Statues Underground

Night

I was having flashes of Lily and her father at first he was just belittling her and making her feel like nothing. For every word he said I tried yelling out that she was beautiful and I loved her but no words came out. He started to beat and antagonize her as she called out to him "Daddy please" "Please! Please stop, Dad your hurting me" it slowly turned into a whimper of pleading for the strikes to stop, but it did no good. I was screaming at the top of my lungs but no sound came out. As I tried to grab for her I felt nothing but air. I knew I couldn't save her but when I tried to close my eyes to block it out but closing my eyes would give no relief. I could feel my heart tear apart , over and over again the weight on my chest so heavy it seemed like it would concave at any moment but unfortunately it never did. I couldn't break through my invisible shackles until she was lifeless on the floor. I couldn't stop them as they tried reviving her. I couldn't slow the descent as they lowered her white casket, with dandelions and wild flowers on the top, into the ground right next to the oak tree. At that moment the wind was silent, nothing was whispering that everything would be alright.

I woke up in a cold shiver that went bone deep, my sheets were soaked in my sweat. I couldn't blink without having flashbacks from what I still wasn't able to distinguish from nightmare or reality. I started to do the little trick my social worker told me about when I first started having night terrors. State out loud the things you know are true:
"My name is Daxton Grey
I am sixteen years old.
My parents were Gracie and Danny Grey.
They are dead.
I had a little sister, Payson Grey, she is dead.
I am in love with Lily Mathews.
She is alive.
She is alive.
She is alive.
She is alive and I love her."

When I felt the knot on my heart ease up a little bit I slid out of bed and started to walk towards the small hallway. When I tried pushing my door open and felt resistance and heard a scared voice come from the lump of blankets on the ground which I now realized was Laney. "Dax is that you? Are you all right?" I heard her tired voice call out. "Laney? Why are you on the ground?"
" Dax, you were screaming. I tried to wake you up but.." her voice broke and I knew she was crying. "you were so angry, I was worried about you and I just couldn't get you to wake up. You wouldn't wake up" I wrapped my arms around her little body and hugged her tightly into my chest until she fell back asleep. I picked her up and carried her into her bed. As I set her down I noticed the fading but still very prevalent scar that went behind her ear and down the back of her neck. The doctors told us that it was truly a miracle that she survived the crash. If it weren't for her I don't think I would have survived everyday after. I was put into foster care for 6 months before Laney turned 18 and could legally adopt me. If I would have had to live the rest of my life like I lived those 6 months I would have lost every piece of what was left of my soul.
There was a connection between Laney and I that no one else could understand. We weren't very good at talking to each other but we had a mutual understanding and love. She is the only family I have left. God could have easily taken both of us with my family that day, and somedays I wish he would have. But dad always said, "Everything happens for a reason, trust God and everything will be just fine."