"Goodnight Mom," I said, yawning a bit. I got up from the couch and started to head toward my bedroom.
"Goodnight dear, you're going to get up early to work on the farm. Don't forget to say goodnight to Jonathan," my mother called.
"Yes ma'am," I responded, walking over to my brother's room. I opened the door quietly.
"Nephthys," Jonathan mumbled groggily.
"Hey, just coming in here to say goodnight," I said, giving him a small hug.
"Nephthys?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can we do something fun tomorrow?"
"Sure, what do you want to do? Horseback riding? Or a board game? Or play with the chickens?" I said. He giggled.
"Yeah," he said, quickly falling back asleep.
BOOM!
The explosion roared in my ears. The fire left in its wake crackled loudly as the grass, sticks, and hay settled under my skin.
The flames licked the house in brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red. They sparked and danced across the wooden house. My normally beautiful white home with a green roof was reducing to black ash and charred framing.
I saw my little brother just barely peeking through the window. I smiled as he ran to the back door. I climbed over the horse fence and started to return to the house where my brother was eagerly awaiting my arrival.
BOOM!
I sat in the ambulance as they checked my vitals and signs of any injuries, but I felt to be somewhere else far away, somewhere where it didn't happen. I felt the blood pressure cuff constrict around my arm as another medic took my temperature. They ran around using other instruments to determine whether I was suffering any other ailments. They shined a light into my eyes and I was thrown back into another time.
My mother stood before me and smiled proudly. I threw my arms around her.
"I have got the all-star academic athlete award. They said that since I played two instruments in marching band, and was manager for the volleyball team, and played first string on the girls' soccer team, and on the scholastic academic quizbowl team and still managed to get all A's in school had shown that I was well rounded and organized and," I trailed off excitedly.
"I know, the school called me and told me that they needed me to be there to escort you," she said. I grinned widely.
"I got you something, in celebration of your outstanding achievement," she said pulling out a little velvet box. I gasped as she opened it revealing a shiny silver locket.
"Your father gave it to me for you when you were born. I've put my his picture in it as well as mine and Jonathan's," she said, as I gingerly put it around my neck.
"I'm proud of you baby girl," she said.
"Hello?!" I heard someone yell as they waved their hand in front of my face.
I blinked as my eyes refocused.
"We are terribly sorry for your loss, but,"
"Don't you dare say you are sorry for my loss because you do not know what it is like," I hissed.
"Actually I do," three of them said.
"No you don't. You might have lost your families, but you didn't have the pain stretched out for four years. Yeah four. I lost my dad to the war, then my older sister got shot, then this my younger brother and mother. I shouldn't have to bury them. You didn't have to you had someone to do that for you. You don't know what that's like," I hissed.
"Your right, that's horrible. Someone obviously wanted you set apart from everyone else," The Green one said.
"I'm Robin and this is,"
"I don't care who you are. What do you want?" I interrupted.
"Do you know anyone who would want to do this to you or your family?" Robin asked.
"If I did do you think I would be here sitting in the back of the ambulance talking to an arrogant wanna be know it all teenager and not going after their sorry ass?" I questioned back.
"Point taken, that's it guys, she obviously doesn't want to be helped," Robin said, glaring through his mask.
"I don't need help," I mumbled.