Raindrop [✅]

Part 4

It was so hot that I could feel sweats ran in rivulet down my oily face down to my collarbones. I wanted to wipe them off my face but my hands were occupied by garlands of jasmines.

Today marked the third month of our arrival at Phnom Penh City. After we lost all our money, mom figured out a way to make money after seeing some kids selling flowers along the street.
"We won't be starving here." she confidently said.

I did not know how or where she had gotten these garlands of jasmines from. All I knew was that it was now my job to sell them and made money. With the little money we earned from this, we could prolong our life until now.

Mom and I decided to forget about our past completely that we would not think about it anymore under any circumstances. It was not mom's intention to kill dad. That night he came home very drunk and started to break everything he could find in the house. Mom got up to stop him only to get slapped and hit back. Dad kept hitting her until she couldn't get up and had to crawl to avoid being kicked. Then, she saw pieces of broken glasses near her. She picked up the largest one and held it in front of her to defend herself, but dad did not see it. He stepped in too close that when mom turned around with the broken glass, it pieced his heart. He collapsed and died immediately. Mom was panic. She could have just turned to the police but she feared no one would be taking care of us. The orphanage in our province was closed down recently due to the lack of funds. Therefore, she decided to take us and ran away to the most crowded place in our country in the hope of starting a new life.

I was sitting on a linear rows of stones in the middle of the street, and dwelling on my dad's story that I didn't hear a car honking. I turned my head to the source of the sound and realized the honking was for me.

He must be wanting to buy my flowers, I thought to myself.

I scurried towards the black car without noticing a motor driving nearby. I fell down as I listened to the motor's driver turned his head back and shouted something at me about not watching my way. I stood up and dusted my pants with my free hand and ran towards the black car again. I was happy that he bought two garlands of jasmine. I walked back to my seat as the traffic light had switched back to green. I had to wait for the light to turn red and walked from cars to cars asking them to buy the flowers. When I sat back down, I realized that the sun was no longer presented. Not many minutes passed by, a rainstorm took over.

According to the weather forecast, there shouldn't have been any rain today. I did not understand why the rainstorm swept over without any precautious signs like drizzle or strong winds first. All the other florists but me ran toward the shelters. I still needed to sell my flowers since many are still left, so I remained at my post. Then, I saw my mom returned from buying some snacks with my baby brother in her arm. She waved her hand to call out for me from the other side of the street.

Smiling, I ran to her. Then, I saw my mom's face turned white in horror. She ran towards me as she kept shouting something I couldn't hear due to the downpour.

Afterwards. I couldn't remember anything else except seeing two headlights coming towards me. The next thing I knew, I was swept off my feet and fell down with a thud on the wet street, body filled in agony. A few steps in front of me, I saw my brother and mother lying in a pool of blood. I crawled toward them crying. My mother put her hand in her pants, and when I reached her, she handed something small but shiny to me.

"Keep it safe." She was gapping for air as she spoke. I took the ring and closed my palm tightly into a fist. I nodded my head in understanding. She then mouthed I love you before her head collapsed back to the road. I tried to open my mouth and shouted her name but nothing came out as I too was swallowed by the darkness.