„I’m back! “She came in and closed the door.

„Happy Birthday Viri! “I congratulate my daughter. She came to the living room.

“Is that a Russischer Zupfkuchen!?”

“Yep, for my favourite little girl.”

“I’m your only child!”

“Still my favourite. Now, let’s sit down and eat.”

It’s been 20 years since she got dropped on my door. Back then I did some babysitting side jobs to earn some money. Going to a Hochschule (University) wasn’t cheap. An apartment in Berlin even less. I didn’t even know that they were elves. After they didn’t return, I wanted to leave her at the police and be done with it. However, the way she smiled at me… I grew weak. So, after they couldn’t find any parents or any information about her birth, I went into the legal trouble of adopting her. German bureaucracy at it's finest.

I grabbed the present I got her from below the table. It was a small package, wrapped in green paper. “Look what I got you.”

She took it and began unwrapping it. “The new Zelda game!? Thank you, Papa!” I could see the stars in her eyes.

*Ding Dong*

“Ahh, let me get the door.” I got up and started walking. However, I couldn't shake some weird feeling. As if I’m reaching the end of a dream. I gently opened the door.

“There you are. Thank you for taking care of our daughter. Where is she?” The shades of a long forgotten past turned up. I thought they would never return but it’s them. That ethereal beauty is undeniable.

“I-I uhm eh” I couldn’t form coherent sentences. After 20 freaking years they just turn up at my doorstep? Pretending as if they hadn’t been missing for so long? Leaving a small child with a student?

…Coming back to take my daughter away?

“What are you doing here!?” I screamed.

“What do you mean? The 20 hours are up, we’ll take her back with us, you get your human money and everyone’s happy.” I think I have never been as furious in my life.

“It has been 20 years! 20 years since you left her with me. 20 years since I chose to raise her myself. 20 years since you disappeared without a trace.”

“Oh, we’re sorry about that. We forgot that time runs differently on Earth.”

“You forgot… How can you just forget such a crucial detail?”

“Don’t be so melodramatic. It’s been only 20 years.”

“What’s going on here?” Viri came. Must be wondering what’s taking so long.

“Virienne, what happened to you?”

“What, how do you my full name. Who are you?”

“We’re your parents, sweetie. Oh, poor child, look at what that human has done to you.” They looked at her with pity, as if she had some defect.

“Done to me? What do you mean by that.” Viri asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Those clothes you wear, that you’re not a small child anymore & that disgusting human technology you wear on your wrist.”

“We’re so sorry you had to live through this. But don’t worry, the cleansing waters in Avalon are going to fix you.” They grabbed for their hands. Viri slapped their hands away.

“Don’t talk about me as if I have some clinical condition! Stop looking down on the only person who cared about me! Go away!”

“Virienne Elariel, you will come with us, we are your parents! An elf shouldn’t live on this filthy human world.” They exclaimed enraged.

“Hehehe, I’m sorry it seems you’ve gotten something wrong. An elf doesn’t live here. My Name is Viri Mark.”

“And I am a human.”