Lemon Zest

Chapter 4

He coughs out, “Alright you win. You win!!!” she removes the knife and he puts his hand over the gash breathing out, “God, what has you all wired up?” His name is Mars, Maco’s older brother.
“Mars, you know it isn’t safe anymore. You need to watch when you try to catch me off guard,” Maco sighs out, “Just something happened today. That’s it, be gone now.” He stares at her with worriedness drowning in his eyes. He lets out a heavy sigh and heads for the door.
“Alright, sleep well. I’ll be watching out for you, just remember that. Okay?”
“Alright, alright mom. You do need to get some sleep this time.”
He looks at her with a smile forming at the creases of his mouth, “You know that is impossible with mom and dad always glaring down my back” He was the troublesome child they had. He looks out for his little sister like it is his job.
“Crap, I forgot they don’t trust you,” she sighs, “God, I wish they saw what I see in you” She stares at him with her eyes drowning in sadness. He pulls her close and pats her head. His eyes drown in a decision.
“I have a question,” he whispers in her ears.
“What is it?”
“If you could choose, would you die in place of our parents?”
“Wait why do you ask?” she asks tilting her head.
He looks away from her. “No reason. Anywho, you should get some rest. Goodnight.” She  stares at him with her mouth gaping but quickly shuts it. Her eyes burn with such wonder that only newborns have. She walks towards her bed and shoos him off. He walks away hurt clearly showing in his eyes. She plops down on her creaky old bed and lets out a long sigh. She removes the lighter from her sock as she takes her socks off. She takes off her skirt and replaces it with a pair of baggy shorts. She stares at herself in the broken mirror. Her nose is red from the night cold and her eyes ringed with black from being so tired. Her cheeks are drawn in from lack of food but her blond hair is in the same curly but neat fashion. She walks back to her bed and places the knife ,that she forgot was in her hand, down and it makes a soft clatter. She peaks outside of her room.
“Goodnight mom and dad. I’m heading off to sleep. Stay safe, please,” she pleads. Even though she is barely six, she has the mindset of a twenty year old.
Her parents echo back, “Goodnight dear, We’ll try!!” She lets out a soft sigh, walking back to her almost pitch black room. The candle softly whistles from side to side. She puts her abnormally small hand over the candle and it sizzles to a stop. She walks to her bed barely even bothered by the dark. She sits down and stares at the ground, her mind clouds.