+Lacuna+

Hiraeth

The moonlight leaked through the windows of a rather small nine year old boys bedroom.
"Buenos noches mama!" An excited young Lance exclaimed as he was tucked in.
The tall woman chuckled deeply before smiling down at her son, "Buenos noches my sweet boy."
Lance giggled when his mother placed a small kiss on his forehead and watched as she exited the room. As quickly as Lance could, he scrambled over to the window and looked out and up at the bright shining moon.

Today Lance's family celebrated his birthday. The whole day was filled with fun as his family visited, so much food was cooked and Cuban music flowed through the house. Lance couldn't have asked for a better experience. Especially when his brother had gotten down his fathers guitar and played a song for him. If Lance remembered correctly it was called 'Be Somebody'. What a strange name..... Lance looked up to his older brother a lot, he was everything he wanted to be when he grew up. Strong, bright, happy, caring, he was amazing. Although Lance didn't see him to often, his presence seemed to light up the room wherever he went in the house. His brother had just gotten home from college and was going to stay over for a week before going out to see his girlfriend in Colorado. With a hand up to the tanned boys face to cover a yawn, he decided that was enough stargazing for the night. Before he knew it Lance was back in bed tucked under the covers.
"Buenos noches papa." Lance whispered up at the ceiling, remembering the smiling face of his father.

CRACK!

Lance's vision was still dark when he woke up abruptly but his mind was sharp and worried. Something wasn't right.... As the grogginess left Lance's eyes he registered a loud, wailing sound. Footsteps suddenly pounded through the house and Lance sat up in bed. His lungs caught the strange sent of something smoked. The boy let out a cough and then another and then another before he couldn't stop. He looked over to his door and saw smoke seeping under the crack.
"FIRE!" The voice of his mother screamed.
Alarmed, Lance leapt out of his bed and fell to the ground as he realized his foot was caught.
"Remember to get down to the floor if your ever caught in this situation." Lance remembered what his father said when he was even younger.
"Quickly! Get Lance, I have to get something!" The voice of his older brother replied to his mother. Within seconds the door to his room was flung open and his mother was standing there, arms open as she rushed over to Lance and scooped him up.
"Mama!" Lance yelled, unaware tears streaming down his face. His mother didn't say a word before she untangled his leg and rushed out of his room. As Lance and his mother rushed down the stairs in complete darkness Lance caught sight of a blazing fire in the kitchen. His breath quickened and he clutched onto his mothers shirt. His older brother was on the other side of the room rummaging through some files on his fathers old desk.
"Carlos hurry up!" His mother shouted as she ran past him with Lance.
The back door swung open and his mother ran to the back field where she set Lance down in the grass where his three sisters and younger brother rushed over to comfort him.
"Girls, take care of Lance!" His mother barked before turning back to the house.
"Mama stop!" Lance's sister yelled.

As if time had stopped, another crack sounded and the south side of the small house had caught on fire.
"CARLOS!!" His mother screamed as she tried to run down the field and near the house.
The three girls grabbed onto their mothers leg and stopped her as best they could from hurting herself as well.
"Mama it's no use!" Ella, the oldest of the three yelled.
"Nina, call the fire department now." Ella barked to the second oldest.
Lance's younger sister began to comfort him by rocking him back in forth as more unaware tears streamed down his face.
"Carlos...." he breathed.
Everything had happened so fast, it was all so perfect, and then it all came tumbling down.
"MY SON!" He mother wailed and she sank to her knees and began to sob. Lance's eyes were bloodshot and wide for what seemed like ages before the sound of sirens broke his trance.
It wasn't long before the fire was put out and Lance could hear his mother muttering words.
"I knew we should have called someone, I knew something was wrong, I should've done something, it's all my fault, my fault, my fault!"
"Mama stop that, it's not your fault." Ella said, sitting down at her mothers side and she wiped away her mothers tears as well as her own.
Lance couldn't help but admire his sister gift for calming others, he knew she was hurting but she was always the one who kept others calm, even if it came to death.
Lance being shaken up himself felt his lips quiver even if he held them in place.
It wasn't long after until a fireman came into view and his eyes were full of sadness.
"Miss....the fire has been put out. The cause seemed to be a blown up circuit. As we were putting out the fire we had come across a body..."
A sob erupted through Lance's mother's throat.

With a deep breath the man continued,"We noticed that he was holding onto a small now burned piece of wood and a thin briefcase. The case is still in tact, so we are leaving that within your hands. I'm sorry...."
"Thank you sir, for your service, but my family needs some time alone." Ella said and turns to the fireman.
Not to long after the man leaves Lance's mother speaks up.
"He went back....for his fathers guitar....he knows his life is more important! HE KNEW HIS LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN A GUITAR!" His mother yells, causing the youngest girl to tense up.
"Mom, take a deep breath, I know it's a lot to take in...." Ella said, holding her mother close.
"W-why?" Was all she could say be a sob shook through her body, causing shivers to run up everybody's spine. Their mother never broke down in front of them, ever.
"I'll be back....Lance come with me okay?" Nina asked, getting up and holding out a hand to Lance.

It wasn't long until the two were in front of a slightly burned brief case. Nina, with a solemn face unlocked the latches and lifted the top. A sheet of paper with cursive littering its white surface sat in a laminated case. Nina breathed out before tears also began to stream down her face.
"Oh...." was all she said before she closed her eyes.
Nina face Lance and bent down to reach his height.
"Lance, don't ever show this to anyone but me okay? Not even mom." She asked the small boy.
With a curt nod Lance held out his small pinkie and linked it with Nina's.
After they let go Nina pulled Lance into a hug.
"Thank you for being brave, I'm so proud of you Lance." She whispered.
With her comforting touch Lance's sadness came flooding back to him. He allowed himself to let go of holding back and let out many sobs in mourning of his lost brother on such a perfect day.
"It's okay..." they both whispered as sadness and grief swept over the two.

-

"I'm here Lance."