Ch. 2
"Farrah, Mom wants to know if you'll pick up some milk for her," Aiden says appearing in my doorway with a wad of bills in one hand.
I put away the math problems I had been working on and slip on my boots. Playfully, Aiden throws the money at me. "Don't be late for dinner."
"I won't," I promise heading out the door.
The sun is shining and a light breeze tickles my neck. I'm glad to be out of the house, even if it is just to run another errand. Lots of people are out and about and today feels like one of those movies where everyone greets each other by name and cheerful music plays in the background.
"Farrah."
The one word stops me in my tracks, or at least the voice calling it out to me does. I'm afraid to look up, to realize it is all my imagination; to realize that the sun isn't really shining but it's burning, to realize that my dad isn't calling me but just someone who sounds like him.
"Farrah."
I look up anyway.
"Dad?"
"Hey Sweetheart!" he says pulling me into a hug. I breath in the musky smell of his shirt that always makes me feel safe and reminds me of home.
"Where've you been?" I ask shakily holding tight to his embrace, not willing to let him go yet.
"Around," he answers. "I've been busy with work and… stuff. But enough about me, how has my Sweetheart been doing?"
"Okay," I lie. I want to tell him about Cassidy's betrayal, my boyfriend dumping and ditching me, and how all Mom does now is lock herself in her room but I don't want to push him away again. "Aiden's learning how to play the tuba now and I got an A on my history report."
"Good," he says and a lump forms in my throat. "Very good."
I pretend not to see the tear run down his cheek as he forces me into another tight hug.
"Dad, I lo… what's that smell?" I ask alert pulling away from him, a look of panic is in his eyes. I can't come up with a reason for the smell of gasoline. "What's going on… Dad?"
"Farrah," he says urgently before there's a loud explosion. "Stay here," he yells throwing me behind a row of trash cans. "I have to find your Mom. I love you."
"Dad!" I scream. "No, don't leave me! Daddy, please!"
But he's already gone. I see a shower of fire and I close my ears as a popping sound disseminates throughout the streets. "Daddy!"
He meets my eyes and mouths 'I love you' before the smoke envelopes him.
