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A late and rainy night,a five year old Lydia Matthews was sat in the backseat of her parents car,annoying the shit out of her older brother Paul.
"Lydia! Stop it!" Paul whined,pushing the young girl away. Lydia merely giggled in response,continuing to reach for the book the boy was holding.
"Kids,stop fighting!" Their father shouted at them.
"Sorry dad!" They said in unison,looking at each other and smiling,already forgetting about their little spat.
"You two are the best kids we could ask for" their mother said as she twisted in her seat to face the two.
"Mom-seatbelt" Paul said,attempting to put on a scolding tone
"Paul! Give me a break!" Their mom sighed playfully. Lydia giggled at Paul's attempt to discipline his own mother.
"Sorry mom,love you" paul chuckled,turning his attention back to his book.
"Love you too paul,and you aswell little lyd"
"Love you lots Mommy" the young girl beamed,playing with the ears of her stuffed rabbit. As her mom reached back to stroke her young daughters cheek,there was a sudden screech of brakes and flash of lights.
Before anyone could do anything to stop it,a car skidded across towards them,colliding on the right hand side. Their mother left out a shrill and haunting scream as the car flipped over,one that would stick with Lydia and Paul for the rest of their lives.
There was a loud scraping noise as the car slid across the highway. As it finally came to a stop,there was a moment of silence.
"Mom? Dad? Is everyone ok?" Paul called out timidly. He reached forward to tap his father on the shoulder,to no response. He then did the same to his mother,taking his hand away to see blood.
He didn't need to check if Lydia was still alive because he could hear her wailing beside him. He didn't know what to do. He just sat there in shock,unable to move.
Oh my god they're dead
Lydia continued to cry and scream next to him,her voice about to give out. He had to help her. He quickly undid his seatbelt,letting himself fall into the glass covered roof.
His knees were instantly serrated by the tiny pieces of glass. He didn't care. He needed to help her.
He proceeded to undo her seatbelt,carefully helping her out of her car seat. He kept her up in his arms,kicking one of the car windows in,getting the two of them out.
***
Everything had become a blur for Paul. The police came,as did the fire department and multiple ambulances. He was sitting in the back of one of the said ambulances,holding a sleeping,but still quivering,Lydia close to his chest.
The man who had survived in the other car was crying awfully loud behind them. He had lost his wife and kid. He was a wreck. He kept apologising to them and hugging Paul.
His mom and dad had been taken away in body bags. He still hadn't fully processed that they weren't coming back. He can only imagine how Lydia is feeling right now.
He looked down at the small shaking figure in his arms,leaning down to her ear.
"Lyd,I know you're sleeping right now" he whispered to her,voice shaking slightly "but I promise I'm gonna be here for you from now on. I'm never gonna leave you. Ever. Promise."
Lydia grunted sleepily in response. He smiled a little bit,tears still streaming down his face. Tears for this little girl who would have to grow up with no mom and dad. Tears for this little girl who he was gonna have to support.
