Gloaming

Octavia

Cynthia's point of view
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I lay in my car, wondering what to do.
I check my phone.
Seguìn.
I'm not far from home, but I will never make it back by walking.
I needed to tell Kenya.
I look down at my phone battery.
1%
My fingers rush to the contacts app, I press "Kenya 😝" and right as I press the mini cellphone button... the screen goes black.

A tear falls down my cheek.

I throw the phone out the window out of rage.

I start sobbing uncontrollably.

I'm not going to make it.

I catch my breath a few minutes later after letting the emotion escape out of my eyes.

I then realize how cold the air is, stinging my skin.

I can make it back home.

I can't be that far from civilization.

I set up my heaters and realize I should stay here for the night.

About a hour ago I checked my phone. It was 5:00 pm.

I can sleep now.

I begin to fall asleep when I hear a sharp tap on the clear glass window of the back seat, where I'm sleeping.

It's a little girl.

She looks about 10 years old but not past 13.

She's wearing what looks like 5 large jackets and her hair is frozen. She had large round eyes like saucers and short black hair, like sia.

I roll down the window manually.

"I-it-its col-cold" she says with shuddered breaths
"Ma-may I St-stay -w-with you?" She adds.

I say nothing.

She has no one.

I should let her.

I open the car door and she jumps in.

I give her a few blankets and tell her she can sleep in the trunk.

I make her a tiny bed and set up two battery charged heaters back in the trunk.

She smiles at me.

A genuine smile.

It makes me feel warm inside, like I really matter.

I tell her it is time to go to bed after I set up for her.

I lay in the back seat and she lays in the trunk.

"Are you awake?" I whisper to her, not even a hour later.

"Yeah" she says in a shy manner.

"What is your name?" I ask

"Octavia" she replies "How about you?"

"Cindy" I reply back. "Where is your family Octavia?"

"Dead" she replies back.

I didn't wanna ask how, but that didn't mean I didn't wanna know.

"How about you?" She adds

"I'm weak, I got lost" I reply back.

"Oh" she says, sounding almost sorry for even asking.

"Cindy?" She asks

"Yes?" I answer

"I'm scared" she says

I get out of the car and enter the trunk.

I lay down with her.

I almost feel responsible for her now.

Like I used to be with Kenya, who I failed.

"Don't be scared" I say.

"Ok" she replies back.