An impact shatters the glass…I fall backwards…Flames surround me everywhere…I hear a familiar voice calling…"Lana, get out of the car!" Dad screams…I am taken out of the car by a firefighter…Ambulances everywhere, surrounding the crashed car, burning up in the smoke…I hear one last voice. "Take care…of your sister…Lana."
One bright sunny morning, a little girl of five with brown hair woke up and smelled the morning air. "The morning's always so amazing!" Ema said, and she went down the stairs to the kitchen. There, she saw her older sister Lana, her signature red scarf hanging from her neck. The always-upbeat Ema casually said, "Lana where's Mom and Dad?" Lana said with a gulp, "They…they…" but Ema intervened, saying, "I know what you're going to say, sis!" Lana froze, afraid that she heard about the accident last night.
"They went to work early because they have an emergency meeting! That's what you always say!" Ema said, gleefully, and went to the dining table, where she munched on warm toast. Lana breathed a sigh of relief. "If she knew what happened, she'd lose everything," she muttered.
After school, Lana unlocked the door and found Ema wearing an oversized labcoat. "Ema, what did I tell you about playing with my laboratory instruments?!?" Lana scolded. Ema jumped up from the sofa and hugged her sister tight. "Yay! You're back!" Ema said, but Lana continued to scold her little sister. "Don't do that again! Those things are very important to me…" "And so are Mom and Dad," she thought. Ema asked her, "Lana, why are you shivering? And your face is so pale!"
"Mm. It's time to tell Ema the truth," she whispered. "Ema. Listen to me seriously, okay?" Ema nodded. "Mom and Dad…aren't coming home," Lana said, waiting for Ema's response, but she gave none. "Mom, Dad and I went to the grocery, remember? Well, the car crashed. They…died."
After Ema wiped her tears away, Lana said, "It's just you and me, Ema. But they'll always stay with you. In your heart." Lana pulled her sister close in an embrace, looking at the stars. Ema drifted away in sleep, and Lana whispered, "Even if I have to die…No matter what happens, I'll always protect you…"