I woke up to a smell of smoke. I looked around my room, thinking I was still asleep and dreaming. Then she came running in. "Cassidy! Honey are you ok!? We need to get out. NOW!" She grabbed my arm and I followed. "Mom, whats going on?" I asked her as we ran down the hall. It didn't take long before I knew. Fire. Our house was on fire. From what and where? I didn't know. And I'm pretty sure my mom didn't know either. "Dad!" I screamed, realizing I didn't see him. Mom tensed up before picking me up and running out of the house, leaving me in the street. She ran back to house and I knew she was going back inside to get dad. "Mommy!" I yelled. "Don't leave me!". "Don't worry Cass! I'll be back, safe and sound! I promise!".
That was the last time I saw her.
The firefighters and ambulances showed up, after what seemed like an eternity. The fire was soon put out and they were searching for my parents. No one seemed to notice me until they found their bodies. I screamed out for them, hoping they were still breathing. But I knew otherwise. I was taken to the hospital with them, to see if I was ok. I was placed in a different ambulance. They didn't want me to see them, dead and burned. After we arrived, I was put into a room, and they checked me, making sure I had no major burns or scars. Their looks of confusion and astonishment at how I escaped with no marks were quickly put away, when two men came in and told the doctors that my parents were dead. They looked at me, tears filling their eyes. I was to stay there for the night, just to be sure I was ok.
When morning came, the doctors greeted me with a smile and a muffin that tasted like feet. They tried explaining to me in the nicest way that my parents were no longer here, to try to save my six year old spirit-- or at least what was left of it. Later that day, they brought in a lady in a suit. She said her name was Donna, and she was going to take me to a special home with other kids. I knew she meant an orphanage, and I sighed. While she was speaking, a firefighter came in. He explained that he was back from searching the remains of our house, and he came across a ruby stoned necklace with a golden chain. He said he looked at the engraving on the back and it had my name on it. The man handed it to me, along with my favorite teddy bear that was surprisingly unharmed. The necklace was placed around my neck and I could feel the warmth of my parents. I hugged the teddy bear so tightly I was surprised the head didn't come off. I was then checked out of the hospital and escorted into Donna's car.
We arrived at the orphanage about an hour later. I was tired so I slept the whole way. I was introduced to all of the kids and people who worked there. I was showed around the whole place just so I knew where to go. The weeks went by fast, and I still felt alone. After only two and a half months, a man came in, introduced himself, and before I knew it, I was leaving. I was escorted to his car, and placed in. The man was nice and comforting, but I was still wary. Donna came back and explained to me who the man was. Mr. Maycomb was his name and he was rich. That didn't matter to me. He then got into the drivers side, and we were off to his mansion-like house, and to my new life. On the way I dozed off into a deep sleep, dreaming of my parents and friends and how much I miss them. 'I love you' I heard as I drifted to sleep.
