In the dead of night a quiet sound wakes me, a human sound. The sound of a child in distress propels me out of bed. My sleepiness forgotten I rush toward the cry ready to help.Then nothing, silence, the child had gone quiet. Was it nothing more than a dream, a hallucination created by a tired mind? No child should be within this house. No matter, I continue to check every corner for a figment of my imagination. Nothing. I'm not surprised I haven't slept for over twenty-four hours so I really should sleep. The hours pass and I wake once more to sirens blasting. Tired, grumpy I get up to investigate. A child had been found dead, killed next door.
Chills run through my spine and the cold wind slams into me as I open the door. The body of a child lies on the lawn staining the snow a crimson red. The same lawn that I had played in when I was young. The one I had made precious memories of my best friend in. A friend that was now gone. The sky was clear that day not a single cloud could be found. We laid on the vibrant green grass waiting for one to pass by. Startled by her father's car pulling into the driveway, we jumped up and I ran back home. I turn, retreating back into the warmth, closing the door.
The next day a knock sounds waking me from my slumber once more. Two men are at my door, policemen with questions. I invite them in, and lead them into my parlor where I left them. Heading towards the kitchen I begin to plan what needs to be done. Once I had walked down this very hall with my best of friends. We ran to the kitchen where I had set up my mother's china for a tea party. Dressed in our bright flowy dresses we would gather at the table. My best friend would come in a tattered, lifeless, rag of a dress. She didn't fit in with my other friends. I would force her to serve us tea. If she was dressed like a servant than she must act like one. Arriving at the kitchen I pull out my best china and begin to make tea. I gather up treats to serve along side the fragrant drink. After arranging everything on a silver platter I head back to my guest.
I set down the tray and begin to serve the policemen who wait patiently. Once I am seated they begin to question me. "Do you know anything about the incident that occurred next door?"
"Yes, I thought I heard the screams of a child the other night. However, when I woke up to investigate, the screams had stopped and I thought that I had imagined it."
Silence except for the sound of pencil on paper. "Did you hear the sirens last night?"
"Yes, that was how I discovered a murder had occurred."
"Why did you return to your home without asking questions?"
"It was cold that night and I was not wearing much."
They continued to write then,"Thank you for your time if we need anything else we will be in touch."
"Of course let me walk you out." The door shuts and I walk back into the parlor.
The tray remains untouched unlike those tea party days. At the end of my parties the treats would be gone, eaten by everyone but my best friend. However they didn't know that I had saved some in the back. After everyone had left I would lead her upstairs to my room. An explosion of pink and white enveloped us as we entered. I walked to my closet and picked out a beautiful blue dress for her to wear. I helped her change, I laced her up. I left her in my room to get the tray I had saved just for the two of us. Walking in to my room I look around the pink of my youth has been replaced with white. White and red.
I walk towards my bed and settle my body down onto the pure white sheets. As white as the snow the child had been found in before it was stained with blood. The blood of an innocent. As a child my parents found me covered in blood. Mommy rushed to change me out of my soiled clothes and urged me to rinse the blood off. While I was rinsing my body Mommy was running a bath, a bubble bath, for me. I got in and allowed the pink bubbles to surround me, embracing me with their warmth. As the bubble began to fade sinking into the abyss I rise and began to dry myself. Mommy had placed my nightgown on the table for me to change into. After dressing myself I exit the bathroom in search of my parents. I find them in the living room talking in hushed tones to each other. Curious, I remain by the door listening to what is being said.
A body had been found in the yard next door. A child, a little girl, my best friend was dead. Mommy's panicked voice sounds throughout the room. They begin discussing the blood on my white dress and how it had gotten there. Daddy reveals his thought: he wonders if I had anything to do with her death. Outraged, my mother suddenly stands and begins to yell at him. "How could you think such a thing? How could our precious little girl be capable of murder? She could have been in danger. She could have been the one killed. Dead. She could be dead. What if she was there when the murder happened? What if the murderer saw her? What if he comes back for her? My little girl. Oh my little girl." She begins to sob. Daddy tries to calm her down to no avail.
I knock on the door waiting for permission before entering. Daddy calls "enter" and I walk in. Mommy had dried her tears and was attempting to smile. Daddy picks me up and walks towards the stairs and into my room. He places me onto my bed and tucks me in. Walking towards my whitewashed bookshelf he picks out a book and begins to read. I close my eyes and attempt to sleep but the image of the child dead in the snow cannot be erased from my mind.
