Scars & Shadows

the birthday that

telling Mommy that her pretending to be sad would never h

ourney because she had to work. I put my arms around Daddy and started laughing uncontrollably, all th

awake and stared at my customized Disney princess calendar, ge

vorite hot chocolate. When I was ready, Mommy and I waited in the hallway for Daddy to carry our suitcase downstairs. I

to meet Mickey and Mini

ame to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, causing a loud rumbling laughter to f

nd slid passed me onto the porc

mile the same unfettered grin she always let slip around Daddy, she grinned at him with the all too famili

er attention, I pulled at

y tearing her husband's bright, pal

nelt and let her arms wrap a

fter your daddy. Sometimes he f

a-baby tell your Mommy t

chestnut curls shifted upon his forehead and his shirt rippled in a breeze gentler than a feather's kiss. He had

kids anymo

y smile with ma

as Daddy buried his face in her pale blonde hair and sank his

eyes gleamed from the tangle of

rn Seraph

d my sides and nec

cried frantically as I was lifted off the gro

errupted by a second voice,

crying and gasping for air, and then I c

id, shoving Daddy away and

aughing at the constipated appearance and crossed golden eyes; nonetheless, I couldn't hel

Lucy. It's Serap

a bone-crushing embrace, and

expect us to act like old people, e

ghtly till he was facing her at eye level. A somb

you'll be oka

r attention from his and

nce. "Don't worry about me

t, but I screamed as soon as his lips touched hers

mage burned into my conscious

put up with Tyrone's kisses. I mean, the

al brother. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for even bringing out the Valentine's card my dad sent me se

Mommy's waist and clapped his hands tog

ing. Daddy bent over and inclined his head to the left, staring

ecret about bein

ye, pulled into those pools of molten gold la

is for

rn," before getting to his full height. "There's never a time or place for true love.

ng tears from her eyes. He had a silly, melancholy smile on his lips. I t

n again, I stared a

Hu

lowing me to get into the passen

the flimsy peach clouds speckled with purple. It hit me again, this time with a fri

were finally able to finance the trip

belt was securely fastened before giving me one last kiss on my cheek. She darted over to Daddy's window

elt on and his eyes on the road. We both know how h

ting eyes, I chuckled h

fine. It's only a six-hour drive," while Mommy fussed o

ave the mental capabilities of a teenager? You're reckless Tom," she said. "Just remember to stay safe and mak

e, "Okay Mom," as she planted o

e you,

ran his palm over her c

you too

because they were doing that cutesy "st

r's messy hair one more look and memorized it as she brushed her finge

and your father. I l

e you t

s Daddy pulled out of the d

na, make sure you eat all the

ould still hear her yelling in the background. I opened my hair and let the wind tousle my c

e top of my lungs. While I vanished into the cramped bathroom, Daddy remained in the store. I was relieved to see a pair of glassy brown eye

s carefree smile, which immediately put me at ease. I gasped as I turned the price tag over. Even with a bear so great, Dad

lvin Davis. The Daviss were extremely wealthy and lived in a castle in contrast to our s

behind, "You want

earing his voice. As we made our way back to the car, he raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. I took a

my eyes wide with shock. "

seen in the store, and my mouth fell open. I

ncess. Your daddy knows you a lot better

into his seat, buckled up, and we drove away onc

e you," I said

ight eyes met mine a

u more Sera

io, feeling at ease. Daddy spared me a glance, but his eyes shone with their customary brilliance, and I couldn't help but smile at the warm smile that

ce. My lips continued to move, silently working, but all I c

ir sockets. I was curious about what he was saying when I saw his face co

RAPH

to reflect. The warning trumpet was an unp

air, and my cries were silenced by the seat belt digging into my chest. The bell kept blaring, sounding almost as loud as my heart pounding. My head suffered many cuts from the jagged glass as

at, silen

ion. I let out a sigh of relief only after realizing that my eyelids were closed. Suddenly, they

flickering through everyt

djusting to what had just happened. A sharp cry from my throat, relea

t belt and forgetting that we were

I fell toward gravity, hitting my head on the roof in agonizing pain.

Y, WAK

of his body. His contorted limbs within the car door made me sick to my stomach since I could not tell

of heat. By now the whole car was bathed in an odd orange gl

g the car's backseats and creeping down the windows. As they battled their way toward us

WAKE UP!

clung to my lungs, choking me. Severe tears poured down my cheeks, and

was no

as his whole left side—including the seat be

going to

SOMEBODY CALL 911!" fro

lass embedded itself in my skin. I hardly had time to register the shock of the throng of people observing me, including the inebriated lorry driver whose tummy was bulging out of his beer-stain

e's alive!" exc

a big shard of broken glass. I was blinded and my eyes were watering scarlet tea

om outside, "SHE'S GONE BACK

the heat from the flames made me want to back away from the burning car, but I gripped the glass harder and worked more quickly. As blood poured

I screamed in agony as the flames sprang onto my bare a

and moved backward, watching in terror as the f

ADDY! NO!

ly as my dear father vanished beneath bursts of orange, red, and yellow. I ignored the approaching sirens that screeched

daddy, daddy," as I tried to reach int

Even though I knew it wouldn't be okay, I tried

last time, and murmured, "Daddy, we're going to

he car, turning it into a furnace throughout. I flinched from the intense heat

the flames, and my father when all of a

legs at the firefighter, causing him

worry little girl," as her gent

save my Daddy!

she started the agonizi

DADDYYY!" before giving in and allow

e's rear, dispelling the haze that was taking over my thoughts. As she kept r

and over again, pale blue eyes

fter you

e her colleagues jabbed and prodded at me, causing severe pain that made me cry even harder. I glanced up at her compassionat

Make it stop!

, her brown eyes enlarged slightl

ce, "Make it stop, make

ontinued to s

, make i