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X*O*X*O
A wide smile spread across a slightly chubby face. It held masculine tones, not quite a man but still very much a boy. His green eyes sparkled with pure joy as he ran his Batmobile hot wheel across his mothers protruding belly. His lips came together while he pushed wet air out of them a sputtering vibration sounded.
His mothers matching eyes were shining because she was so very happy and in love. She giggled at her young sons sounds. He laughed a full belly laugh full mischief and silliness. His two top teeth were just coming in he looked silly and so self assured in his youth.
"Mama why do Angels have wings?" he asked suddenly with wide baby eyes full of wonder.
"So they can fly us to heaven," she answered softly as her fingertips soothed around his soft face.
He breathed in deep taking that answer and storing it away in his heart. "Who goes to heaven?" he asked again with the wide eyes.
She smiled gently at him and ran her free hand across her round stomach. "Anyone who has loved foolishly and completely. That way the Angel's know you have been happy in your life," she answered brushing back his bright red hair.
He smiled his lopsided grin that caused one cheek to dimple, and the other cheek to crease along the corner. It was the most charming grin and she absolutely adored that smile. It matched his fathers; she fell in love first sight at that one dimpled grin.
"Love makes everyone happy?" he guessed out loud rubbing his sticky dirty fingers from his PB&J lunch along his mother's belly.
She smiled softly causing the corners of her eyes to crinkle; it was the look of pure simple love. "Yes my love," she answered leaning slightly to kiss the top of her firstborns head. She breathed him in. He smelled of wet earth, sweat, and sweet boy.
"Will my little sister love me?" he wondered with a slight frantic look. He held a slight lisp he hasn't quite grown out of.
She slid her hand down his face and cupped his chin so his eyes would meet hers. "She will love you like the stars love the heavens. She will shine for you because she loves you so very much." His mother promised with a raw voice, powerful voice.
His eyes widened even further as he stared into his mothers. His crooked grin re-appeared as he looked on in wonder towards his cradled sister. He lowered his head and held his lips just a breath away from the stretched skin.
"I love you baby sister, and I will help you get to heaven," he vowed in a silent whisper and pressed his lips to her.
"Edward! Edward! Wake up!" a frantic and hysterical voice roared as the young boys lights were flicked on.
The young boy sat up while he rubbed his eyes. He was suddenly snatched up as his father grabbed him in his solid arms. His Batman pajamas clung to him as his father raced towards the stairs. Suddenly a wall of black hit them and young Edward couldn't breathe. He was choking.
"Daddy!" Young Edward called out to his father who he was named after as he wailed after his birth.
He could feel his fathers rough face press into his, his lips at his forehead. "It's going to be okay son. We'll get outta here."
Young Edward was terrified. "Mama?" he shrieked.
"She ran down the stairs already," his father promised as they tried with all their might to get passed the thick wall of suffocating smoke.
Both father and son were choking and frantic. The front door was yanked open as Edward Sr. swung his head back and forth desperately in search of his wife.
"Elizabeth?" he screamed as he couldn't find her.
No neighbors and it was well into the low teens due to the approaching winter weather. The cold air pricked at them as father and son looked around desperately for the pregnant mother and wife.
Edward Sr. set his son down, his bare feet stung as it hit the icy pavement. Large calloused hands gripped the top of young Edward's arms.
Father and son locked eyes. "Listen Edward…stay here," his father commanded but it was really a desperate plea from a desperate man.
Edward Jr. nodded as his father spun around so quick it was a blur. A few moments passed as young Edward's stoic face stared into the large white home that had billowing black smoke cloaking it. The dancing orange flames could be seen ravaging the family's home.
Suddenly a large boom sounded and the windows blew out as young Edward crouched and screamed. He tried his best to shield himself from the sharp shards of glass, but some ended up scraping across his small curled body. He cried out in agony as a large piece sliced along his side.
Then he sprung up as his wild eyes flew to the destroyed home.
"Mama! Daddy!" he screamed his voice breaking.
His battered and bruised body in sliced and dirty Batman pajamas suddenly lurched forth. He needed his family.
He could hear yelling but nothing could be seen inside the door as he held his arms above his head as a shield. He yelled out. Nothing.
His eyes whipped around as he screamed again and again. Still nothing.
When a loud gurgling noise was heard above him he stopped his search to look up. He saw flames licking at the ceiling. The paint bubbled around it causing some areas to look like burnt marshmallows.
His eyes found a corner. His baby sister's corner that he proudly erected from Lego's that he built for her. It was a colorful plastic castle. They were wilting from the heat. He shuffled over in a daze and grabbed a pink Pegasus that he picked out himself and slid down to the carpeted floor. His body curled around the mythical creature that also had wings.
