5 years earlier;

Selena: (Munching on her toast, sitting with her parents at the dining room table) Mommy, I don't want the stupid babysitter to come over! (Continues to babble on and on, bread crumbs on the corners of her occupied mouth) I'm 12 years old, why do I need a babysitter?

Mom: Selena, sweetie I know that you are a big girl but I don't like the idea of leaving you alone at home while your dad and I are at work. What if someone broke into the house? How would you fight against them? (She questioned as she stuffed her work bag with files and loose papers)
Selena: I'd kick them where it hurts most! (She said as she imitated kicking the person) Please, Mommy! Let me stay on my own for once!
Dad: (Walks into the kitchen and kisses his wife) What are you whining about now sweetie? (He asked as he approached his daughter, placing a butterfly kiss on her forehead)

Selena: (Grabs hold of his arm, tugging at the end of his sleeve) Please daddy, convince mommy to let me stay home on my own for once! Oh please, please!
Dad: I don't know Lena. (Gazes up at his wife, noticing her folded arms and raised eyebrow) There's obviously a very good reason that your mother doesn't want you home alone.
Mom: Yes there is. (Nods toward her husband in approval; bends down eye level to Selena and smiling genially) You and I have already discussed the dangers of staying at home alone.

Selena: (Pouts, her arms crossed in an infantile manner)

Mom: (Shakes her head, a grin still plastered among her countenance, ogling at her husband as she mutters) And still, she's adamant. (Stares at her daughter) Mary is a very good babysitter, and she takes great care of you. (Sees Selena glowering, and chuckles) How about this? Mary comes over but I tell her not to bug you, and only check up on you every once in a while. That way, you'll feel like you're sort of home alone. What do you say? (She says as she places her hand on her daughter's shoulder, rubbing it gently with her thumb)
Selena: (Sighs) Fine, I guess that's close enough.
Mom: That's my big girl. (Kisses her cheek and grabs the phone to call the babysitter
Dad: (Kneels down to Selena's level) Hey kiddo, how bout we play hide and seek in the dark when I get home from work, just like old times? Sound like a good idea to you? (Begins to tickle her sides)
Selena: (Sniggering) Daddy, stop! (Laughs uncontrollably) ... S—Stop!
Dad: All right then sweetie (Caresses the side of her face, tracing the soft skin and shifting a few strands of her brunette hair) Listen here, baby girl; I will never let anyone hurt you. You're my little angel, got that? (Opens his arms)
Selena: (Beams, and runs into his arms, enjoying his embrace) I love you, daddy.

Dad: (Pecks her hair, tenderly) And remember to keep your chin up (Lifts her chin up with his finger) and stand tall, so no one can doubt your confidence.
Mom: (Doorbell rings) That must be Mary. (Scurries toward the door) Hello there, Mary, it's great to see you again. (Gestures for her to come in) My husband and I are just leaving.

Mary: (Smiles politely at Lena's mother, and spots Selena. Waves)

Selena: (Cringes a bit, and sticks out her tongue at Mary)
Dad: (Snickers) Well, that's my cue to leave. I'll see you in a little bit. (Kisses her head) I love you my angel.
Selena: Likewise. (Giggles, sparkles of delight from her beautiful, brown eyes)
Mom: (Strolls over to the two and kisses Selena on the cheek) Bye my darling. We'll see you later; take care of yourself. (Smirks) Don't trouble Mary too much.

And with that, both parents wave their goodbyes to their daughter, unaware of the fact that as soon as they leave that household, happiness would evaporate as a memory of the past.

Selena: (Runs downstairs to grab a bite to eat when she hears whimpering coming from her babysitter) Mary? (Walks into the living room and finds Mary sitting on the couch, phone to her ear and tears stained onto her face as shock is an evident emotion embedded into her pale face) Mary? Why are you crying?
Mary: (Turns to face Selena as more tears fall from her red puffy eyes) S-Selena grab your stuff, we need to go to the hospital now!
Selena: B-But why? What happened? Who were you on the phone with? (Questions were wandering her mind as she tried to put the puzzle pieces together as to why they were going to the hospital)
Mary: Sel, your... Your parent's building caught on fire and they were rushed to the hospital. I just got a call from one of the hospital nurses. We need to go see them urgently!
Selena: M-My parent's building caught on fire? (She could barely construct her sentences. Her heart began to beat faster) Lets go then! (She stormed out the house as she held her jacket in one hand and a clenched fist in the other)

At the hospital;

Mary and Selena were in the waiting room patiently waiting some news of Selena's parents.

Doctor: (Walks out with a pen and clipboard) Who's the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gomez? (Looked around expecting an answer)
Mary: Oh we are Doctor! (She says as she raises her hand and walks towards the doctor with Selena close behind)
Selena: Doctor, are my parents alright? Please tell me that they're okay! Please? (Looks up at the doctor with bewildering eyes)
Doctor: (Sighs) I am sorry sweetie we couldn't save your mother. (Looks down as he refuses to see the sorrowed eyes of a child)

Selena: (Her heart sinks as tears begin to fall from her eyes) W-what? What do you mean you couldn't save her? Huh? Of course you could save her, you just gave up like that? You assumed that she was dead so you just left her there to die? How cruel can you be? That's my mother! MY MOTHER! (She screamed as tears were rapidly falling from her eyes. Mary tried holding her back from the feeling of wanting to attack the doctors)
Mary: Selena sweetie, please calm down it's going to be alright, please calm down. (She said as she held onto her rubbing her back soothingly. Tears were starting to fall from her own eyes as she tried to soothe Selena) W-Well can you at least tell us see her... Please Doctor?

Doctor: (Sighs) alright follow me.

Mary followed the doctor as Selena slowly followed behind, dragging her feet along the way with tears continuing to fall.

Doctor: (Stops in front of a room and gestures them to enter) Well, here we are. I'll be back in about 10 minutes. (Walks out of the room)

Mary: (Moans and leans amongst the frame of the door, massaging her temples. Watching Selena carefully)

Selena: (Slowly walks up to her mom's lifeless body and intertwines her fingers within hers) M-Mommy (Sobs) Please don't leave me Mommy... Please don't leave me! (More tears begin to fall as she stares at her mother's pale burnt face) This can't be happening! (Drops her mother's hand as she backs up against a wall. She slides down the wall as tearsrapidly fall from her red puffy eyes. Her tears became desperate sobs)

END OF PROLOGUE;