eks Ea

st nights she was able to have dreamless sleep but some night

ummer sun that day. She saw herself, a bright-eyed seven-year-old, skipping alongside her father, Owen, her h

d having friends your age, Kristen," Owen had

it will just be Daddy the her

she was a sweet child and as

en chimed in, her vo

" It's Aunt Evelyn, Berry," he corrected

es not like feeling old," Kristen protested, r

old?" Owen brought his voice

ls out to her aunt." Aunt Kris

, no one could stop the glee that r

Evelyn?" Owen respo

her in the air as she squealed with delight before gently setting he

blond lady, was looking at t

, before Owen got married and had Kristen. Kristen's mom had developed co

present as a mother f

d, Kristen held on to her daddy, just very pleased

turned dark as he noticed the approaching vehicles afar. Noting the change in

?" she asked, her voic

sten, how about we play a game? Hide and see

efore she bounced off eagerly to find the perfect hiding

watched a scene unfold before her. Men in dark suits came down from cars that had sudde

s about to come but she couldn't wake up

words of the men talking to Owen but could barely hear anything. S

tay quiet," she muttered urgentl

thing, even if y

struggled with her sheets, she didn't want to se

it ha

blast. Kristen's heart pounded fast as she clung to Evelyn, her little mind spinning

reaths shallow and ragged. They waited, silently hoping no one would come looking f

before she made her move. With urgent but shaky hands, she seized Kr

rgently, her voice slightly abov

yn's grip. They moved quickly and quietly through the path without

fe for Kristen, for now. Once inside, Kristen watched wide-eyed as her aunt packed some

velyn?" Kristen asked, sh

? Is he sick? I

ons, but she forced a reassuring smile, to hide her

dy is fine, baby" she finally sai

le adventure, just you and me. Ev

her small car, her hands shaking slig

l for me, Kristen," she said, her

es widened i

started to protest but Evel

know...but we

e showed how her little self knew th

d watched as she stole a final glance at the path leading ba

t she still couldn't wake up, she

the angels like Mommy?" S

e Kristen knew her daddy was dead. With

d with questions, she tried to think

Owen dead? No one knew about Kristen

ngerous and that is why they didn't compl

ath, but for now, Kristen's existence had to remain a secret. Glancing a

her voice thick with emotion. "We'll

ashed in Evelyn's mind. She was alive and Evelyn was the on

ly "You bastard, I should have l

rom Los Angeles to keep Kristen safe and t

else to do she just wanted to cry. Evelyn looked at her and tried

opposite direction coming at them with

as

ran into the room, her eyes wide with a knowing look. She

. Evelyn hugged and kissed her. Today, she was going to tell her the trut

ay, Kristen."

as t