The Box for Me

Chapter 1

I sit around the table with all of my friends. We're playing poker and I'm losing, as always. Today we're having a slumber party for me, tomorrow is my 14th birthday! I cant wait for the gifts, money and cake. Mostly the cake, my aunt is a baker and she always makes a homemade cake that looks professional! They really are a beauty, I'm never get to see them until my birthday.

I yawn real fast and everyone repeats. I announce that I'm going upstairs to get ready for bed, since I'm losing any way. They all nod their heads. I continue up the stairs of the large home. Inside my room I think I smell smoke. That's funny i don't see anything... I shrug it off and change into my pj's, a tank top with smurf sweat pants. I smile at my outfit and continue to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and pulling my hair up into my traditional crappy ponytail. I walk back out into my large purple room and flop onto the bed. Falling into a deep slumber.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP" echoes through my dream, I groan and wake up. My eyes at first are fuzzy and all I see is red. They start to clear up and I see fire, eating away at my carpet and curtains. Its surrounding me. i start to panic and scream. I try to calm my self down and remember how i was taught in elementary school they said to act in a fire. I quickly run to my bathroom, grabbing a wash cloth and wetting it with water. I hold it up to my mouth and nose and search for my phone. I forgot it downstairs, crap. I feel the door with the back of my hand and it is really hot. i shove blankets and stuffed animals under the door to prevent smoke from coming in. I am really hating my choice of my room on the second floor right now.

I look out the window when I hear sirens, I run to the window and open it. Screaming for help they rush to my window in their yellow suits with a tarp to jump onto.  I cautiously stick my feet out my window and jump, thrusting my self of the white window sill onto the hard tarp. I hear a crack and pain starts to invade my foot. Giving a loud scream a gurney is pulled over and i am thrown on and rushed to an ambulance.

"I'm fine!" I beg "Where's my aunt? Where's my friends?!" the paramedics ignore my pleas and pull me up into a white and red ambulance, inside the metal interior are tons of medical things. Come on people its just a broken ankle or foot! I want to know whats going on. Finally after hours, a doctor comes into the ambulance. He is tall and tan, if he wasn't so much older then me i would have asked him out.  He also has in his hands, a brown locked box. Except the lock is unlocked and hanging.

"Hello July," he smiles "I'm doctor Dan Reed. I will be checking on you"

"where's my aunt? What happened?" I beg for the answers.

"Well, an electric fire has cause the house to burn. Everyone is okay, except your aunt may have several burns and monoxide poisoning. Your friends ran out when the fire alarm went off and called 9-1-1. You're very lucky to be alive. But this is all we found remaining in your room" he hands me the small brown box. I ponder at it, wondering where i got it from.

The doctor leaves me alone once again in the ambulance. I decide to open the box. I slowly take the lock off and lay it on the side. i carefully open the lid to find tons of pictures and an envelope, very fancy writing says 'July'. I pick up the envelope and observe it very closely. I slowly open it, careful not to rip it. Inside is a letter.

Dear July,                                                                                                                                                                 Hello, You're now 14! I'm so happy! I wish I could see you and hug you one more time. You have to understand why I left you July, I never wanted to nor did I have a choice. Some people in this world, July are very unforgiving, ruthless people. Some wont take pity on a child, baby or even teenager, such as you. I don't want you to be near these people, or become one in fact. I wish i could protect you from these people, somehow i am. Right now, this very moment. I'm protecting you all i can. My name is Lilly, if you didn't know. I'm you're big sister.  I'm 23 now and took care of you when you were six. That scar you have on your stomach, i know who gave it too you and want revenge. I couldn't protect you from that and i am very sorry. Just know, i left for a good reason. I gave my life up for yours, so you could be happy. I gave myself away not caring what happens to me, as long as your safe with Aunt Penny. I probably wont ever see you again, but if we do... I wont be the same girl. I left pictures of me and you in here, when you were little. I also left one of me.                             

                                                                                            Love, Lilly