In My Life

Two: Thunderstorm

Dawn was only five when

she found out her father had died in the war.

Like any child who lost a loved one, she was heartbroken. It took her months to really adjust to not having a father. She was over it by the age of six. Her mother had to work more often. Dawn's aunts usually took care of her while Mother was working. Mother worked late hours but her sisters didn't mind. After all, they lived right across the street, so it wasn't a pain to get there and take care of Dawn. Dawn's aunts adored her anyway. Her baby face resulted in everyone within the family calling her "Baby Dawn". She wasn't fond of the nickname, but got used to it.

An even shorter nickname was just "Baby". 

Two years had slipped away. 

"What's your name?" The honey-brown haired girl once asked, while Dawn was halfway through the age of seven.

"Dawn. Yours?"

Lizzy smiled, "I'm Lizzy."

The two shook hands and from then on became inseparable.

They would read books to one another and braid their hair. The normal things little girls did.

It was late April and Liverpool decided to pour buckets of rain and shoot out flashes of lightning bolts from the sky along with the sound of mean thunder. 

Dawn didn't mind though. She was rather excited. Although Lizzy refused to go out and play in the puddles.

"Why not?" Dawn asked, quite irritated.

"I'm scared.." Lizzy replied hesitantly, as thunder boomed again. 

Wind howled.

"Oh stop it! It's not that bad! We can stomp around in the puddles! It'll be great!" Dawn argued.

"It's too much!" Lizzy cried.

"Pleeeeease," Dawn coaxed.

No luck, Lizzy still refused, shaking her head no violently.

Argg! 

Dawn was frustrated. Regardless, she was too fed up with Lizzy to be around her. So why not just go outside alone? Dawn would go to the playground, she decided. She loved this playground.

The swings were wet, but that was okay. Dawn wasn't about to let a wet swing ruin her day. She sat down. It was uncomfortable for a few seconds, but she got used to it. By now it was only drizzling and things were starting to clear up. 

I bet Lizzy wishes she came with me, Dawn thought with a smug smirk on her face.

Dawn suddenly noticed something on the playground that she had never tried before.

A slide.

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things, that went before.
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life, I love you more.
In my life, I love you more.