The Stolen Girl

Two Broken Hearts

Eleven Years Ago

The darkness circled around me, coddling my bursting energy. It was the night before my sixth birthday and my sleep had become nonexistent because of all the butterflies fluttering in my tummy. I couldn't stop thinking how tomorrow would be my special day, and for once my family might pay attention to me.

I woke up long after the sun had awaken the next morning as it had taken me two hours to fall into a slumber the night before.

The sunlight tickled my eyes and beaming, I jumped out of bed and raced down the stairs, skipping two at a time.

My heartbeat fluttered in my chest and my stomach bubbled with joy and impatience. I couldn't wait to hear everyone's sweet wishes and open my presents. Mama had even promised she would take me to the zoo.

I cautiously peeked from around the stairway, in case they were still setting up a surprise.

Of course, I didn't want to ruin it.

My eyes widened when they took in the empty hallway, not a whisper to be heard.

"Mama!" I called out worriedly. "Papa!" This wasn't how the day was supposed to start.

But there was no one.

I clutched my sides to balance myself and took a deep breath. Perhaps they were hiding behind the couch and didn't hear me fly downstairs.

"Ahem!" I cleared my throat to give them a hint. I grinned and closed my eyes tightly together.

I waited.

And waited.

When there was no sound of movement, I opened my eyes confusedly and decided to tip toe to the sofa to surprise them instead. Before I could take a step forward, however, something neon and pink caught my eye sticking out from behind the toy box. I carefully removed the sticky note and read, "You woke up late so we went to the zoo. There are pancakes on the stove. - Mama, Papa, Levi, and Morry"

The paper slipped through my fingers and sashayed towards the ground. As it fell, I noticed Levi had scribbled "Happie Burthday Alisa" on the back along with a sloppy heart.

That didn't cheer me.

My heart felt like a boulder as it plummeted into my stomach. I was shattered. My hands turned sweaty and in my daze I slipped over a bouncy ball Morry had left lying around.

Crack.

Blinding pain shot through my arm, engulfing every inch of it. I cried out in despair and my screams bounced off of every wall. My vision became hazy with black spots and I couldn't feel my arm.

I couldn't feel anything.

"Sweetheart."

.
.
.

One hour later I got up and walked away.

With something shiny in my hand.

My family came back three hours later.

Present

I sighed sadly as I looked longingly at my empty room. Everything had been stripped clean. No more did Harry Potter posters follow my eyes from the walls or tiny princess figurines smile at me from the windowsills. The lavender walls were bare and plain, and the only evidence of them once being lively were the hundreds of little holes that remained from the thumbtacks that had held my decorations and photographs.

My heart sank as the memories of putting all my possessions one by one into those wretched cardboard boxes came flooding back. I had to throw several boxes out because they  had become too flimsy with all my fallen tears. Each time I finished packing a box I felt as if a part of my life had been washed out and my waterworks would pour out again.