Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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Mia wasn’t always this shy.

When she was a kid, she loved playing with her mom and dad. When dad would leave, mom would play with her, bringing her along on fun trips with her friends.

This made her dad angry for reasons unknown to her at the time. They used to be happy together, but they soon started yelling at each other when Mia was out of sight. Then, mom packed her bags and left the house. Little Mia didn’t understand what was happening, wondering when she would come back.

Then, her dad had to leave for work again. She was left in the care of her aunt, who grew to hate her. She looked too much like her father, who was going to tear everything away from them, or so she said, as Mia didn’t understand why she was angry.

Mia’s cousins loved seeing her around, but kept her from seeing their aunt whenever possible. But now they had to see their mother torment their little cousin, who did nothing wrong.

Petty tasks turned to malicious hazards, and soon Mia had enough. She ran outside the house and back to the city.

Despite their aunt’s behavior, they didn’t want her to be in the path of danger, so they called their uncle and looked for her.

Mia was found on the sidewalk next to mom’s favorite restaurant. Her dad made sure she wasn’t hurt, before they finally went back home.

Four months later, she was able to see her family for what she thought was the last time.

Her cousins hugged her, her grandparents gave her gifts, but her aunt and mom were nowhere to be seen.

They got on the plane, and left their old home, moving to Japan.

When they settled in, her dad finally told her what was happening; her mom wasn’t taking care of her when she took her on trips. She was being paraded around like some doll to her friends, potentially endangering her life. Her aunt hated him for divorcing her sister, but since she couldn’t talk to him, she took it out on Mia.

Mia couldn’t believe it. They were so nice to her before; why were they doing that to her…? They loved her, didn’t they…?

She didn’t leave her room until she had to go to a new school. Ever since then, she wasn’t able to talk to anyone she didn’t trust, having very little friends.

At least, none until high school.

But that’s for a different tale, isn’t it?