Shattered

Part of Ch.1)

The sky was of a grey misty blue. The clouds leaving a thin layer of white everywhere you turned as small fragments of white ice fell from the sky to the earth. It was a silent drive up in the mountain tops. Nine year old Etsumi, buckled in safe and sound in the back seat of the car, stared out the foggy window. She wiped her right hand ,covered in her red mittens, against the chilled glass. Removing of what ever mist from the window she can so that she can look out into the Wonderland of white. Her blue violet optics shimmered in delight of such a sight that only appeared every once a year.

Etsumi watched as the snow falled. A small chippy smile curved at the corners of Etsumi's lips in the expression of joy that only a young child can muse. Her eyes scanned left and right in the window watching as the faint images of snow covered trees went by at the speed, of what appeared to her, as light. Her peach toned chubby cheeks were consumed easily with a pink flush that sent heat to her facial features. She sat up in her seat, pressing against the window as she reached around to try and unbuckle herself from her seat. "Mommy! Mommy look! It's snowing some more!" She shouts in excitement.

Etsumi continued to call to her mother as moments went by with no answer. She had finally gotten herself unbuckled from her seat belt as she stood to her feet in the car. She turned to the drivers seat, placing her hands on both shoulders of the seat, peaking to the right as she looked over to her mother wanting to share the same joy. "Mommy did you see! Its-"

Etsumi's mother pressed hard onto the breaks, the screeching of the cars tires startled Etsumi as she gasped in shock, her small body being thrown forward before pushed back into the back onto her side. She shivered lightly, stunned from all the rushing fear. She squinted her eyes shut, piercing her lips tight as she held in her urge to cry out in pain. Wanting Mommy to come into the back seat and hold her in comfort. The corner of her eyes stung as her tear ducks overflowed. Again, she refused to cry out because she knew that it was all her fault. Only left alone in the back seat to groan faintly.

"Put your seat belt back on Etsumi. And sit back. Be quiet." Etsumi's mother nearly whispered the words that escaped her throat. Her tone raspy as if she had her throat bound with a noose. Etsumi slowly yet surely sat up from her side onto her bottom, scooting to where she had first seated herself. She grabbed the seat belt, pulling it forward to wrap around her as she buckled it safely in. "Yes mommy." She said silently not wanting to be a nuisance as she glanced down at her brown fluffy fur boots. Kicking her feet weakly left and right as she wiped her eyes with her right hand before looking into the rear view mirror. Her mother had stared off straight ahead. She hadn't made eye contact with her own mother for a while now. To Etsumi, it felt like her very whole childhood.

Her mother continued with the drive. Both of them in dead silence. Even though Etsumi couldn't make eye contact with the woman who had given birth to her, she had always found herself watching her mother change. She could tell that her skin tone was fading. And so was the life in her eyes. That sandy peach color had turned as pale as the snow that fell in the front mirror as they drove. The Lavender of her mother's eyes had dulled down to a pale purple shade. Bags underneath those eyes as if she hadn't slept in years. As if this woman who meant so much to her, the one she trusted her very life to, had already passed her prime. Mommy was already gone. And she didn't seem like she wanted to come back.

Moments after, which seemed like only seconds to Etsumi, went by, the car came to a halt.

Etsumi looked away from the mirror as she show her head to the window besides her. 'Where are we?' Etsumi thought to herself remaining silent. Etsumi remained seated, but darted her head left and right in shameful curiosity. She adjusted the red scarf around her neck to lift up over her nose as she assumed they were both getting out of the car. She turned to her mother in hopes of it being alright if she unbuckled her seat belt. Etsumi's mother gazed over at Etsumi. Not looking into the child's eyes, but through her, nodding her head as if a sign that it was alright to move.

Etsumi had met her faith that very moment she stepped out of the car did not appear to be her safety zone, but was certainly the last of any sight of her mother.