"Run! Go! Protect yourselves!"
"No daddy, I don't want to leave you. You'll die."
"Daniel, no matter what happens, remember I love you."
"Daddy don't go...."
And he disappeared into the darkness of the shredding home, the home we hoped to keep forever. I couldn't bear the heat anymore, and didn't know what I would do if the flames touched me, so I ran. I ran as fast as my tiny legs could take me, with tears streaming down my tender infant cheeks.
Up ahead I spot my mother cowering in the corner of our backyard, furthest from the house. Only now do I wish I had hidden my face in her shoulder like a normal scared child would. I wish I didn't sit and watch my own childhood home burn and erupt in ashes before me.
We waited for hours, until the rain swept the destruction away. My father never emerged from the embers.
~*~
"Dan, you need to follow me."
Of course I listened to the doctor, and wandered beside her down a long and empty hallway. We ended at a small and dark office, with a black couch on the far left, surrounded by young patients' artworks.
She pointed at the sofa, implying that I sit. I did, and she followed.
The doctor didn't talk for a while, but looked despairingly into my own teary eyes.
She placed her hand softly on my shoulder, and began to speak.
"I'm so sorry, Dan. Something terrible has happened to your mother." She stated, as a small tear slid down her face.
"Is she sick, miss?" I asked, worried. "Is my mummy ill?"
"I'm so sorry, Dan." She repeated, "You're mother's breathing was blocked by the smoke." She took a long pause, and exhaled exaggeratedly.
"Your mummy is dead."
That is the last thing I heard from that doctor. After I heard of my mother's passing, I ran as far away as I possibly could, ending up way out on a street I didn't know the name of, in a suburb I'd never visited. The houses were worn, and the streets were empty. The only thing that seemed slightly welcome was that small little park on the corner. It was the only place growing green grass, and it had one little daisy. Just one.
That park was where I was to live from then on. It had a little blue slide, and a set of two swings. How I longed for the day someone would accompany me on that other swing.
Until that day came.
She was small, but slightly taller than me. She had a light brown bob sitting just below her ears, and a shiny star necklace around her neck. Being six at the time, I didn't know how to approach her, so I allowed her to approach me if she wished. I felt as though she wouldn't, that she would come and then go again, but I was wrong. I sat myself on my swing again, and she placed herself on the other one. She watched me for a few minutes, which was uncomfortable for me. She seemed confused.
"What are you doing here?" She finally spoke, her voice was coarse, but sweet.
I didn't reply.
"Are you okay? Are your parents with you?"
Parents.
The word stung like a thousand knives, and I couldn't help a tear trickle from my eye.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry..." She instantly looked at me with condolence and worry. "Come with me."
For once, I am glad I did follow that strange girl. She took me to my first home since the incident, where I lived for only a year. That year was hard for me, but I had a home. It almost felt as I had two, including the child services office. I knew every staff member. My favourite was Jolie, a humble old lady who offered me sweets and random stationary every time we met.
And then I moved on, to the next family. The next home.
Heyyyyy guys. Ok so this is obviously an authors note....
What do you guys think?? I sort of like it, if I'm allowed to say that about my own work. Anyway, this is actually my longest chapter so far out of alllllll of my stories (15-3-17) at 718 wordddddddddddddddddddderinos.
Ok I'll stop talking sh!t, bye!
