Dandelion

The light streams through her open window but still, her room feels cold and dark. A shiver runs up her spine. She looks outside and sees the neat, well-manicured rose garden, the garden is too perfect. She turns away from her window and faces her gloomy shelf filled with her old toys, toys that brought back memories, memories that had once made her feel happy and safe. She focuses her eyes on her old bear, Mr Cuddles she had called him. An obvious name for a child so young. She reaches for the bear. Suddenly there is a loud crash from something smashing and torturous screaming and slurred yelling coming from the next room. She runs to her closet curling up in the corner trying to focus on something else, anything else. She starts to hum. She rocks back and forth as she trembles. Tears start to form in her eyes, and as they begin to run down her face, she closes her eyes and covers her ears trying to block out the noise.

☼☼☼

There was bright, golden wheat all around. The air was warm, and the sun shone with an elegant brightness. The summer air was both sweet and musty. A cool breeze shook the trees making the leaves rustle. She heard laughter in the distance, the sound becoming louder as she got closer to the source, as she continued to run happily through the wheat field.

"Sweetheart, it's time for lunch". She heard her mother call.

"I'm coming Mumma". She called back as she continued to run towards her family's picnic rug.

She sat down slowly in between her parents. Her dad began to tickle her and as she laughed her mother opened the picnic basket and pulled out a teddy bear. She looked over at her mother as the torturous tickling came to a halt.

"What is that?" she asked confused.

"This is a present for you sweetie, to remind you that whatever happens between your father and I, we'll always love you". Her mother answered smiling.

Not noticing her mother glaring at the beer in her father's hand, she smiled back before grabbing the bear from her mother's hands, "I'm going to name you Mr Cuddles" she announces, smiling so big you could see her teeth.

The happy family began to eat their picnic, and her parents spoke happily about topics she didn't care about, all she heard were the words "miserable" and "divorce" but being a young child, she didn't know what they meant, so she carried on playing cheerfully with her new friend. She got back up from the rug, turning to see her parents frowning at one another. She turned away spotting an elegant green and black butterfly. She laughed chasing after it with her new companion.

"Come back!" She shouted continuing to run after it.

She proceeded to chase it until she found herself in a new field filled with all types of bright and colourful flowers. She listened to the creek trickling down a small waterfall. She looked around in awe. She laid down in the field, feeling the warm, hot sun on her face. She smelt the sweet, sugary air all around her and could hear birds chirping, making her smile.

☼☼☼

The house is quiet. Too quiet. She stands up. Her hands tremble as she opens her closet door. Slowly she walks over to the shelf and picks up Mr Cuddles. She can feel the hot tears on her face, and a feeling of fear washes over her as she thinks about the events in the next room. She looks at her toys again and feels a lump form in her throat. She chokes back tears, holding her head between her hands. She looks up after a while looking around her room, taking it all in, she sees her bed and desk and chest of drawers and her old family photos smiling at her from the wall they hang upon. Lies. It is all lies. She looks out her window holding her bear tight to her chest. As she notices an intruder in her mother's perfectly manicured garden. A dandelion. It will infest the garden quickly if not dealt with soon.

☼☼☼

The air was hot, and the sun shone blindingly. The beach was loud with children's joyful screams and the sound of waves crashing on the beach. She sat on the hot golden sand creating a sand castle with her cousin. Her cousin's bright yellow plastic shovel and bucket in hand. The sun was shining, burning. Too hot. She got up from the sand and ran down to the water.

"Stay where I can see you!" her mother shouted.

"Okay mum, whatever you say," she answered shrugging off her mother's concern.

The water lapped at her feet both cool and soothing from the burning. She walked out further into the water ducking her head under. The cold washed over her quickly cooling her body down. She popped her head above the water to take a breath of fresh air. The water sparkled around her and she looked around with satisfaction. The ocean is beautiful she thought.

"Come on sweetheart, it's time for lunch" her mother shouted.

"I'm coming mum," she shouted back annoyed at her mother's poor timing.

They walked up the beach to the public barbeques and spotted her dad. He was cooking the sausages on the barbeque and drinking a Corona. He had five more discarded beer bottles on the ground beside him. As they approached him she began to feel uneasy. Her dad handed her a burnt sausage and a piece of bread. Her mother looked at the discarded beer bottles with a disapproving glance.

"Honey, don't you think that you should take a break from the beer? You've already had so many today and it's only noon," Her mother said gently.

"No."

"Please. Our daughter is here."

"I said no!" Her father shouted shoving her mother to the ground, as the sun hid behind the clouds making the air cold.

☼☼☼

She creeps out of her room trying not to make a sound, avoiding the creaky floorboards wherever she can. There is no more shouting and no more screaming. She worries because silence is always bad. She peeks around the corner but she can't see anyone. She is grateful for her father's absence as she walks around the corner. She finds her mother sprawled on the floor painted in inky red blood. Her hair is patchy, and her head looks raw. She looks at her mother in shock. She analysis's her body, trying to find the source of the paint-like blood that soaks the floor. She rushes over to her mother, checking her pulse. She only feels a slow beat like light rain on a roof. She checks her breathing. It's faint but it's still there. She takes a deep breath to calm herself.

"Mum?" She whispers, trying to see if her mother is still responsive, but trying not to lure her dad back to the room. "Mum. Wake up. Please, you have to wake up."

Her mother's eyes remain closed, and she begins to panic. She checks her mother's jeans pockets and finds her mother's phone. She pulls it out and dials 000 with sticky red hands. She cradles her mother's head on her lap. Her mother's hair stuck to her hands like ants in honey. She studies her mother's soft face noticing the bruises. Fresh warm tears come to her eyes as she continues staring, waiting for help.