Paloma张思婷180110624

Mia is a good girl; everyone knows that.

Mia lives in a small town that is far away from the big cities; her father is an outstanding carpenter, and her mother is a capable housewife. She has three little brothers and sisters. It truly was a happy family envied by others. However, something unfortunate had happened. Her father died in an accident of his work. Suddenly, the family lost their backbone and ploughed into poverty when Mia was just nine years old. Crying, crying, crying, all the family cried bitterly for a week long. Mia was the first one who recovered from the grief and made dinner for her mother, little brothers, and sisters. Therefore, she studies much harder and finds a part time job in a local restaurant to support her family. After that shock, Mia regards herself as the mainstay of her family and hopes she can take good care of her family to replace her dearest father.

Everyone said that Mia seems to have grown up overnight.

Ten years later, Mia has become a charming young girl. She cannot go to college because of the lack of money, and it's time for her to find a proper husband in which to entrust her life. It's not very hard for Mia for she is so beautiful, mature, and tender that almost all the young boys fall in love with her.

People always praise the marvel that Mia could grow up so well without her father.

However, Mia doesn't do well in love. She has had several romantic relationships with boys who are attracted to her, but they all tend to be over in a hurry. Mia feels extremely depressed and confused. Each time she asks the reasons from the boys, they all answered in a similar way, "Mia, I'm sorry, but I can't bear anymore. You know, you are always pretend to be perfect, and I can't touch your heart. I am not sure who are you really are…"

Mia doesn't understand what mistakes she had made. She feels frustrated and eager to leave the place where she grieved. Besides, it’s time to leave for her mother has remarried a local honest man and her brothers and sisters have already got into school and are old enough to look after themselves well. She has never left the small town before. Now, maybe it's time for her to live for herself, Mia thinks.

The next morning, Mrs. Smith gets up early as usual, but she finds the prepared breakfast is laying on the table with a piece of paper beside it.

"Dear Mother, I'm so sorry, but I have to leave. When I find out the answer maybe I will come back to you. Take care of my brothers and sisters, I love all of you…your Mia"

"Oh Mia, my poor daughter, my Mia…" Mrs. Smith sits on the chair slowly and buries her head in her arms, and finally, bursts out sobbing.

Mia goes to the train station early with light baggage. There is a chill in the air outside this morning, and there are only few people on the platform. Mia is wrapped up in her worn clothes and waits for the train to London. She doesn't know London very well, but her elders once said that London is a good place. Twenty minutes later, the train comes; Mia feels her heart beating wildly and catches the train with all her might.

She gets a seat by the window; besides her is an old gentleman. A young woman carrying her baby sits in front of her, and her husband, who is standing by the young woman, reads a newspaper.

"Lady, where are you going?" The old man asks.

"London…," Mia answers cautiously, hanging onto her bag tightly.

"Oh, London is an attractive city. Why are you going there? And traveling alone? It's very dangerous for a young girl to go there alone. Actually, my daughter is almost the same age as you, and I never let her out alone. Where are your parents? "

"Oh, my father died long time ago and my mother has remarried, she leads a happy and peaceful life right now, so I don’t want to disturb her".

"Child, I'm sorry to hear that, but it's not your fault. The past has become a fact and can never be changed. What you have to do is just to look forward."

"Thank you, sir"

"Good girl, I will get off next stop; my daughter is waiting for me. Don't let the past hold you back. God bless you, Dear!"

Mia watches the old man go away, "His daughter must be the happiest girl in the world," she thinks.

The train continues move forward…

The young woman in front of her looks at Mia for a minute and asks finally, "Lady, would you mind if I come and sit with you? I want my husband to rest but it's a little crowded."

"Yes, come over here if you'd like."

"Thanks so much, Lady."

The woman whispers a few words in her husband's ear and comes sits by Mia. Her husband changes his position and soon falls asleep.

The woman stares at her husband with perceptible smile.

"I try not to be so rude, but I really wonder why you did that? I am sure you are already exhausted as well," Mia asks curiously.

"Oh, I guess that's must be love."

"Love? What's love? I don't think I have the capability to love others"

"Don't be silly, of course you have. When you love another person, you will see him in your heart deeply. You want to be a kid in front of him, and you can also be vulnerable. Don't pretend to be perfect, both of you can totally accept each other if you truly love each other ".

"Sounds wonderful, but I'm not sure I'm worthy of this kind of love or not"

"You deserve it for you are so beautiful and mature. Be more confident and open your heart to the person you love. You have the right to just be a normal girl and enjoy your love and youth."

Mia closes her eyes and looks back upon the past few years.

She remembers the Christmas when she was five years old, her father gave her a beautiful doll and hoped she could be the happiest girl in the world.

She recalls that the day of her father’s death; her father lay in coffin, which he had made in person before for others, and looked like a cadaverous statue. Her mother cried bitterly and fainted many times.

She also remembers that after the death of her father, all her good friends in school left her alone, and she had to try to please them for she was afraid of loneliness.

And when she grew up, there were lots of good boys after her but she was frightened to respond. And even though she loved her boyfriend very much, she had no courage to tell him, which made him depressed.

Mia opens her eyes slowly with tears falls down, “I think I have found out the answer. I have to live for myself and love people with a bare heart. Thank you very much. I will get off next stop.”

"Next stop? But we are still far away from London; where do you plan to go?"

"Home."

"Good girl; God bless you!"

A year later, Mia marries a local righteous and holy man and leads a happy life. God bless the good girl!