Poppy's Secret

In My Arms

While everyone else slept, Carla snuck out of her pod. It was the second anniversary of the death of her baby. She chose an isolated part of the woods to hold an annual memorial for it.

At the base of a tree lied a heart shaped rock, the words “In Memory Of Carla's Baby" engraved on it. Carla took out the baby doll and held it to her chest.

Remember make believe in you

All the things I said I'd do

I wouldn't hurt you, like the world did me

Keep you safe, I'd keep you sweet

Everything that I went through,

I'm grateful you won't have to do

I know that you will have to fall

I can't hide you from it all

But take the best of what I've got

And you know no matter what

Before you walk away, you know you can

Run, run, run,

Back to my arms, back to my arms

Run, run, run, back to my arms and they will hold you down

They will hold you down

Branch heard a voice coming from outside his bunker. It wasn't Poppy's, but he decided to check it out anyway.

See, here's the bloody, bloody truth

You will hurt and you will lose

I've got scars you won't believe

Wear them proudly on my sleeve

I hope you'll have the sense to know

That sadness comes and sadness goes

Love so hard and play life loud

It's the only thing to give a damn about

But take the best of what I've got

And you know no matter what

Before you walk away, you know you can

Run, run, run,

Back to my arms, back to my arms

Run, run, run,

Back to my arms and they will hold you down

All this time I swear I'll never waste it

All your smiles I'm always gonna save them

Put it in the back of my mind

Whenever I'm away from you

All this time I swear I'll never waste it

All your smiles I'm always gonna save them

Put it in the back of my mind

Whenever I'm away from you

Branch stepped​ out of his bunker and looked around for the voice. He found Carla dancing with a baby doll, and she seemed to be lost in a daydream.

And they will hold you

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Back to my arms, back to my arms

All this time I swear I'll never waste it

All your smiles I'm always gonna save them

Put it in the back of my mind

Back to my arms, and they will hold you down

They will hold you down

Run

The minute she finished her song, Carla burst into tears. Branch approached her and calmly placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and gazed into his sympathetic eyes.

“I'm sorry," he said softly. Carla didn't say anything. She just stood up, gave Branch the doll, and left.

Branch watched Carla leave, then looked at the doll. As he made it back home, a number of questions ran through his mind. Why did she give him this? Did he have something to do with it? Was he involved in some way?

Or was she trying to tell him something?

That would be the first clue.

The song is called Run by... You know what? Let's see if you can figure it out. 😏