He closed his eyes and coughed as he dreamt of his mother's soft singing, and his father's laughter.
The young boy was covered in white gauze. His green eyes mixed with red as he stared silently onto double side by side caskets. The brown boxes that were polished and shined with care held his parents and baby sister. They were resting just waiting to be lowered into the cold hard earth.
Roses ranging from crimson, to snow white covered both caskets. In his own hands he held three. Each for everyone he lost.
White gauzed hands clutched them with such force that they buckled under his hold.
He was dressed in a black suit that resembled his fathers. His bright red hair damp from the wet winter weather limply fell across his head.
People that he has never met stood feet away from him as he expressed that was his wish. The large group that huddled together under a shield of black umbrellas the best they could was a sea of black.
Among the group was a small girl no more than four stood clasping her fathers hand and held three white roses in the other.
Her sad brown eyes were focused on the sad eight year old that had gauze wrapped around his left temple down to his chin.
The preacher gave the perished pair and unborn girl his peace.
A beautiful headstone was made for the family. It had a set of three cherub angels carved into the hard stone. They were all looking down with their hands out as if they were saying 'Heaven is waiting'.
The young boy still stood at the foot of the graves as people walked by whispering their condolences. He didn't pay them any attention.
The young girl was being pulled along by her father her hand still clasped the roses. She kept her eyes trained on the young boy as she was being dragged.
Her eyes followed the descent of the roses as his hands just let go. Then he bent his head until his chin was just barely pressed into his chest.
She suddenly yanked her tiny hand out of her father's large rough one.
Fire Chief Swan who was the one to find young Edward watched as his daughter walked over to the devastated boy. Renee the girl's mother watched in silent wonder next to her husband.
Edward was taking shallow breaths to keep his emotions at bay. He hasn't cried once and he won't start now.
Suddenly he felt a slight tug against his left bandaged hand. His new guardians were just off to the side giving him the peace he needs.
He lifted his weary bloodshot eyes to the tiny girl dressed in black. Her brown hair reached and curled around her shoulders. A black hat and black mittens shielded her from the biting chill.
His hard green eyes met soft brown ones. "These are for you," she said in a tiny squeaky voice holding the roses in front of his face, the soft fragrant petals tickled his nose.
He peeked around them with curious eyes. Her brow started to furrow and her lips pursed.
"Flowers always make my mommy happy, these will make you happy too," she explained being frank. Not quite old enough to understand the circumstances.
His eyes squinted as he slowly reached up to grab the three snow white roses.
She smiled slightly her chubby cheeks lifting. She lifted a tiny chubby hand and fingered the petals. His eyes never leaving her face.
"They are the color of Angels. I saw a picture yesterday in a Christmas book at Preschool," she babbled some words hard to understand due to her young age. "Sometimes when I'm sad I pull off a petal…make a wish then let it fall," she demonstrated this by softly pulling off a petal in her tiny chubby fingers. Her fingers gripped the petal and she shuffled over to the graves. She stood in silence for a few minutes her face in full serious concentration finally her fingers released the petal. Everyone who was watching felt their eyes sting. The petal softly floated amongst the chilly air that held heavy notes of mourning. It landed softly on top of Elizabeth's casket.
Her warm soft brown eyes rose to his that were now trained on the petal. "I made a wish," she whispered in conspiracy as she shuffled back over to the very sad boy. She reached up and put her hands around the side of his neck and pulled him down as she stood on her very tippy toes. Her wet chapped lips lingered on his cheek. "It was for you."
The watching adults let their tears fall slowly as they watched the young girl comfort the boy who refused any physical contact even in the form of comfort. Doctors needed to sedate him before they could even touch him.
Edward's breath caught in his throat as she released him. The lanky boy stared in bewilderment towards the small girl who just made him feel for the first time since that night. She stared at him as he stared back. His eyes burned as they were finally filled with tears that needed to come. One was released silently as it rolled down the side of the face that wasn't covered in gauze.
He watched her silently as she walked back and reached for her father's large hand. She looked over her shoulder at him. She smiled a small gentle smile showing off her baby teeth as he just stared. Her free hand lifted as she slightly turned and waved a small goodbye.
His eyes never left the small girl that just turned his world upside down, or right side up. He just felt something he never thought he would ever feel again. Hope for another tomorrow.
A few more hours passed as the young boy spent the majority plucking the petals from the roses and making wishes. The second to the last one was held against his chest as he whispered with his head bowed. It was a wish to befriend the small brown eyed girl that made him want to live, again. He kept the last stem that held just one white petal. He would save it for a very important wish.
*X*O*X*O
Should I continue? Good? Bad? Suggestions are always welcomed.