• Asha’s Death

    I was awakened by my Mother, Asha, shaking me awake. When I Rolled over, I saw that her brown eyes were wide, fear easily visible in them.

    “What’s wrong Mom?” I asked sleepily. I was young, and had now idea what was happening.

    “You need to run.” she said, her voice full of fear.

    “Why?” I asked, starting to get scared. I had every right to be; I’d never seen my Mother like this before.

    “Just trust me,” she replied, almost hysterical, and handing me a small bundle, added. “Take your sister. Now go!”

    My Mother pushed me out of our makeshift hut, with Salina in my arms, and I ran to the east. I ran for what seemed like forever, until I found a hollow in the base of a large tree. I crouched down into it and held onto my sister, who was still sleeping. I then realized that Mom hadn’t not followed me. I started to wonder what had happened to her. Where was she? Why didn’t she follow me? Is she alright?

    After a few tense minutes, I set Salina down on a bed of moss and made the uneasy journey back to the hut to find out what had happened to Mom.

    As I drew closer to the hut, my nose picked up a hot, salty scent; one that I only vaguely recognized: blood. I had learned to recognize the scent from all the kills Mother brought back from her hunts. Smelling all the blood in the air made my heart beat faster and my breathing became shallower.

    I slowly rounded a bend in the forest, and I saw my Mothers body laying in a pool of blood on the forest floor, her body covered in multiple claw marks.

    My breath caught in my throat, and my legs collapsed underneath me, and I found myself kneeling next to her body. I felt the tears begin to flow from my eyes like a waterfall. I tried to cry, but as hard as I might, I couldn’t make any sound. I have no idea how long I sat there crying next to my Mothers lifeless body, but, somehow, I soon found myself back at the tree with Salina. By now the tears had stopped, but I knew my eyes were still red.

    Salina stirred and slowly opened her small, red eyes. She looked up at me and sleepily rubbed her eyes with her tiny hands.

    “Where’s Mommy?” she asked, her voice still tired.

    I couldn’t answer; at that moment, I didn’t know how. When I looked down at Salina, I saw a smaller version of Mom, and all the emotions I’d felt earlier returned, and I again felt the tears start to flow.

    It must’ve scared Salina to see me cry; me, the older brother who had showed no fear or sadness around her; me, the brother who had seemed divine and without flaw; and now here I was, showing that I’m just as mortal as she was. I know it must’ve scared her because the sleepy look on her face changed to a look of fear, and she to began to cry.

    I pulled Salina close, wrapped her in my arms, and lightly brushed her hair out of her face. We cried together for what seemed like forever. Slowly, the tears flowing from my eyes slowed, and I looked down at my sister. Then whispering into her ears, I said, “Don’t worry Salina; I’ll always protect you, no matter what.” And the tears flowed again.