If Not Now, When? // Book 1

Chapter 26: Mar 24

Chapter 26: March 24

I was standing just outside Flinders Street station, waiting for my parents to pick me up. I was playing around with my phone.

I hear a crash.

I look up to see a silver Holden Astra and a dark blue Subaru Impreza, smoke in the air, both cars wrecked beyond repair. I see 3 people, one attempting to escape her car. The other two, unmoving, fire trucks and ambulances racing to their attention. They were pulled out of the car, I could identify them as my parents. Paramedics ran a tests, did CPR, but nothing happened.

One of them walked over.

"I'm sorry, your parents are dead..." The voice echoed.

--

"Miss Amiri, could you come with me, please?"

I was being shoved into a car. We arrived at a building that looked old and broken. Dozens of kids walking around, they all looked miserable. I spotted Shannon walking among them, but not with his usual, happy but snarky personality. No, he was crying with the kids.

Why was I here? Don't keep me here.

I'm sure I can survive by myself.

No! What are you doing? Stop! No! Take me back!

"Miss Amiri, please, co-operate with us."

NO! Take me back to Sheldon, Livia, anyone, anywhere but here!

They dragged me into the building, forcing me into a tiny room with nothing but clothes and a bed. As soon as they closed the door, I smashed the window and jumped out.

--

I woke up crying. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. What just happened? Tell me that was all a dream, I can't live like that.

(SHELDON'S POV)

It was around 5AM, and I could hear a faint crying coming from Michaela's room. I got up, grabbed my crutches and hobbled over to her bedroom. She was curled up in her blankets, sobbing into her pillow.

"Hey..." I sat on the end of her bed. "What happened?" I whispered.

"Just a bad dream..." She sniffed.

I shuffled closer. "Everything is going to be fine, we'll find a way to get through this."

"Nah... Shannon and I haven't got jobs yet, and it's only gotten harder, you need your parent's consent to get a job, and obviously, I don't have parents anymore..." She had a point, but we'll figure it out, I know we can.

"Look, maybe we can go around and ask if anyone's willing to give you guys a job."

"Maybe..." Something else was bothering her, I could see it clear as day.

"Micky, I know something else is wrong. Tell me."

She hesitated. "I... I don't know..."

"Michaela, you know you can tell me anything.."

"I don't know how to explain it..."

"Try your best, I'm sure I'll get it."

"I'm scared that I'm going to have to leave you... that they'll take us away to an orphanage, or I'll have to move away with my grandparents..."

"I won't let that happen, I promise..." I brought her in and kissed her forehead. "Hey, look at me, Micky..." I whispered. She looked up, her eyes were red and puffy.