short stories

The One time Hero

John Regh was born on the 9th of July 1985. It was a dark & gloomy night when he finally escaped out of his mother’s door. When he finally emerged he was confused at first because the darkness remained, but he started to cry once he figured out there was no fire in the fireplace. He cried when the cold, gloved hands grabbed him by the head, cried when he was dunked in what felt like an icy sea ocean and cried some more when he was held in the arms of that warm familiar stranger. He wanted to go back to the life he knew, the comfort he knew. He wanted to go back but this familiar, warm stranger wouldn’t let him. July 9th 1989. 4:30 am I awoke to a rustling noise under my bed, it must be that monster again. I thought that we had become friends why is he rustling again. I jumped out of bed and padded my way to the window. Rain is falling, thunder is rolling & the sky lights up every 5 minutes. Mama would say it’s ‘dark & gloomy’. I sit on the floor as I stare out the window. I’m searching for something but I’m not sure what it is. My mind drifts and I remember a warm familiar stranger. I run across to my parents room, I push the door open, Papa is sleeping, Mama is gone.

July 9th 1999 4:30 am It’s early in the morning I have not gone to sleep yet. There is no school tomorrow because of the storm. It’s a dark and gloomy day as Mama would say. Mama is still gone. I have a problem. I’m not sure how to solve it. I feel happy, I feel sad. I am confused. I stare out the window. Mama is staring at me. She knows how to solve my problem. I go to sleep.

July 10th 1999 12:00 pm They are strange people in my room, they are talking loudly and drawing on my floor. My papa is here. He is crying. Why is papa crying? I try to ask, my mouth won’t move. What’s happening. The warm familiar stranger is here. She is holding me.