"No, nothing yet, I'll keep looking though."
I was looking in the slums, trying not to fall but trying to get low enough to find something of value. A bottle, an old hammer, even a can. Something we can trade for money.
Suddenly I hear a scream and a crash.
I whip around to see nothing, no one.
I could have sworn Mom was just there, now she wasn't.
Something was wrong.
"No, no, no, no, Mom? MOM!"
I kept yelling, but I couldn't hear her.
Then I saw what I feared the most, I saw my Mothers body, lying there, still.
"Mom! Are you ok?"
"Yeah... I'm fine, have to rest, be a minute."
I could tell she was not fine.
I picked up her hand and cradled it in mine, Tears welling up in my eyes.
Merely to realise the back of her head was dripping with blood.
I looked closer to find a dart mark at the top of her head.
With a simbol of a serpent on it.
She had been shot.
I cradled her on a pile of glass and plastic, wishing there was a way to save her and wishing we were back home.
She let out a sigh and stopped moving.
She was dead. And I couldn't do anything but sit and stare at her.
She was still smiling softly, but the very thing that had given her her spark of life was gone.
This was just her body.
The world around me twisted and I felt sick.
I knew I couldn't stay here forever so I mustered up all my strength and stood up, turned around, and with one last look at her, walked away. Silently, between tears, thanking God for the life she had.
Where would I go?
I sat on the broken stool beside our tent to think. It's where I did my thinking.
Well, I would go to the only person left, William.
〰️〰️〰️
Standing there at his door felt weird.
They were probably gone doing the same thing we were just doing.
But then I heard something, it sounded like crying. Soft and very quiet but still crying.
"Umm hello? Are you ok?" I said. Walking up the footsteps of their house.
The was a sniffle and a few footsteps before William opened the door, looked down at me and mustered a smile.
"Are you ok Will?" I asked, kind of bewildered by the situation.
"Yeah, I'm fine" was all he said.
"Why are you crying? Is something wrong?"
"My parents were supposed to be back 2 days ago but they're not here, and my Mother told me if they weren't back within a day to not wait for them. To go and not come back. I don't know why but I have to leave." he said, looking like he was about to burst into tears.
"Well, I have no where to go, my mother was shot. And I dont know who did it."
He gasped " Really?"And taking my small hand in his, speaking softly, he said "I promise I'll look after you until we are married, Charlie"
I blushed and looked at the floor. We intended on marrying each other when we grew up.
" Can I come with you?"
"Ok but we have to leave today" He said, picking himself up.
"Ok," I said, still feeling dizzy and wondering what was happening.
"Where are we going Will?"
"To the city" he said, turning around and heading for some bags that sat on the table.
"I better go back and pack," I said, turning to leave.
"Wait! Wait here until I am done then I will go with you. I don't know for sure but I think whatever my Mother was talking about might be what killed your Mother."
So I sat down on a mat and waited.
