Pinky Promises

Before

Everything was normal. We were a small family, nothing breaking us apart. Dad was a successful C.E.O of his own company, earning loads of money. Mom was a stay at home mom, always rushing around, never really staying in one place. And me. I was just an average kid, wanting attention, loads of friends, not really having to care.

We lived in a small town in L.A, a pretty calm and relaxed place. Our house was just a petit normal house with a small garden out the front, roses and bushes over lapped the fencing around it.

My school was just round the corner. Everyday I'd meet my friends and we'd walk together talking about clothes, animals, anything really. I was only 10 at the time so the most interesting topic would be where we were gonna go after school to play.

Mom was heavily pregnant around the time, just about her due date. My dad was never home so they never knew if he was going to be around if she goes into labour, or trips over something. Something a 10 year old cant help a 36 week pregnant woman with.

My mom had brown fine hair, her eyes the brightest green. Her lips were perfectly curved so that whenever she was grumpy or angry, it would always look like she was smiling. Her skin was a dark olive colour, making her eyes stand out more than what they already did. She was also very skinny and we got very concered when she was pregnant, wondering why my mom didnt have a bump at 30 weeks. Her bump was quiet small but the doctor insisted her and the baby were in perfect health.

My dad however had bleach blonde hair and his eyes were a slightly dull blue. I didnt see dad much so I cant really remember alot about him. All I can remember is him, coming home at 3:00am swaying and me watching from the top of the stairs as he messed up his black suit and tried walking into the lounge. My mom would put me to bed at 8 every night. I couldnt sleep until I knew my dad was okay; I would wait until I heard my moms lights go off, her door close so I could creep into the dark and await for my dad to stumble in.

Mom was aware at what time he came in, her light flashing on when the front door opened. Although turning on her light, she didnt leave her room or even make the slightest sound until dad had found his own way to their room. Even when he'd gotten to their room, there was no sound, only silence.

I think thats what killed me most. The fact that they didnt argue but only for my sake. I didnt want that. I didnt want my mom and my dad to be unhappy. I could see it in dads misty eyes as he tripped up the stairs at 3am every morning! I could see it in moms smile she faked every day at 4pm when we would wait at the table for my dad to waltz in and eat with us. She would look at the clock with worry on her face, look at me, smile, get up, grab the phone and then explain to me that this will be another night were we wont be eating as a family. Even with Maddie on the way, I could see that this family was slowly falling apart.

November 23rd, the day I found the note. My sister was 2 months old and I was on my way back from an ordinary school day. Rain pouring down my head, drowning my hair and filling my clothes with an icey damp shock. I ran out of the school to my house, wanting to get home before the weather got unbearably worse.

I ran up to the gate, fumbling with the lock before finally running through it. I jogged to the door, quickly opening it and jumping inside.

"Hello?" I shouted dragging my shoes across the mat marked with welcome.

Silence replyed as my body over took with confusion. I felt my heart beat increase as panic and confusin mixed together in the worse kind of way.

"Mom?" I shouted through the house but again nothing but silence. I ran up the stairs, tripping as I tried to make it up the steps faster than what seemed possible.

"Dad?" I whispered, I looked around on the top of the stairs.

Nothing.

I looked down the landing area, my mom and dads bedroom door wide open. My sister, bouncing in her small bounving chair. She looked at me and smiled, laughing a little towards the end.

Every door upstairs was open except one. The bathroom.

"Mom? Are you in there?" I asked trying the door. I pushed the handle down again, receiving nothing but a locked door in return.

I glanced back at my sister, her gaze on something near my foot. I followed her gaze to find a peice of paper, folded neatly.

My hands shook as I picked it up, unfolded it and finally, a large blank sheet covered in words that looked like my mothers hand writing.

"To Dani,
I have left this note, hoping you wont be scared or worried. When you get this, me and daddy will be in heaven. I hope you understand. And im sorry Dani. Me and your daddy werent happy, we were actually really sad. We werent sad at each other, we were sad at other things. Now Dani! Do not think I was sad at you. Me and daddy love you and Maddie so much. We promised we would do it together. Pinky promises are hard to break when you love someone. Im sorry we couldnt be a family! Im sorry you sat every night waiting for daddy in the dark. Im sorry we never ate as a family. Look after Maddie and make sure no one finds this note! This is between me and you only! When you've read this, dont cry! Were watching over you always. Do not try and enter the bathroom. We love you so so much.

Goodbye Dani, Goodbye Maddie

Love mommy and daddy xxx"

When I read the note, I found myself on the floor. Tears running down my face and vision going blurred. Before eventually... Nothing.

Thats all I remember. Those were just slight memories. There was so much more I just wouldnt know how to word it. Like the sirens pierceing my ears before finally they stopped and a knock filled them instead. Me fumbling to put the paper in my back pocket, pick up my sister, wipe my distraught eyes and answering the door.

It killed me to watch my parents being taken away on stretchers, never to see their faces again at only 10 years old.

Apparently a neighbor heard my called for my mom and panicked, thinking something bad had happened. So they rang the police.

Little did they know that as they made that phone call, my world was crumbling down. And nothing could help put it back together again.