I wanted to swim to Emily, but my mom was at the house with my younger sister, Gabriella. Gabby was 6, and she had had skin cancer ever since she was 3 years old. So I had to check on them first. Hopefully Emily wouldn't get too far.
• • •
I saw the quivering lip and watering eyes of Gabby first. She couldn't swim, but since we were just in the house, the water was only up to her knees. I ran to her and she hugged me as tight as she could.
"Where's mommy, Mia?" She sounded scared and nervous.
"Hmm? What do you mean? I thought she was with you?"
"No, she left to get you at Emily's house when it starting raining!"
"So, mom is still out there?"
Uh-oh, my mother was outside in the flood. She could've drowned! Now I've got Gabby to deal with. All these thoughts were downing my brain. I couldn't think straight. But finally I said something so Gabby wouldn't get scared.
"Alright, Gabby, I'm going to go outside and get mommy, ok? But you have to stay here. Don't move, I'll be right back." I told her in a calming voice.
"But mommy never came back, how will you?" I thought about that for a moment.
"Don't worry, I won't leave you here. I'm just going to get mommy and come back, I promise. And how many times have I broken a promise?" I tried to smile.
"All the time!" Gabby giggled with a smirk.
"Ok, me and mommy will come back to get you. I'm leaving now, I'll see you later." I was careful to choose my words so it wouldn't seem like I had no idea where mom was and that it would only take a few seconds.
As I creaked to door opened, I shrieked. It was like a mini tsunami inside my house. When I opened the door, water gushed through, springing me into Gabby, who was covered by me under water. I tried to get her up and safe, but the water just kept coming. All I could think of was keeping Gabby alive. She still hadn't come up. I was still on top of her. Water kept flooding the house until I realized I wasn't even touching the floor anymore. That meant Gabby could get out from under me. But when I tried to reach down in the water to help her, water came in a big wave that sent me tumbling through the water. I tried to keep my ground, but the current was too strong. Gabby would've been dead by now, but I pushed that thought aside.
Then finally, I felt a small, smooth hand grab mine...
