I watched the landlord as he looked at us with fake sadness when he sighed and stuck a toothpick in between his lips. "Look kids, I'm really sorry about ya mom, but their ain't nothin I can do about it. Find a way to pay the rent by tomorrow, or pack it up. Wish there was another way, but there are other people that would pay twice as much for an apartment here. Got it?" My sister was clasped to my shirt as I only nodded. "Of course, Sir." I spoke through gritted teeth. I couldn't believe he was kicking us to the curb.
My sister was shaking. I could feel her trembling hands as she held onto my shirt as if her life depended on it. I heard her sniff a few times but every time I looked down there were no tears showing on her rosy cheeks, but I could still tell she was upset. Why would our mother do this to us? She obviously doesn't care about anyone but herself. I let my thoughts float around in my head a bit before sighing. I bent down to my little sister but kept my eyes averted from her gaze.
"Hey, Lizzy...Mommy is going to be in the hospital for a while for doing some very bad things..and this means we won't be able to see her for awhile, okay?" I spoke softly. That got the waterworks going. Lizzy started wailing as she wrapped her small arms around my neck. I clinched my jaw as I wrapped my arms around her midsection, hugging her close to my body. I usually never cried, but hearing my sister break caused me to tear up just a bit as I closed my eyes tightly. I felt her hide her face in my neck and soaked it with tears.
We stayed like that for a good few minutes before she finally let go of me and wiped her eyes with a few sniffles. I walked to the counter and got the tissue box before pulling one out and handing it to her gently. She wiped her eyes a bit and blew her tiny nose as I went back to my knees in front of her. "Hey, you gotta be strong for bubby, okay?" I knew that was asking a lot of an 8 year old with the news she had just gotten but I had to try. She sniffled a bit more as she nodded.
"I'll try... Are we ever going to see Mommy again?" The brokenness in her voice caused a lump to appear in my throat, so I tried to swallow it down. "I-I'm not sure...but try to stay positive okay?" She nodded and looked down sadly. I gave a soft sigh and thought for a moment before looking back up at her. I brushed a small strand of hair from her face and spoke softly, "Hey...it's going to be okay..I won't let anything bad happen to you. No matter what happens...I'll protect you." She gave me a small nod and hugged me tight once more.
YOU ARE READING
I'll Protect You
AdventureDaniel and his little sister were forced to relocated after their mother was put into the hospital and couldn't get the rent paid fast enough. They travel from place to place now wondering where their next meal will come from, where they will sleep...
