The Fate That Chose Me

Why?

I had only just been born. I should have been wrapped in warmth, cradled in love. But instead, my world was cold. I was alone.

Slowly, my vision darkened. My body surrendered.

And then—silence.

---

Light.

Sound.

I heard birds chirping, the soft rustling of leaves. The gentle splash of water. Voices—distant but growing closer.

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt glued shut. My limbs refused to move. The world around me felt… different.

Then, I felt warm hands.

Not the cold, detached grip of my father. Not the trembling, hesitant touch of my mother.

This was different. Firm. Steady.

Finally, my eyelids lifted—blurry at first, but then, I saw him.

An old man.

He held me in his arms, his grip secure but not harsh. His face was rugged, lined with age, and his piercing eyes locked onto mine with an intensity I had never felt before.

He was staring at me.

No—he was studying me.

As if he were searching for something.

And even though I was just a newborn, I found myself staring back.

I didn’t cry. I didn’t look away.

His lips twitched. Then, a deep, rumbling laugh escaped him.

"Hahaha… what a child you are."

His voice was thick, filled with amusement—and something else. Curiosity? Admiration?

"Even after everything, you are still alive. And not just that…" He tilted his head. "You are looking me in the eyes—without fear."

The voices around us had quieted. The people near him—whoever they were—stood back, watching in silence.

I could feel it.

They were afraid of him.

Even without words, I knew it.

This man—he was powerful. Respected. Feared.

He smirked.

"Interesting. People tremble when they see me. Most don’t even dare to look me in the eyes. But you…"

His voice dropped slightly.

"Who are you?"

I didn’t have an answer.

But even as he studied me, waiting for a sign—some reaction—I wanted to say, So what? So what if others fear you? I don’t care. Do what you want.

I couldn’t speak, but somehow, I knew…

He heard me.

His smirk widened.

"Hah. You are something else, little one."

And then—just like that—he took me with him.

I didn’t know where I was going.

I didn’t know what awaited me.

But one thing was certain.

I had not been left to die.

I had been found.

And my story… was just beginning.

The old man carried me in his arms as we left the lake behind, heading deeper into the forest.

The car rocked slightly as it drove over the uneven path, the soft hum of the engine blending with the distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The sun was setting, casting an eerie orange glow through the thick canopy of trees. Shadows stretched long across the road, making the world feel both beautiful and dangerous.

I stared at him the entire way.

I didn’t know why, but something inside me wanted to ask— Old man, do you even know what you’re doing?

My own family abandoned me. My family? No—people like that can’t be called family.

What kind of family throws away their own newborn? Leaves her to die?

The old man must have noticed my intense gaze because he finally looked down at me. His deep, piercing eyes held something unreadable—something intense.

He sighed. Then, in a firm voice, he spoke:

"Little one, I don’t know who left you. I don’t know what kind of heartless beasts abandoned you in the water like you were nothing. But listen to me—"

His grip on me tightened slightly, but not in a painful way. More like… he was securing me.

"You are still alive."

His voice was strong, as if he was declaring something unshakable.

"You are a warrior, little one. A beautiful warrior."

I didn’t know why, but something burned inside me at his words.

"And since no one else wants you… then come with me."

He reached out, gently placing his rough, calloused hand on my head.

That’s when it hit him.

His face changed instantly—his calm expression twisted into something sharp, almost alarmed. His fingers brushed against my forehead again, then down to my cheek. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Shit."

His voice was suddenly tense.

"Driver! To the hospital. Now!"

I didn’t understand at first. But then—heat.

A suffocating, unbearable heat surged through me. My tiny body felt like it was burning from the inside out. My stomach twisted in pain—hunger.

I hadn't eaten. I had been left in the water, helpless, cold, and starving.

The pain was overwhelming, too much for my newborn body to handle. My limbs felt weak. My breathing grew rapid. I was suffocating.

The old man noticed immediately. His sharp gaze flickered with something close to panic.

"Faster!" he barked at the driver.

The car jerked forward, speeding down the road. Trees blurred past us. The wind howled against the windows.

But it wasn’t enough.

Something was wrong.

The old man’s jaw clenched. His fingers twitched as he looked around, his mind racing. And then—he cursed under his breath.

He realized it.

There was no hospital.

We were in the middle of nowhere—deep in the wilderness, far from any city. No clinics, no doctors, no help.

The realization made the air inside the car feel heavy.

The driver, a younger man with nervous eyes, swallowed hard. He kept glancing at the old man through the rearview mirror, sweat forming on his brow.

"S-Sir…" His voice trembled. "We… we don’t have a hospital nearby. We—"

The old man turned sharply.

His glare was cold, deadly.

"Then where is the nearest one?"

The driver gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.

"It—it’s too far. At least three hours away."

The old man gritted his teeth.

I could feel his frustration radiating off him, like a storm about to explode. His fingers twitched again—like a man desperate to act but unable to.

He was not the type to sit still while someone suffered.

Especially me.

His eyes flickered back to me, scanning my fragile body as if calculating something. His breathing was slow but heavy.

Then—resolve.

"Forget the hospital." His voice was dangerously calm.

"Take us to the estate. Now."

The driver’s eyes widened, but he didn’t dare question it. With a tight nod, he swerved the car off the main road, heading toward an unknown destination.

The car sped through the forest, moving swiftly over the uneven dirt path.

My vision blurred again. The hunger, the exhaustion, the pain—it was too much. My body felt too small, too weak.

But through it all, I could still feel it—his hand, steady on my forehead.

His presence was unshakable, strong.

And just before my eyes closed again, I heard it—

His voice, barely above a whisper.

"Hold on, little one. You're not dying today."

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