LEO

I

April 26th, 1994

"Leo, get your things, we're leaving. Now."

Seven words and one moment that had completely changed the lives of the Munros. Leo hadn't even asked why or what was happening, she just ran. She couldn't bare to look at her father's anxious eyes or hear her mother's panicked breathing. It terrified her to the marrow of her bone.

Ollie was in his room, beautifully oblivious to the foreboding clouds that were being stuffed into their home.

"They're coming," she announced, failing at her attempt to keep her voice steady, "We need to pack our things."

Oliver froze, his dark eyes wide with worry. "What's happening?" he whimpered, his dark face a mix of curiosity and fear.

Leo did her best to assure him with "Don't worry, everything will be fine," and ran to her room, afraid she would look afraid in front of him. She couldn't let her younger brother see just how scared she was, she had to be strong.

With jittery hands and unsteady legs that struggled to walk straight, she started to pack up her room. Leo had been throwing her clothes out of her dresser in her haste and the dogs thought she was playing with them. Baloo grabbed her white jumper and tried to run away with it, playfully wagging his tail. She had bellowed like a madwoman, attempting to grab the sweater from his jaws, but to him it was a game of tug-of-war.

"You little bastard! Give it to me right now!" she yelled, and he seemed to register that Leo wasn't playing around, and dropped the jumper. Thinking she was going to scold him, Baloo whined and gave her those sad puppy eyes as they lost they amber glow. He thought that she was upset at him, that everything was his fault for her distress. His tail had drooped in shame as he left her room, with Bagheera trailing after him, and that was the last time she saw them, tasting wet salt on her lips.

Now, the heartbroken girl was in her grandfather's guest room, thousands of miles away. She was unpacking what little she had and building a fort out of a few books and sheets, making a mini-circus like tent. She tied up a flashlight and laid down a couple pillows that she had scavenged. Though there was a bed, Leo needed to create a sanctuary, a safe space. She needed to hide beneath the sheets like the scared little girl that she felt like and pretend that she was home in Africa. She gave a satisfied huff as she wiggled inside and cocooned herself into the blanket. It was about as comforting as she had felt in nearly a week, but she would not be able to sleep for some time. Leo was jet lagged and nearly completely drained of mental energy, but Sleep wasn't about to be kind, and he would not take her. So instead, she let her mind recapture what had happened over the past couple of days.

Leo's grandfather, Arthur, had picked them up at the airport. When they came out of the departure doors Leo didn't know which face to look for in the crowd, but when she caught sight of an old man in a three-piece tweed suit and a white unshaven face she knew it was him from an old photograph she had once seen. He came up to each of them with a huge bear hug that made them feel safe at last and said in a British accent, "I am so sorry." He had warm hazel eyes, not unlike her own, that spoke of trust and kindness. When they arrived at his house, tired and stressed from their journey, Arthur whipped up dinner and basically ordered the refugee family to sit down and watch the tele. His little jack russel terrier named Teddy had scampered over to Leo's lap and cuddled her into a half-doze.

At dinner Leo thought it might be awkward, seeing how they were meeting their new relative under such unexpected circumstances, but Arthur had a charming smile and a gentle voice that made them all relax. Her parents, Thomas and Rose, were somber and calm as they revealed the full extent of their unfortunate event. As Arthur listened to them, he had sat back in his wooden chair and put a knobby hand over his mouth, shaking his head like he couldn't believe their words.