The night we met

Chapter 1

I sat on the bench of the piano with my father at my side as he sang "The Scientist" by Coldplay. I kept my gaze on his fingers touching the tiles of the piano with such gentleness. I looked up and his eyes were closed, I knew that when he closed his eyes he felt the music all over his body as I did. I asked myself why do we close our eyes when we sing, dream, cried or kissed? We close them just to let the fear disappear. Or maybe in that moment we don't need our eyes to see, we just close them to feel. My mother entered to the room and she was wearing a shift and shout navy blue dress that stopped above her knees. She looked beautiful with her light brown hair and brown eyes, I looked just like her but my hair was more darker. My mother stared at me and gave me a smile. She moved her gaze to my father who was dressed with a white silk shirt. Suddenly my father opened his eyes and smiled at my mother. I have always dreamed about having that same love with someone as they had. I always daydreamed about finding someone to love, we have done that at least once, its just an universal feeling that we all crave. My father finished the song and touched the last tile with gentleness. My mother started walking towards him and sat on his lap and then both stared at me.

"Ava, why don't you sing for us before we go to sleep?," My mom said.

I stood up suddenly feeling nervous because this song was always difficult for me to sing and have being practicing a few days ago. I knew I could do this. I just wanted to prove myself that I could, that's what I always did. The best things are found when we leave fear aside and we just take the risk. I always repeat that phrase in my head "risk it, you won't lose anything just for trying," and that has helped me always and still does. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. I started singing "hurt" by Christina Aguilera. I have been practicing it with both of my parents but every time I sang it I didn't reach the higher note. As I began singing I suddenly stopped. Someone was screaming downstairs. Then a gunshot was heard. My heart was pounding too fast that I couldn't move. I was in shock, I just stood still. My mother always talked to me since I was 10 years old that bad men always wanted our money. She taught me self defense when my father left, he didn't like the idea of me learning self defense because he knew I wouldn't need it since our house had 20 guards all around the area. I knew my parents didn't do bad stuff. I blinked and got back to reality when my mom grabbed my hand.

"Ava, listen to me. I need you to hide and don't come out until you hear me singing, do you understand?" She said.

I was shaking and my legs were trembling, what was happening????.

"Isabella go and hide with Ava right now!, I will distract them now...." My father said but was cut off.

Six men entered at the same time. They were tall and had an arrow tattoo on their finger. I suddenly realized we wouldn't make it out alive, I felt wet on my cheeks. I looked down and I had peed myself. No Ava, you need to be strong, don't let anyone see your own fear. No one, they will use it against you and see you weak. And I am not weak.

I'm not weak.