Camilo + Me

A memory called "its all your fault"

I was turning 5 years old that day. Birthdays were supposed to be something you keepsake. This birthday wasn't called a birthday anymore. It was called a nightmare.

I remember that day almost clearly. Me, Victoria Annet Evergreen, was running and dancing around the hacienda with un-lit sparklers with my older sister, Rosa. My father, Alejandro were hanging up decorations with the towns baker, Pablo. Meanwhile my mother and Abuela were cooking frantically in the kitchen. And my little brother Hugo was on his final hour of his nap.

All around were bursting blue flowers, aromas spilling from the kitchen, and the excitement of serotonin.

We almost tripped a towns lady carrying a basket of radishes running to the door.

"Victoria, Rosa, be careful please!" My father shouted.

We giggled as we booked it out the door. The sun was half way through day and people were moving in directions all around the town. We knew it was almost time for the party to begin.

"What's up ninas!" My older cousin named, Mavren smiled with sac around his shoulder.

"Hi Mavren!" Rosa exclaimed.

"Are you excited for my birthday? I'm gonna be 5!" I joyfully said with a little jump showing him 5 fingers.

"That's great Tori! Your getting so old!"

He ruffles my curly hair giving it more floof and heads inside the casa. We follow him.

My mother, Cecilia, rushes up to me bending down to my height.

"Tori, baby. There you are," she excites brushing the hair out of my face.

"We're gonna go welcome some people, and then we're gonna eat some food, alright?"

I nod my head very violently.

"Okay, okay," she laughs. "Rosa do you mind helping people find their way to put things?"

"Yes mami"
Rosa prances away.

Mother takes my hand and brings me away.

That was the last part I remember until the nightmare starts.

We were dancing and having a blast. Music was going to my favorite songs. Me and Rosa were swinging around. Rosas long hair flowing as we spun. Then we heard loud fireworks. People started to head outside to see the commotion.

Rosa whispers to me, "Lets go up to the balcony, we will be able to see them. It'll be so cool!"

I nod and she grabs my hand. She pulls me up the stairway and to the balcony. I laugh from excitement.

Rose opened the door to the balcony. She struggled but got it open. We rushed inside.
We gasped right away from the large fireworks exploding. Rose lifted her feet onto a part in the railing. I was a short height and I could see perfectly fine since the railing wasn't at my eyesight like Rosas.

"Woah, did you see that one Tori?" Rosa points to the sky with aw.

I smiled deeply. "That one was HUGE! I hope they have a purple one!" I beamed.

"I hope they have my favorite color. Oran-"

The railing cracked. It broke off from the flooring. It shakes and fell. Fell with Rose.

"ROSE!" I screamed.

There was a crash. You couldn't hear much from the fireworks but it hit me like tsunami blasting into my soul. I started backing away. Taking careful steps with a shudder of fear.. But I tripped from the past rain from this morning. I smacked onto my back and slid down to the end of the balcony.

"Mami! Help!" I shrieked.

"It's Victoria! Someone needs to grab her!" Someone yells from below.

I tried to pull myself up but I was only 5.

"Daddy! H-help me! Please! Mami!" I cried desperately trying to hang on to the wood.

But I just couldn't hang on any longer. Nobody was coming in time. So I slipped. I fell down screaming in fear. My back facing below me. I was going to die. But then something happened. Something bad.

Mossy rocks were forming from below. Forming to grab me. The process malfunctioned and swallowed me. Crumbling to the crumb piling me with bits of rock.

Ears ringing, heart pounding, and blood rushing, I went black. For a moment I felt like dying. Like death was what was going to happen. There was light. A blinding light. And shouts of fear. My father. I could hear him.

"TORI! I see her!"

I could feel rocks being thrown aside. People were rushing to help. I could tell there was screams of horror and fear. I know I killed Rosa.

They pulled me out of the rubble.

"Dad..." I croaked, eyelids half closed. I choked but recovered.

"She's alive!" My father shouted holding me in his arms.

My mother didn't come near. I could hear her cries. Cries of Rosas name.

"Rosa.. Rosa!" I pleaded falling out of my fathers arms.

Mother was wailing below the balcony. Rosas bloody face was on her lap, with all the broken pieces around them.

"Rose.." I said tears forming in my eyes. But I just couldn't grapple what was going on. I didn't understand. 

I turned away from them and looked at my fathers eyes. His tears eyes. Then I looked at the townspeople. The look of fear on all their faces. It was because of me.

I then made a decision. I knew that was how it had to go. I then ran as fast as I could away from the casa. I ran so fast my lungs hurt. Everywhere hurt. In the faint distance I could hear my name. But I didn't respond. I ran.

And that is how I was no longer an Evergreen.