Silent Emotions

16. The Day

The day started out sunny and vibrant. Masking the unforseen disaster about to happen at a local diner. There were many customers all ages alike, enjoying their pies. And as per usual, the little princess of the diner had her own little apron as she ventured around in her second home.

The diner belonged to her mother and so she has spent numerous days 'helping' out in her own ways. If there were people requesting for a bottle of syrup, she'd dart across the room to do the task.

"Daddy!" She squealed as her father lifts her up in the air bidding her goodbye for the day. He was known to be a business man of sorts-- or at least that's what they tell the young girl. They couldn't possibly reveal the true gruesome details of his work to a mere child.

"I'll see you tomorrow okay? Be good for mommy," he playfully warned. With a kiss on the forehead, she merrily skips away. Her blonde braids bouncing every step of the way.

"Come back soon," the mother pulls her husband by his tie. Bidding him goodbye with a gentle kiss. A look of seriousness in her eyes masked by a playful grin. The couple both knew the danger of this certain occupation tends to bring into their lives. But they made peace with it and learned how to cope with said fact.

"Emma go ahead and finish your drawing in the kitchen," Aisha orders with a stern tone. The little girl nods enthusiastically, oblivious to her surroundings. As they venture back into the kitchen, a lunatic draws near.

Emma proudly presents her obscure drawing to her aunt Tessa. While her mother never introduced her little one to blood family, Emma got plenty of aunts and uncles her mother has befriended over the years. And one of them was Tessa. Her aunt Tessa might have a vulgar mouth but in her eyes, she was the best. She loved her aunt Tessa.

"Do the voice," she claps with glee emitting from her eyes. Tessa clears her throat and looked for the closest thing to grab as a pretend mic-- a fork. Emma's eyes sparkled as she watches her aunt do the silliest announcer voice. Much like ones in wrestling.

"And in this corner, we have Emma Lynn Voss' drawing! Wow! Such lines! Such form! No one in history has ever successfully done something with such talent!"

The child erupts in warm giggles bringing her aunt to a pause. Then all of a sudden, a loud gunshot pierced through the air. Tessa instinctively dove over Emma to protect her. While everyone else dropped what they were doing and found refuge elsewhere. Emma was confused when her aunt handed her to a friend while both her and her mom talked.

She didn't understand what the words cassualty, lunatic, and gloc meant.

All she knew was that one second she was cheerfully messing around with her aunt, and the next she's screaming for her mother. In just a blink of an eye she found herself strapped in the back seat of her aunt's car. Next to Eddie. A kid aunt Tessa told her to befriend. Although she doesn't like him sometimes because of his mean attitude.

Aunt Tessa distracts the children with a game she made on the spot. Observe something on the road and make them guess by saying the opposite. Emma did so, knowing her parents have told her to always be on her best behavior. She's had rebellious phases over the years but she doesn't like disappointing her mother.

While the children were distracted, the fact remains. Tessa had an old lover who decided to haunt her to this day. He didn't like the fact that she has moved on after leaving her to join the army. No, he had it in his mind that women should always obey men. And well, Tessa was nothing of the submissive sort.

Knowing full well how to disarm a situation with a crazy shooter, Aisha decided to confront the man while her friend takes her child to safety. She owes her friend that at least. Her past was riddled with a lot of drama and quite frankly, Tessa stayed loyal. Helped her through everything. It was the least Aisha could do.