and how much she tried to befriend someone.
She always remained in her sister's shadow, although she was a smart girl, eager to learn and always caring for others that didn't have it easy.
But the constant repulsion by others caused her to become quiet and reserved, often whishing she was someone else.
By the time she was grown up she pretended not to care about the laughter and looks anymore, she started to make jokes about herself and developed a fine sense of sarcasm when it came to her odd skin colour.
And then, one evening, her father rushed into her room (without knocking, as he always did) and said in his usual, commanding tone, "You are going to University."