An almost true story – Part 2

“Why have you forgotten me?” asks the accusing voice from the bookshelf.

I still can’t make anything out. “Who are you?” I ask again.

The whimpering dies away. “Don’t you remember me at all?”

Slowly, I get up and walk towards the bookshelf. It can’t be a burglar. My eyes, which have gradually become accustomed to the darkness, should have recognised him by now. I stop close to my favourite novels.

And that’s when I spot her. The little girl with the red headband. She is hardly bigger than my hand and is sitting on the edge of the shelf. Her face is completely tear-stained. For a moment I stare at her in amazement.

“Anna,” is all I say. Now that I see her up close and personal, it almost breaks my heart. “My little Anna.” Now I’m crying, too.

Anna climbs into my outstretched hand, with the other hand, I switch on the floor lamp and we settle down in my reading chair.

“Where have you been all these years?” I am stunned.

Anna looks at me reproachfully. “You’re asking me that? When you were little, you played with me every day. And when you grew up, you just put me in a box in the attic with your cuddly toys.”

I can feel myself blushing. Anna is right. I have simply discarded her. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Me, too,” she admits. “And just so you know, I’m not going to be locked in that box again.”

I look at the petite figure in my hand full of affection and run my index finger over her shoulder-length brown hair. “No. I know where we’ll let you live.” I smirk.

Anna watches me suspiciously.

“How about you to move into the castle with all the battlements? You know, the one with the fountain and the white peacocks in the park.”

Anna’s eyes widen. “You do remember, don’t you?”

“But the best is yet to come.” I’m really getting into it now. “Timothy is there, too. He keeps an eye out for you at the fountain every night.”

Anna swallows and slaps her tiny hands in front of her face. “I miss him so much. Can you please, please take me home?”

Her pleading expression makes my heart overflow with pity. I nod silently. Because I know that I should have done this a lot sooner. I owe it to Anna and Timothy. And to me, too.