Aquachandraws27 - Mjustvibing

Prompt: “She had everything but the one thing she needed, she couldn't ever get back.”

- Tw: Abuse, death, description of a corpse - She stood over the body, rain soaking through her clothes and hair, disguising the tears that rolled down her face.

She thought about the whole reason she started her journey, all the way back when she was a kid. She grew up in an orphanage, not knowing, or caring, for that matter, who her parents were. Everyone there was very kind and caring. She thought of everyone there as her family. She grew up taking care of the younger children and making sure they were all growing up healthy.

One summer, in plain daylight, the orphanage suddenly went up in flames.

Thankfully, everyone got out in time, with a few prized possessions each. However, none of them would forget the sheer terror they felt not knowing if they would make it out or not. They soon realized a little girl, barely seven years old, was missing. The young orphan, who cared deeply and felt a responsibility for all the children despite being only 9 dashed into the orphanage without a second thought.

Minutes later, she ran out with the little girl in her arms. By then, the local police and medics had arrived. The two girls were treated. The little girl was unharmed, however the older girl was told she would end up with some scars. She told them “A few scars are nothing if it means I could save the little girl.” and smiled.

Some months later, after the orphanage had relocated to a safer area, the two girls had become the best of friends. They had been practically inseparable since the fire. They lived happily in the orphanage for a few more years until the older girl was 15.

On her 15th birthday, the orphanage staff announced that she was finally getting adopted. When she first heard the news, she was scared because it meant she’d be leaving her best friend and all the other children at the orphanage behind. Her best friend comforted her, reminding her that she’d always stay in touch.

A month later, the girl was settled in with her adoptive parents. She had been enrolled in a high school and was doing well academically. She had trouble making friends though, because the people got scared of the scars on her face. Those who took the time to get to know her found out that she got them because she ran into a burning orphanage to save a little girl. Those people became her closest friends.

She was so busy with school, her friends and her adoptive family that she forgot to check in with her younger friend like she used to.

So when she finally did remember to check in with her a year after she had initially been adopted, she was surprised to find out that her younger best friend had been adopted only a month after she had. The call ended quickly, the older girl rushing to leave because she was meeting with her friends.

This went on for a while, they’d call for a bit, only to be cut off by the older girl leaving to be with her other friends or adoptive family.

The calls became shorter and less frequent.

The older girl was living a happy life, she had everything she’d ever wanted and more. She was happy that her friend had been adopted and was sure she was just as happy with her own life.

It wasn’t until weeks later that she found out that wasn’t the case.

She was on a phone call with her friend when she heard a loud crash and scream on the other line when her friend was supposedly in the bathroom.

When she returned, the older girl didn’t ask about the noises, instead asking where the younger girl lived. The girl hesitated and quietly gave her the address.

The older girl promised to call again the next day to check in with the younger girl. As soon as they hung up, she ran to her parents to tell them about what she had overheard over that phone call.

Her parents listened to her attentively and agreed to alert the police to investigate. They called the police and they agreed to go investigate at the address given.

The older girl however, couldn’t sleep that night. She knew something was wrong. She was panicked and scared and the only thought running through her mind was that she would not let any more harm come to the little girl.

She bolted out of bed, put on a hoodie over her nightgown, and slipped on some flats, and ran downstairs. She didn’t have time to grab anything, she just ran out of the house, not bothering to lock the front door, and ran to the address the younger girl had given her. She remembered the day of the fire, the fear she felt at losing one of the kids she cared so much for. The feeling was back, stronger than ever. She ran and ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding frantically in her chest.

As she arrived in front of the house, she slowed down, however, the feeling of dread only grew. She glanced around, the home wasn’t in the greatest of areas, either. She moved closer to see that the gate towards the backyard of the home was open.

She willed herself to move, running on pure adrenaline and fear by then.

She didn’t notice anything unusual at first, due to the amount of scraps and other things lying around. She squinted to try and figure out how to find her friend and get her away from here. She walked closer into the backyard, and that’s when she saw it.

There was a small heap lying next to the steps of the back door of the house. The girl’s heart began thumping faster because of how scared she was of what she would find in that lump. She edged closer, and pulled the sheet off slowly.

In that moment, time felt like it had stopped.

There, wrapped up in the sheets, was her best friend, starved and thin, a mangled and bloody mess.

The older girl stood, taking in the scene in front of her.

The sky opened up, and it began to rain. She ignored the pouring rain, soaking her hair and clothes, disguising the tears rolling down her face.

She stood next to the body of her best friend, ignoring the fact that she was soaked to the bone, as she grieved.

Because she didn’t make it in time, because she didn’t notice something was wrong sooner, her closest friend was now gone.

She slowly reached down and covered her friend’s face with the sheet.

She walked out of the backyard and headed home. She ran and ran, with only the thought of justice for her friend in mind. When she got home, her parents were in the kitchen, wondering where she could have gone.

She told them everything with the tears flowing freely down her face, from the bad feeling that wouldn’t let her sleep, to finding the body of her friend.

Her parents immediately called the police, alerting them of what had happened. The police arrived at the location shortly after, arresting the couple in the house and put the body of her younger friend in a body bag.

She found out that both of her adoptive parents were alcoholics and had been physically and emotionally abusing her younger friend.

They were charged with child abuse and first degree murder, and given life sentences.

The girl never forgot about the fear she felt that day and the day of the fire.

She vowed to never let another orphan go through what her friend went through.

While attending university she opened her own orphanage, and taught every child there a way to communicate to someone safely if they were in trouble in their new homes.

These lessons saved the lives of many kids.

The girl was balancing university classes, her social life, and running an orphanage. She was happy, although there was always a twinge of sadness and regret she would never be able to shake.

She realized that day in the backyard, the one thing she needed most was to remain by her best friend’s side, but she would never get that chance again.

She would always blame herself for not making it in time.

She had everything but the one thing she needed most, however she would never get it back.

Written by: Lilac (me)

Prompt Credit to my friend Ms. Angel