The Reddest Rose

When I woke up the sky was dark and the snow pounded on my face. I stepped onto the floor and realized I was sopping wet. It was freezing. I looked around at what used to be my room. Everything in my room had been destroyed. I screamed. Subconsciously, I knew there was no help. The roof had been ripped off my house. The door had been torn off the hinges. I ran out of my room. I wandered the halls calling for my family. I was waiting for my mother to say, “Don’t worry Robin. Everything will be all right.” I knew the words would never come. Crying, I left the house. None of the houses on my street were standing. I ran all around the small town. No buildings were left standing. Most the buildings were slightly smoldering. The others had been blown down. I looked for some sign of life. There were footprints in the snow. It looked as if several families fled the town. I followed the footprints until I found a small journal. I said:

Arsonists are on the horizon. Strong winds are blowing and tearing roofs from houses. My elder sister has told me we are to flee. I gather what is dear to me and prepare to leave.

The handwriting belonged to my friend, Kindling Brass. I called out, “Kindling!” No one answered. It was then I realized I was thoroughly alone. Anyone who survived the arsonists or the winds had fled. I shivered and went back to what was left of my home. I shuffled through my things. My clothes were destroyed in every way. My blankets were ripped and most things I could possibly use were destroyed. But, I knew I had to leave before I froze to death. After an hour, I had gathered enough clothing to stay warm. I had food, water, and I found a few blankets that were not destroyed. I put all my supplies into a canvas bag. My world had gone from light to dark in less than a night and I had a feeling it was about to get darker.

I walked into my sister’s, Lexi White, room. A beautiful watch lay on the counter. It was Lexi’s most prized possession. I fastened the watch on my wrist. The first thing I noticed when I entered my mother’s art studio was the bandanna she wore when she painted. I tied the bandanna around my hair. My thick wavy hair made me look just like my mother. I went into my father’s study. His coat was hanging on a coat rack. Tears filled my eyes as I put it on. I knew these might be the last things I had of my family. I took the canvas bag and slung it over my shoulder. Stepping out into the snow warm tears slid down my face. The snow crunched under my feet as I trudged through the now cold, baron, smoldering, wasteland.

All I could think of was, my name is Robin White. I don’t know where I am going. But, God help me for it be somewhere warm. I shivered as I trudged through the snow. There was nowhere to go and the sun was setting. There was no way in the universe that I was going to survive the night if I did not find some sort of shelter. But as I walked, I got tired. After a while I could not even move my feet. I fell into the snow. My arms were powerless. I stared up at the sky and slowly fell asleep. I dreamt of a boy who I had never seen before. He was about my age and very strong. But, I knew he was not real.