Dorothy's POV:
...I was perfectly aware of it.
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- Dorothy, darling, are you sure you want to help me?
- Of course, I can't just stay a parasite forever.
The woman was silent for a moment before throwing herself at me in a tight hug.
- You'll never be a parasite! You're a beautiful girl who deserves to be pampered.
- That's not...
I gently grabbed her arm with my hand to try to pull away, but... I couldn't find the strength to do so. Her warmth was nostalgic and intoxicating.
- Let's start with lunch.
- ...Yes!
........................................
This is nothing more than false kindness born of guilt. I knew it...
.........................................
Can you see it?
- Woahh!
Before me, a short but large creature walked on land after emerging from the water. Its short, wide legs gave the impression of being a pig with an enormous tail and a mouth proportionate to its tail.
- I-is that creature...?
- Yes, that will be our dinner.
With a fearless smile, the man lunged at the beast, which was taken by surprise. The surprise caused it to thrash violently as he tried to stay on top. With his two enormous arms, he encircled the beast's neck and began to squeeze tightly.
*hruuum*
With a powerful roar, the beast began to spin violently in an attempt to shake the man off, but instead of letting go, he tightened his grip even further.
*Hruuum hruuum hruuum*
The beast's desperation was palpable as it thrashed even more violently. Despite his best efforts, the man held on while slowly strengthening his grip. The struggle seemed like it would last forever until the beast slowly lost its mobility. When the man senses that weakness, he quickly turns the beast over, dagger in hand. Without hesitation, he plunges it into the beast's belly.
*Hruuummmm*
A final groan escapes the beast before it collapses completely lifeless to the ground. The man, dirty and with a few scratches, gets up, satisfied, and turns to look at me.
- What did you think?
- ...
I, on the other hand, was completely speechless. The mixture of worry, shock, and anger left me with no possibility of saying anything.
- Little one?
Noticing my silence, he looks at me as I approach him, rummaging through the bag at my hip. I pull out a small wooden container with a green substance. When I'm finally in front of him, I raise my hand and strike the container hard against his arm.
- Ouch!
A groan of pain escapes him as he stares at me, dumbfounded.
- Idiot!
- ...
Then I took his hand, still holding the jar, and led him to the lake where the beast had emerged. With a piercing gaze, I turned to look at him as I pointed toward the lake. He remained silent for a few moments before obediently washing his arms and legs. When he finished, I pointed to the ground next to the beast where he sat. Then I opened the jar and began applying the ointment to his wounds.
- I'm sorry I worried you.
- ...It's the least I can do.
I carefully applied the ointment as he watched me.
- You're really a great help, Dorothy.
Those words sent a shiver through me as I pressed my lips together to keep from spilling.
.....................................
...They weren't really my family. I knew better than anyone that this was nothing more than a cruel illusion created by my own desires to see something that didn't exist in them.
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It had been about a month since I started living with them. I had slowly adjusted to life there. The morning always started with me struggling to style my hair with one arm before immobilizing it again…
- Huh?
But that morning, styling my hair wasn't so difficult. I looked closely at the bucket in front of me, seeing that my hairstyle was almost perfect. My half-awake self jolted when I realized I didn't just have one arm resting on the bucket. I looked at my arm and moved it slowly. I opened and closed my fist with perfect ease. A wave of happiness washed over me as I saw that my arm was finally back to normal.
- Dorothy! Time to eat.
A voice called from outside the door. My first impulse was to run and show them my arm, but I stopped just before reaching the door. I looked at the door with a hint of regret.
"If I show them that my arm is all right…"
I glanced down at the bandages and the branch I had used to immobilize my arm. The happiness of a few moments ago quickly turned to guilt. I exchanged glances between the door and the bandages. A heavy feeling crushes my heart.
- Dorothy?
- I'm coming.
With my arm immobilized, I run toward the dining room.
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…In the end, I prefer to drown in them.