It’s my mom setting up the table! Before I get a chance to run to her and hug her, I hear “Yum, smells delicious! You outdid yourself dear”.

I turn to that voice and it’s my dad! Holding my baby brother. I begin to cry and my parents ask “What’s wrong honey?”

I mutter through my tears “I missed you all so much”.

They both look at each other and chuckle and my brother coos. My mom replies “Oh, honey you were only outside for 5 minutes” she smiles her sweet smile and continues “Did you find all the fire wood you need for the bonfire so that we can make s’mores?”

Instinctively I say yes, and then I begin to remember more. “Actually mom, can we do it in the fire pit inside? All of the sticks are kinda wet” I ask, and dad replies “that actually sounds much better hun, that way the house is warm for my cousin and his wife”.

For a moment I feel relieved and I smile and eat. Then the lights flicker and a storm hits outside. I look out the window and see a lightning strike a tree nearby. Fascinated by it I get my coat and go outside. It’s raining, but not pouring. As I make my way to the fire, I feel as if it is calling out to me, so I run to the fire and when I get there I am mesmerized by it. It’s as if it wants me to touch it. I reach out my hand and it’s almost as if I can hold it in my hand. A little heartbeat.

Then I hear my father calling for me. I turn around and face towards the cabin and lighting hits it. I see fire and smoke coming from the direction of the cabin. I walk to the cabin. Then I hear mom scream at dad to go get the baby. Then I start to run to the cabin and i see through the open front door that she goes to get the fire extinguisher but it’s stuck. I begin to run and yell mommy! Daddy! Another bolt hits and the cabin blows. The force of the explosion pushes me back and I fall. I open my eyes and all I see are chars.

I call out for mom. No answer.

I call out for dad. No answer.

I call out for my brother. No baby noises. I look around flames are still up.

Then I hear a voice calling my name. I turn around and yell “Mom?”

It’s not my mom. It’s my aunt and uncle. I blank out and then there are ambulances and helicopters. I remember my uncle talking to the police. My aunt talking to a medic. I am just sitting there and in that chaos I hear, “nuuuuaaaaa” very faintly.

I look up and try to see where that noise is coming from. I get up and walk around. Then my aunt comes to me and asks ” Is everything ok?”

“I heard Damian, aunty”. I keep looking around and then my uncle comes over. He says something to my aunt. Then he asks me “What are you doing?”

“I heard Damian, uncle”. I look up at them. They look at each other. Then look back down at me.

“I’m sorry Magenta. But you couldn’t have heard your brother. Or your mother. Or your dad. They are all gone”. I begin to whimper and say “but I heard him, I did”.

“Don’t start crying over spilled milk Magenta, they are in a better place now. Be happy that they get to be in heaven” Aunty says. I obey. I had always obeyed and they treated me so…

With tears in my eyes, I close them and then wake up in a bed, the walls a pale blue. I sit up and I see a tear fall unto my skirt. I wipe away my tears and think to myself. It’s been so long since I had that dream. I bring my knees in to my chest even though it hurts. I hold myself. I sit there and think in disbelief that it has 10 years since the death of my family. I take a deep breath and think they left me alone with those people, i snap out of it and tell myself that I am no longer with them, I wont let this get me down, I need to be happy for them. I look around and that’s when it hits me that the guy isn’t anywhere.

Then I hear “Glad to see that you are up”.

I turn my head and I see the nurse. “What happened?” I ask.

“Well, I sent the young man who carried you back to his classroom. He insisted that he stay here until you woke up, but seeing how asleep you were and in what condition you were in i wasn’t sure when that would be. Oh! and before he left, he told me to give this to you”. She hands me a letter. Blushingly  I take it.