The Beginning of the End.

Chapter 2

" I need you still, " I looked up from my hands and into the gray sky. I wanted an answer, I wanted him to say something. Anything. I got up from my spot slowly and clutched my ribs. Ouch. But if I really thing about it, I try to welcome the pain as a beautiful distraction. I closed and locked the door, the key felt very heavy to me. I wanted to throw it away, just forget I ever had a dad. I immediately take away those dark thoughts. No. I still need him, person or memory.

"Dawn!" I hear David's little feet padding along on the ground. He is 8 now. But still so little to me, my little brother is a spitting image of my dad and he makes me feel like there is a hole in my chest. Can I see him as David? Or dad?

" Yea? I'm coming in just a second," I slowly make my way into the house. As soon as I make it to the door David's shining smile is there to greet me.

" Can you make me breakfast?" He has his arms behind him and rocks back on his feet.

" Yea, come on buddy" I smile back at him, he acts so innocent. But he really is a devil.

I end up making him 2 dippy eggs and some toast. He smiles at the smell, but then I see a look cross his face. A sad expression plagues him.

" I miss daddy..." he days in the smallest voice possible. Oh, kiddo, me too.

" David, think of it like this. He wanted to take a really long break from work. So he went to this beautiful place called Heaven, one day kiddo you get to go there. But not right now, you have a bunch of stuff to do before you get that vacation. Okay?"

" He should have waited, I wanted to give him something. He would have loved it.." he stares down at his fingers. I pick them up and kiss them.

" Get eating!" I smile brightly, keeping up the facade. I want to agree with him and be sad. But that's just not how it works.

David finishes his eggs while I clean the pan. The soap washing away the egg with ease, at least this is easy. I sigh, to heavily I guess because David's hand is in mine and he is dragging me away from the sink. " C'mon, I wanna show you something. It's awesome!" David is concentrated on bringing me up the stairs. I hold my breath so I won't wince, I wouldn't want to dicourage him. " Okay, okay. I am coming. Just slow down." I ask and he giggles and then slows down, ah that is much better.

He leads me up the stairs towards my room. He puts his finger up to his mouth to make me quiet. I guess my wheezing is pretty annoying. He puts his small hands on the door and pushes it open. He drags me in and immediatly I see 2 cold cups coffee and a picture. I gasp as I look at it. " David, what is this?"

"We can get through this together, Dawn. We can have coffee together now. Even though it's gross," His face sours as he says the last part. But this little boy is helping me too.

"Oh, David! Come here, you nut," My smile is at full blast and then I see the picture. It's 3 guns. A pistol, an AK-47, and a shotgun. I hold him in my arms and gasp when I see it. What the hell?

"Look, those guns can be our guns. Not real ones. Fake ones. So we never have to hurt ourselves with the real ones," He frowns when he sees my expression.

" So, you don't like guns do you?" I whisper.

" I don't know. I just want to make you happy," He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

" I am. It's awesome. Maybe we can go hang it in Dad's.. I mean my garage,"

" Okay, when I get home from school?" He hugs me tightly before running down the stairs and into my mom's room.

I keep looking at the picture of the guns. I just don't know what to make of it. Should I even corrupt the poor boy with guns. My mind run to when I was a little girl, my dad was showing me how to find a moose. Follow the tracks and the poop. Check the nests for fresh warmth. Then slowly make your way and don't spook them. I was too excited to shoot my first moose, it took 3 tries. My dad would laugh and say something along the lines of "good one, baby. The moose is just to smart for a gun. You will get em next time!" And his encouraging smile and that pat on the back. Then I got my first moose and we celebrated so loudly we didn't find another moose in the area that day. I stop and feel a tear roll down my cheek, the warmth spreading and then dripping of my chin. I wipe it away and smile. Those were good times, don't be sad. At least he was there.

"Dawn, we are off. David and Tyler are coming with me. So can you wave the bus when it comes by?" My mother's sweet voice carries me back to the here and now.

"Yea, I love you." My voice cracks from my very recent crying. I clear my throat and walk down stairs to say goodbye. But I'm too late they left already, the car pulling out of the drive. God I need these ribs to heal. I'm too slow, I have to start my cardio training before the Moose Season starts.

So I spend my day vegging. It's nice to sit and stare at a TV. Even though I have stuff to do, Im not really interested in spending my day any different. Clicking channel to channel. And then I see it. The news is broadcasting a deviation in my city. When why eyes finally adjust, my jaw drops. What?