A World Alone

Prologue

Late summer of 1983 - Laurence, Kansas

On a sunny afternoon, while I was playing in the garden, Dean suddenly appeared from behind the fence. He was running with a big bucket and a little butterfly net in his hands. He smiled and showed me the big blue butterfly he had just caught. I asked him where he found it, and he said; 

-"Near my garden, wanna come catch one?"

-"Yes", I enthusiastically replied.

An hour later, Dean had caught 12 butterflies, and I still hadn't found any, and it made me upset because I wanted one like Dean. I didn't want to hunt them anymore because I knew I couldn't get one. I wanted to go home and cry with Mr Bear, my teddy bear. I heard Dean catch his 13th butterfly and look at me with a big smile, but instead of going on another butterfly hunt, this time he ran towards me, with his bucket full.

-"I know you don't have one, but you can have mine if you want", he said.

I looked him in the eyes and smiled. He opened the little door of his bucket and picked one of the small butterflies in his hands. Suddenly, his bucket fell out of his hands, and all the butterflies flew away. He sat down on the grass and cried. I sat next to him and said;

-"You still have this one. You can keep it. I don't mind."

He took the butterfly and put it back in his bucket. It seemed to cheer him up because he grabbed his net and ran back towards the garden. He tried to catch a lot of butterflies at the same time, but it never worked.

Shortly after, his mom called dinner time. Dean ran to his house, and I stayed in the garden, knowing I had to go back home. His dad went inside as Dean passed the door, and as I was about to go home, I heard him call my name.

-"Ashley, come, it's dinner time for you too."

-"Come, Ash", said Dean.

Mrs Winchester had cooked Mac and Cheese with sausages for Dean and me, which was delicious, but we knew that the dessert was even better. It was homemade apple pie, and Dean's mom gave us a big slice. His dad went to the kitchen and came back with ice cream. We were so excited that Dean's parents told us to calm down if we wanted any. Sammy, Dean's brother, was too young to eat some, so Dean asked for his share, and I also asked for it, which made Mr and Mrs Winchester laugh. They handed us both another ball of ice cream, and we looked at each other excited.

Later in the evening, we watched an episode of Sesame Street. My favourite character is Cookie Monster because I love cookies too. Dean's mom gave us some popcorn, and Dean ate all the chocolate ones, but it didn't bother me because I had all the caramel ones. His parents went to the kitchen, talking while we continued to watch the episode.

When it was over, I overheard my parents talking with the Winchesters, and we heard them say that Dean and I were spending too much time together. To which the Winchesters disapproved and said that Dean had never been happier. I looked at Dean, and he was sad. I was too because he's my best friend and I have fun playing with him and watching Sesame Street. I'm not allowed to watch anything at home because dad is always watching TV.

Shortly after, I heard dad scream my name, so I said goodnight to the Winchester, and then my parents brought me back home. Mom and Dad were arguing on the way home about something, and I didn't know what it was about, but I knew it was something terrible. They told me not to go back to Dean's house, or I'd be in serious trouble. I didn't know why. I wanted to see Dean and Sammy again.

I fell asleep quickly, and I can assure you that my dreams were awesome. Dean and I fought a big dragon who was breathing fire because he was guarding a mountain of chocolate chip cookies and apple pie.

Halloween 1983 - Laurence, Kansas

Mom had bought me a witch costume to go trick-or-treating. It was pretty, and mom took a lot of pictures in front of the house with me and my broomstick.

- "Ashley. Ash", was screaming Dean.

He was with his parents, dressed as a cowboy with his little brother Sam in the cart next to him equally dressed as a cowboy. His parents, dressed as vampires, had a big camera in their hands. They waved at us.

-"Mom, can I go trick-o-treat with Dean?"

Mom looked at Dad, who was on his phone watching football on the porch, and he agreed.

-"We'll finally have some free time". "John. Mary. Can Ashley go with you trick-or-treating", shouted my mom.

-"Of course", responded the Winchester family.

Mom gave me my Halloween bag, and I ran towards them. Dean's dad took my bag and put it in the cart with Sammy.

-"Off we go kids", he said.

Dean and I grabbed each other's hands and went to get candies. His parents followed us and sometimes reminded us to stay close.

We ended up with three huge bags of candies, and Dean's parents ended up with us on their back since we couldn't walk anymore, and Sammy was fast asleep in the cart.

November 2nd, 1983, at night - Laurence, Kansas

-"WAKE UP ASHLEY", screamed my parents.

I woke up in a pure panic, and from then on, everything happened so fast.

They picked me up and ran down the stairs. As we exited through the front door, I saw Dean's house on fire, and the smell kicked in. The firefighters were already there and everyone in the neighbourhood too. No one knew what happened.

We walked towards the front of the crowd to ask for more information. Mom was talking to one of her friends and dad to the cops. No one knew what caused the fire. People were whispering, and I couldn't hear them. I clutched my dad's pants, and he pushed me aside. I was slightly crying. We started walking out of the crowd when dad suddenly changed his direction and went to Dean, his dad and his brother who were sitting on the Impala's trunk. They seemed sad, but where was Mrs Winchester?

-"Dean", I screamed as dad grabbed me in his arms to stop me from going.

-"Where's Mary", he asked Dean's dad.

Dad pulled me tighter to his chest, and it hit me. I knew something terrible had happened to her.

The night was long, and I ended up asleep on my dad's shoulder. When I woke up the next morning, the Winchester's were gone. Dean had left me. Without a goodbye.