Counting Up The Years (On Hold)

Four

{1}

Four

   Rubbing my eyes and stretching my tiny legs, I hopped out of my bed, eager to open the box of Lucky Charms cereal daddy had brought home from the store yesterday. He always brought home my favorite snacks when he went. Mother didn't.

My tiny stature was a disadvantage at times, as for bed was very tall for my small four-year-old body. Karson and Karrie came into my room, still in their Christmas pajamas they opened yesterday. Yesterday was Christmas Eve.

"Kami, Kami! Santa came last night!" They jumped up and down in delight. I was just excited to spend time with daddy.

"Really?" I asked, unaware of the toy truck below my feet. I stumbled over it and before I could catch my balance, fell on the floor. Hard. And down on another toy truck...

Blood seeped into the beige rug.

"Kami! Are you okay? Please be okay, sissy!" Karson yelled just before he screamed for Mommy to come help.

She ran into the room with a look of terror spread across her face, lifting me up into her warm, welcoming arms.

"Dear Kami, what happened?" She cradled me and inspected my injured arm.

Daddy came into the room and took me from Mother's arms, "we have to take her to the emergency room. I think her arm is broken."

-------

The waiting room was rather boring. The walls were a snow-white hue and the chairs were a boring navy blue. Mommy and Daddy went to go check us in, I assumed.

"I'm sorry for ruining your Christmas..." A tear rolled down my cheek as I looked into the joy-filled eyes of Karson and Karrie.

"You didn't ruin anything! We're sorry we didn't pick up after ourselves, right Karrie?"

"Yes, we are very sorry, Kami," Karrie grabbed my hand as if to say, 'everything is going to be okay.'

She was very wise in her old age. Her old age of seven. I looked up to her, just as I looked up to my eight-year-old idiot brother, Karson.

Daddy came back and sat down next to me, pulling me into his warm lap, his warm embrace, "the doctor said the wait won't be much longer, my dearest, Princess."

His nickname for me was always Princess.

A few minutes later, a young nurse called us to go down the hallway and into a room.

Several taps, x-rays, and gauze wraps later, I was sent home with a broken and bloodied arm.

-------

I watched as Karrie opened her Barbie house. The look of utter jubilance spread across her face like a wildfire. I was sitting on Daddy's lap again. Mommy handed me a beautifully wrapped present.

I read the top. To Kami, Love Daddy.

I tore the wrapping paper off and revealed a small box. I opened the box and took out the beautiful silver bracelet, placing it on my wrist.

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Not a bad first chapter, eh?

So the first several chapters will be various years leading up to the tragic event. So bare with me, and I'm sorry if you don't enjoy this book yet.

-L