1. Goodbye (Fragment)

Charlotte began:

“Mum is in heaven,” she said, rubbing Elsie’s head. “But we must not be sorrowful for I know she is watching over us.”

Wrong. That’s not what we heard in church when we used to go, but Charlotte never seemed to care or believe.

“Storytime!” shrieked Elsie.

“Okay fine. When you, Elsie, were a tiny baby, Mum used to wrap you in a blanket and rock you to sleep. When that bomb hit Grandpa’s house, that blanket you were wrapped in, Elsie, saved your life.”

“Charlotte just smiled,” whispered Lucy to me. She was pretty much my eyes since I couldn’t see.

I froze.

Charlotte smiled.

Charlotte smiled!!!

For the first time in two years! Two whole years!

Well, except for the evil smiles Lottie told me Charlotte made, but I’m pretty sure Charlotte actually smiled this time.

I could hear Charlotte reaching into a cabinet. Mum’s old cabinet. One I was forbidden by Charlotte to touch.

She pulled out a ragged little blanket that I got to briskly feel as she swung it to Elsie. It was about the size of my whole leg, which was the size of Elsie. The blanket swung against the lower shelf of the cabinet. Lottie gasped as a bunch of Mum’s things poured out onto the floor. I managed to stuff a little box and a stuffed toy under the bed so I could get it later.

“When that bomb hit grandpa’s house, Elsie was covered in this blanket. But if Olivia hadn’t grabbed you, Elsie, then you would’ve been dead,” Charlotte continued.

I found myself gaping. I didn’t realize I saved anyone. I just went into panic and grabbed Elsie.

I felt Lucy and Lottie touch my arm at the same time. I could feel them both beaming with pride.

“Anyways,” Charlotte snorted, annoyed by us. “Lottie led Olivia to the shelter even though everyone thought she was crazy.”

“I’m proud of that moment and always will be!” said Lottie, hugging me tightly.

“Yeah, well, all I saved were Mum’s antique China plates and had no one to thank me for it,” Charlotte mumbled but I heard it loud and clear, as loud as the sirens that went off the second she said that.

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