"C'Mon slowpoke!" Aaron shouted racing down the street, the sound of concrete slapping shoes loud and clear.

I laughed as the rain fell harder and harder. Aaron was four, yet Marissa and Kevin forgot his birthday. Again.

He did have a fun time getting ice cream and playing zombie throughout the day with me, but he deserved more. Maybe some loving foster-parents in his life

We raced into the run-down brick house and plopped down on the couch. We didn't have to worry about our 'parents' rath just yet. Dad was most likely at a bar getting drunk and mom was most likely trying to find some random guy she didn't know to have sex with her.

Typical Fridays.

"Alright birthday boy," I said, smiling. "Are you ready to open my present?

His face lit up and he started to jump up and down on the ugly yellow couch. "I'M READYYYY!"

"Shut up!" A familiar voice called from down the hall. I looked to see Marissa walking down the hall in long strides, bags under her eyes and curling pins or whatever they're called in her hair. "God damnit you brats were gone forever. You're twelve now Ellie. I expect better."

I clenched my fists. "My name is Emily, and I'm thirteen."

"Whatever," she says. "Anyway, Aaron, you're who I wanted to talk to."

She didn't smile, and neither did Aaron. He was silent, and she cleared her throat. "The authorities will be here soon to take Ellis in the morning, so you will replace her in all her daily chores."

We both stood staring at her, eyes wide and confused. My heart pounded. I couldn't leave Aaron alone. I had to take the beatings for him and do his chores and let him live as normal a life as possible. "Why do I have to leave?" I peeped.

"Well," she said, "too many times you have taken Aaron out too late and I never new where you were, but today it was for over six hours, so I called the police about it and they said you were to leave in the morning."

"W-what!?" I yelled. "ITS HIS BIRTHDAY! DO YOU REALLY THINK I'M NOT GOING TO GET HIM AWAY FROM THE HOUSE!?"

She snarled, and Aaron started to back away. "Mind your manners, young lady."

I had enough. I screamed in rage. The pictures began to shake and the floor rocked.

I gasped. "EARTHQUAKE!"

I grabbed Aaron, leaving my mom in the trembling room, and rushed to the bathtub. It's California. You know that at some point, you're gonna get an earthquake. We pulled the 'safety mattress' over our heads, and lay still for another minute and a half. Then it stopped, and everything was silent.

We stood up from the mattress. The entire house so far looked destroyed beyond repair. Pictures were smashed along the floor, lamps strewn across the room. We stared in disbelief, our feet crunching against the glass. Then we saw her. Marissa. She lie, pieces of glass covering her back and head, dead.

Then I opened the door and my mouth hung open. Everyone else's house was intact and perfect. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew that I was going to be accused of murder.

I turned to Aaron sadly, tears streaming down my face. "Listen,screwball," I said, "in twenty minutes, you're gonna call the cops and tell them that I killed mom and ran away. Okay?"

He looked startled, and I hugged him, "but that's lying."

He sobbed into my shoulder, and I patted his back softly. "It's a good lie, and you're going to get a better family. I promise. I have to leave if you want to survive. I'll come back for you."

He nodded sadly, and we hugged for a while longer. Then I stood up, packed a backpack of supplies, and opened the swinging door.

"Wait!" Aaron sobbed. "Sing me a song. That old one you used to sing to me when I wanted to sleep."

I nodded, and smiled, lips quivering.

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

Please don't taaaaake

My sunshine away

( #/watch?v=wefsckE6g0M only listen to the first part cuz' that's what she sang. Also, I know the pictures weird, but just go with it.)

I sang. On the last part, my voice cracked and I broke into tears, hugging him once more and kissing him on the cheek.

"Twenty minutes," I called as I walked out the door. I was nearly out of town by the time I finally looked back.

"Sunshine," I whispered.

I never looked back again.