I made to make a smart reply when I saw a look in the girl's eye that said she had indeed been badly hurt. Again I felt utterly confused. What kind of orphanage was this? Was I missing something here?
"Did he hurt you?" I asked both serious and troubled.
My reply was silence. For a few moments I waited while she merely stared at me for what felt like a long time before standing and walking away. I watched her go, my mind lost in thought. What the hell was going on in this place? I figured the longer I stayed here the more chances I had in finding out...
The rest of the afternoon I spent sitting quietly in a corner just thinking about everything; it was a long afternoon. An afternoon I thought would never end. That wasn't the worst of it...
It was like every child had lost their ability to speak. The silence, I was not used to. In time, I suppose, I would eventually get used to it. For now though, I would have to endure it... There was something else I wasn't used to too; being stared at.
Riddle continually did so while I was in the same vicinity as him. It annoyed me greatly to be the object of constant observation especially when I had no idea why. His expression I found difficult to read, making me wonder what he was thinking; probably how much I annoyed him.
His gaze made me uncomfortable, though I figured it was perhaps his intention. Really, I can only guess as I don't know, but, whatever his intention may be I will not allow it to get the better of me!
Besides, there was something far more distracting to look forward to. Tomorrow all the orphans were being taken out to the beach. We were all in need of some fresh air, apparently. Nonetheless, fresh air meant the chance to leave this dreary place for a while and maybe it would finally give me a chance to make friends with the other children, that way I can try to forget… even though sometimes it's difficult not to...
The grief held inside is still raw and just when I think it has been forgotten it comes back when I least expect it to and I end up crying myself to sleep wishing things were different...
The air tasted of salt as gulls wailed mournfully overhead while the sea slapped roughly against the sand and rocks. A sea breeze blew wildly through my hair throwing it backwards into a tangled mess. It was magnificent to finally escape the indoors and venture into the wilderness...it was as close as I would ever get to freedom...
As I sat I knew I had been right about the fresh air because that's all we were going to receive. The ocean wasn't in its best condition for swimming in and the weather remained, as ever, blistering cold. Deciding there was nothing else to do but sit; I spotted a small grassy hill that looked inviting enough so carefully, I sat myself down, staring out at the horizon where the sky met the sea...lost completely in thought...
Moments later, a figure came from behind, casting a dark shadow across the ground in front of me. Startled, I looked up into the face of Tom Riddle.
"I apologise about before," he said smoothly, his face full of what I perceived to be sorrow.
I blinked before I replied rather awkwardly, "It's okay…"
To my astonishment, he didn't walk away and the flicker of a smile spread across his face, "Would you mind joining me while I take a walk?"
"Um…sure? I guess," I said, wondering why he would pick on me of all people, "Where are we walking to?"
His smile grew and he even showed some teeth, "See that cave?"
I followed his line of sight, "Yes."
"That's where we are walking to," he seemed delighted at the prospect and so I stood and together we walked.