Today was the contest for the paintings. I woke up early because Ardent calling me repeatedly last night. He wanted me to be there because that contest is for me. I was fast fixing myself, just a plain white shirt and pants. I combed my hair so I could look decent.

“Anmela!” I was shy the way Alem called me. People were looking at us, some were smiling, some were staring.

“She is the person in the painting.”

“She is beautiful.”

“She looks pretty.”

Those were the comments of the crowd, gazing at me from head to foot.

“The real definition of simplicity.”

Their opinions made me embarrassed, but at...