Life's Spark

Chapter 2: Park Bench

I go back to the bench for the next little bit to watch the strange little girl. She lit something inside of me which i can not comprehend. She never approaches any of the other kids. She keeps to herself in a content way. Much time passes while I sit on the little red wooden bench that has begun to rot due to my constant presence. Fewer and fewer start to go to this specific park until it was only the little girl in the flower patch. 

Soon my presence has decayed the entire park. It unsettles the little humans and hushed whispers will fall as they pass it. For some reason however, I do not pay attention. I do not notice the fallen whispers, or the rotting park. Only the girl, who could now speak. I hear her call to her parents with glee when she finds an insect or a new flower. She has not approached me since the first time. However she will sneak a look at me once in a while which causes a small smile to form on my decayed face.

 I watch her look at the flowers as usual. Suddenly, I feel my presence needed somewhere. I get up to go do what I am here for when I realize it was here that I am needed. There is a chilly, hair raising wind. I look to the girl and my eyes turn from ash grey to obsidian. Her parents, voices raise to shouting and cursing. The little girl freezes and she looks towards them. She gets up and cautiously walks to them. The man's hand is raised, but the woman still looks at him fiercely. I can feel their raw emotions emitting off of them. The girl approaches them.

"Mommy.." She calls in a small calming tone. Her mother jumps at her voice. 

"Mia.." She whispers, The ferocity leaving her eyes. She crouches down and puts her hands on her small shoulders.

"Why don't you go pick me your favorite flower, okay?" She says with a small smile on her lips. I can tell she's faking it. Mia looks at her wistfully. She smiles a small kind smile. With tears in her eyes she whispers back a feeble. 

"okay."  She walks away with her head down. 

I feel my time coming and go closer to the two. I see now that the woman has many bruises all over her. Purples, yellows, blues and blacks in blotchy patches. 'oh one of these again..' is all I can think in slight disgust. 

They start to yell again. The man raises a fist this time but instead of letting it hover, strikes down onto her stomach. I could now smell spirits drenching him and saw the fire and craze in his eyes. I stand there still as another punch is landed on her this time harder. She lets out a yelp and tries to block the next one that was aimed at her face. After three more punches she crumples to the ground. Of course in stead of being done, the man now starts to kick her as he screams in a pure blind fury. I see movement in the corner of my vision and turn to see Mia running towards her mother, tears streaking her face. I panic, making my staff appear I hold her back with it. I make sure I don't touch her. She looks at me pleadingly.

"I am here for a reason and I think you know what one." I say solemnly. More tears stream down her face. The man stops kicking. Horror sinks into his face as he realizes what he has done. He sprints away. 

"Typical cowardly human" I scoff. I put the staff done and Mia scurries to her mother. She does not break down, but instead comforts her mother. She sits beside her and place her head in her lap. Stroking her hair and shushing her mothers whimpers she looks at me.

"She doesn't deserve to suffer." She says in a calm and quiet voice. I nod my head to her, crouch down and touch the woman's forehead. Her whimpers cease as her breathing stops and her eyes flutter shut. 

She is at peace now.