~Laddie Flashback #1~
All Laddie could focus on was the screaming coming from the living room. Her mommy and daddy were fighting…again. Laddie sat crouched up on the top of the stairs, her hands covering her ears as they tried to muffle the sounds of her parents fighting. This fight was bad. Apparently, daddy had stayed out too late and came home smelling like…what did mommy say it was called again? Al-al-cohlo? Or something like that and then daddy had hit mommy. That's when mommy had started screaming and crying, and daddy just hit her again and yelled even louder than mommy.
After about an hour she heard a loud bang come from downstairs. The noise had ceased now and Laddie removed her hands from ears as she peered between to rails curiously. Mommy started to walk up the stairs, she stopped suddenly when she saw Laddie sitting there. Her eyes wide with fear and confusion as she looked upon her bruised and battered mom.
"Oh, Ladybug." Her mom's voice was soft and airy, almost as if she were singing. Bending down, Laddie's mommy picked her up and snuggled her close to her chest. Laddie hid her face in her neck and wrapped her arms around her mom.
"Are we leaving again, m'my?" Laddie whispered in her sweet child like voice. Feeling her mom's lips pressing against the top of her head, Laddie smiled, a feeling of safety and love washing over her small body.
"Oh no, Ladybug. We are staying right here. Daddy will be all better in the morning. We won't be fighting anymore, okay?" Her mother's hand rubbed her back soothingly as she was carried into her small, blue room.
"No more fighting?" Laddie's voice held a tone of wonder and amazement. Ever since Laddie could remember her parents were always fighting over something, they never got along. Not like the other mommies and daddies did.
"No more fighting, Ladybug. I promise."