• The duo stood there staring up at the giant gate and its golden trim. It was so fancy around here. Everything was clean, clear, not . . . . dark? That was it. It wasn’t dark here like it was back home. It was like there were no impurities here. Neither of the children believed that though. Even though he was twelve and she was only seven they wouldn’t believe that anywhere could be like that. Somewhere, there was dirt. Something would always ruin a clean place. That was life though, wasn’t it? Nothing can ever be perfect. Things could seem fantastic, and even in a town where everything was supposedly “perfect” it was obvious to them that it was a lie.

    One good example was the lady that drove them here. She looked so high-class, but if you looked right bellow her sleeve there was a purple bruise. She’d tried hiding it under she short-sleeved shirt. Ethan had seen it though. She knew it wasn’t an accident either. It was much too bright for that, and there wasn’t only that one. There was another one her cheek. Ethan could only assume that either someone did that to her or she was a real klutz. Judging by how she saved them from that fire though he doubted she was a klutz.

    His guess was made to be correct that night. While sweet Marie was sent off to sleep, probably dreaming of that sweet chocolate chip cookie she had before going to bed, he’d stayed up. That night he heard awful screams. Ethan was very shocked his sister didn’t wake up from them. The next morning Mrs. Adams had a long sleeve shirt on. It was seventy-four degrees outside.
    Ethan went to bed that next night. He went to bed hearing shouting. His new parents were so loud. Why couldn’t they keep it down?

    -Three Years Later-


    He’d done it. He hit his little sister. It wasn’t intentional. It was a complete accident. He’d never hit his sister. Ever. No matter what she ever did to him. Despite that, there they were. He stood there with his hand still in the air, and his sister on the ground. She stared up at him like he’d lost it, one hand covering the red mark on her cheek.

    She’d only been playing around. She’d only poked him a couple times in the side to get him to chase her around. She’d done that when they were kids. He’d never hit her before though. It was a shock. Though time moved for those around them it seemed to stop right then. Until, Ethan opened his mouth.

    “I’m so sorry.”

    It was all he could say. With that he broke down into tears. His sister slowly recovered. Though still in shock she was able to see he hadn’t meant it. Marie reached over and hugged her brother.

    “It’s okay. You’ve been listening to ‘Dad’ solve his problems like that for so long you probably didn’t know what else to do. I forgive you though, and I know you won’t do it again.”

    And he didn't.