Light Up the Sky

Chapter 2

Both the police officer and my brother smoothly stopped in their tracks, slowly turning around to face me, with questioning faces.

Their eyebrows were raised with confusion. "What?" The cop asked.

I dazed at the figure of my mother, standing before me like a statue with a blank facial expression. My mouth widened, I blinked twice checking my vision. Ignoring his question, I elevated my hand in front of me, reaching for my mother. As soon as I ran my hand close to her, she disappeared. I peered around, searching for where she vanished to, but she wasn't there. I must be seeing things.

"Ali?" Jeremy asked nervously.

I exited my gaze, fixating my attention to Jeremy. "Huh? Yeah.. Sorry..." I muttered with uncertainty.

Jeremy looked worried for some reason. "Why'd you say that?" He questioned desperately.

"Say what?"

He bowed his head down. "Mom..." Jeremy whispered in pain.

I hadn't realized that I said that out loud. I didn't mean to. I gently placed my hand on Jeremy's shoulder. "I don't know..." I responded unsure of how to explain why I had just seen my mom. His forehead creased with misunderstanding. But ignoring what was said, the officer continued to walk us to our new room in this 'Group Home' or whatever you wanna call it. But whatever you call it, it's basically just orphanage... and I'm an orphan.

We entered a small, lonesome room with two twin-sized bed beside each other. The walls were a plain white with a small window centered between the two beds. The hardwood dark hardwood floors were dirty and scratched up as opposed to the freshly painted walls.

"Well here's your room children, I'm gonna be downstairs and just get everything settled." He sauntered back to the door to my new room... "I'll be back later. You guys could stay here or go downstairs with the other children," he suggested to us before he left the room. His footsteps echoed from the hallway as I dropped down on one of the beds causing it to release a loud squeaking noise.

Jeremy dreadfully plopped down beside me. "Ali..." He spoke unwillingly under his graceful breath.

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared..." He leaned his head beside my body, his spiky dark brown hair tickling the surface of my skin. I ran my hand up and down his back with comfort.

I softly nodded. "Don't be. I'm here, Jer." I sniffled and gently wiped my tears, continuing to attempt to stay strong in front of Jeremy - but who knows how long I can keep up this 'happy' act for. "Hey Jer, why don't you go downstairs and play with the other kids?" I suggested to him, he deserves to have some fun.

He nodded his head. "Will you come with me?"

"I have to do something now, but I'll catch up with you later, all right?"

"Okay..." With that said he dragged his body towards the door. He stopped in his tracks in the middle of the doorway and turned to face me. "Is this our new home?" He asked under his breath. I wasn't sure exactly how to respond. I mean I guess we do have to live here for now, but I wouldn't call this place home. I didn't want to confuse him any more than he already is so I simply nodded my head. He pursed his lips then continued on his way out of the room, dragging his feet as if they weighed a ton.

I let my body fall to the surface of the bed so I was staring up at the ceiling. It was covered with a bright white paint and a dusty old ceiling fan. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get the horrifying images of my house burning down. The bright orange-yellow flames devouring the building as it slowly crumbled to the ground, leaving nothing behind. I sighed loudly as I rubbed my forehead with force, wanting to get the montage of images out of my head. But I couldn't. They are permanently imprinted in my brain. I'll never forget that, no matter how hard I try.