Maia

3

Māori
Māmā = Mother

Word Count: 1606

☽☾

I stayed in the bush for 10 minutes before I crawled out and onto the steps. I moved the groceries to my side. I was shaking. My arms instinctively wrapped around my body and I cried. My eyes shut tightly. Oh, Māmā...

I didn't dare look back into the house as I crawled past, I didn't dare walk inside. I stayed on those steps until I heard a siren. I looked up, sniffling as I did so. A few police cars had pulled up, each with flashing lights. The car doors flung open quickly, two police officers stood at each side of the vehicle. 6 cops faced the house, each with their guns pointed at me. 

My eyes widen in fear. This was it, today was officially going to be the day that I die.

I cry more hysterically somehow. My body is cold, and my breathing is becoming constricted and shallow.

One of the lady officers began talking to the other police officers. I focused on her lips moving but I couldn't hear, my ears were ringing and I was so high on fear. My vision was becoming blurry. Suddenly, everything started spinning, I couldn't see their figures any more and my whole vision went black.

☽☾

My eyes fluttered open, two people were standing over me. I felt one of their hands gently rest on my lower back, and I flinch. I want to hiss but I bite my tongue. The person slowly brings my body back up and into a sitting position. My vision becomes clear and all the memories from minutes ago rush back. I shiver and I start crying again. A lady crouches in front of me as I see more police cars, with officers crawling all around the property.

I looked back at the lady and we made eye contact. She sighed and looked to her left, where a guy stood. He was grabbing the grocery bags, and searching through the contents with gloves before handing them off to another guy.

He turned back to us, his fingers around the gun, which sat on his hip. He looked intimidating as he watched me with narrowed eyes.

I saw another guy crouching down in the garden, where my footprints were embedded into the earth. It sits as a reminder of what I just saw.

Māmā. Dead. Blood.

I watched as a flashing light came from his camera.

"Miss," the woman in front of me spoke.

I shivered but looked at her anyway. She pulled out a notepad and pen.

"What is your name dear?" she had her hand hovering over the paper.

"Maia Smith," I whispered, I watched as she jotted it down.

Her partner's eyebrows furrowed but he didn't say anything.

"Are you able to identify the woman in the house?" she said.

I nodded, "she's my Māmā, Emily Smith" I mumbled.

The two gave me a look of sympathy, before the lady walked off, leaving me alone with the man. His hand still rested on his gun as he watched me silently. It was as if he was analysing me.

I looked at the lady as she talked to an older man. They chatted some more before she made her way back over. Her notebook was attached back to her belt and she pulled out handcuffs. My breathing quickened and I shook with fear.

She sighed, "Now Maia, I have talked to the chief and as you are here at the crime scene, you will have to be taken in for questioning. As of now, you aren't a prime suspect and you are a possible witness." She walked closer and grabbed my hands, moving them to my backside. I did nothing to stop her, I just let her take me.