Annie froze, and I screamed, “Annie, don’t do
it! Mommy’s already gone, don’t hurt yourself
for me!”
But Annie couldn’t hear me. She looked at the
fire, hesitated for only a second, and reached
out with her little hand.
<
The burning coals seared her skin, and
blisters popped up.
But she didn’t make a sound. She didn’t want
me to hear her and be sad.
One piece after another, until her hands were
completely burned.
She looked at Brittany, tears in her eyes.
“I did it! I got it all! Now, please, let my
mommy go!”
Brittany yawned and waved at the guard,
telling him to take the lid off.
Г
They dragged me out.
I was burned beyond recognition. The parts of
my skin that had been pink were now white
and smelled like cooked meat.
“Ugh!”
The guard threw up, and Brittany stepped
back in horror.
The other guard started sweating and
checked for a pulse.
“Oh my God! She’s dead! Mrs. Harrison is
dead!”
Brittany’s eyes widened in terror.
“Not me! I didn’t do this! You didn’t take care
of her!”
She ran away, and the other guards followed
her.
Annie was the only one left. She stood there,
staring at my body.
Then she ran over and hugged me,
screaming, “Mommy! Wake up! I saved you! I
saved you!”
“Please wake up!”
She cried and cried, and my heart broke.
I couldn’t stop crying, and I hugged her, trying
to share the pain.
Finally, Annie wiped her tears and stood up.
“Mommy, I’m going to take you home. Just
wait, I’ll be back.”
She got up on her knees, already scraped,
and went to the house.
The guards stopped her.
Matt came home with Ryan.
L
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes! Thanks for being the best dad!”
Matt ruffled Ryan’s hair, and Annie grabbed
his leg.
“Daddy, it’s me! Mommy’s dead! Please, take
her home!”
Matt stopped and looked at the dirty kid and
frowned. He called the guards.
They pulled Annie off and threw her aside.
“Daddy, it’s me! Why don’t you believe me?
Please, bring her home!”
