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Nora [ 4 years old]

Some incidents that happen in your life remain with you like a bad scar.

No matter how hard you try, you can not get rid of them. 

So as time passes you learn to accept them, live with them and cope up with them.

***

I remember my family house burning. The flames high and mighty as they engulfed everything around it.

I saw men fighting as I innocently looked around while my older brother carried me in his arms as he ran out of the place.

Noah, my older brother, was holding my small frame tightly as I was peeking up from his shoulder. Two other men ran beside us, guarding us as we made our way out through another passage.

Scenes of blood splatters, gunshots and people screaming were portrayed in front of me.

I saw someone spot us and run towards us. One of the guards stopped, pulled out his gun and pointed it at the person approaching us.

All of the sudden it was complete darkness in front of me. I heard the gunshots and the screams but no view.

"Don't look." Noah placed his hand in front of my eyes as soon he realized I was looking at the horrible view, "Don't look." It seemed like he was out of breath yet he continued to run with all he had.

The night was somewhat strange, I can't remember if it was chilly or if there was any wind. I don't remember when we lost the remaining one guard. When Noah took his hand away and I was allowed to see again, it was just the two of us.

I just remember the view of my burning house slowly fading into the distance as Noah kept running further and further away. 

I hadn't noticed all that time that my brother was injured too. I was too young to process things.

"Noah." I shifted a bit after my house had completely vanished from the view, "Where's daddy?" My mother had died a few months ago. I heard she was killed in an accident. Some of the maids talked about how the accident had happened due to another mafian family member.

I didn't know what death was but I cried a lot when I was told it meant I can never meet my mommy again, "Why didn't daddy come with us?"

"..." Noah didn't answer me.

Perhaps he had only one thought on his mind, to run as far as he could to survive.

Maybe he didn't want to answer me.

Or maybe he didn't have an answer.

Everything was silent, the only thing I could hear was Noah panting as he ran. 

I remember the streets were empty but I don't remember if it was completely dark or if there were any street lights on. 

Perhaps it was dark because I didn't notice the drops of blood falling down from Noah's side till the time we reached a rundown apartment.

Noah knocked on the door violently. He was out of breath, bleeding and shivering. I could feel his chest rising and depressing very fast.

"It's okay Nono." He said to me to calm me down even though I wasn't even sure what was happening, He caressed my hair, "It's okay." His comforting gesture made cling to him more.

Even though Noah was the one who needed the comforting and someone to calm him down, I was the one who started crying.

He held me tightly in his arms as I cried. I don't remember why I cried. 

Maybe I realized I was not going to see my daddy ever again just like mommy. Or maybe it was because the atmosphere was scaring me. Maybe I thought Noah was going to leave me too.

Whatever it was, Noah stayed with me, embracing me with all he had. 

He was probably showing me that he won't leave me.

Ever.

The door opened to reveal a person about Noah's age, around 16-17 years old.

"Noah!" A wave of worry came over him as soon as he saw my brother.

"Henry…" Noah pushed me off him, "Take her." He handed me to Henry. As soon as henry took me Noah collapsed on the floor.

"Noah!!" We both screamed together but Henry calmed down fast. He took me in and then dragged Noah inside. Then closed the door after cleaning up the blood in the corridor.

He tore off Noah's clothes and saw a knife wound on his side.

"I'm sorry Noah." He whispered, "This is the only way I know to help." I sat by his side staring at him with wet cheeks and runny nose. Unaware of what he was going to do.

A few minutes later he brought something, maybe a metal? It was so hot it had turned red.

Then he pressed it against Noah's bleeding side.

The crucifying pain made Noah wake up for a few moments and scream his lungs out but as soon as he started to scream Henry pushed a gag in his mouth to stop the sounds.

After he had sealed the wound he put the metal away and Noah drifted back into unconsciousness.

At that time all I saw was Henry hurting Noah so I started crying again. I picked up the books on the table and threw them at Henry all the while crying and telling him he was a bad guy.

Henry didn't say anything and quietly took the hits. It wasn't like anything hit him too hard. Afterall, how hard could a four year old girl who was already exhausted hit a man?

After I was out of books to throw I kept crying till I fell asleep.

***

Noah and I stayed with Henry for months. We didn't leave the apartment because Noah was too cautious but Henry was kind enough to let us stay.

He and Noah were schoolmates and Henry always made sure we had everything we needed.

His living condition wasn't all that good either but he was still happy to help us out.

Over time I grew attached to him too but of course you can't rely on a person's kindness forever.

We left after spending quite some time with him and I was genuinely sad when I was waving him good-bye.

"Bye bye." I said as I waved at Henry. Noah held my other hand while we both were leaving.

"Bye-bye Nono. Take care." He waved back at me.

"Thank you Henry. You went out of your way to help us. I can never thank you enough."

Henry smiled. He didn't say anything in return, just waved back at us with a sad smile.

But whatever the case, he was a good person.

Sad I never heard from him again.

***

Noah took a part-time job as we settled in the countryside so I could go to school. Our days were peaceful. We often talked about Henry and the neighbourhood grandmas. We talked about my school, his part-time job but, we never talked about our family.

Actually, Noah never talked about it.

Everytime I tried bringing up the topic he would change it.

Maybe it was his way of keeping me safe and I understood that.

We were the last of our blood. He didn't want to lose me and I didn't want him gone, ever.

Everything was good. A normal life. We didn't have much but we were happy.

When I entered highschool Noah decided to get a full-time job in the capital city. 

For years he was hesitant of going back but then he decided that it was fine. 

Everything was now many years in the past.

We moved to a two bedroom apartment and I started high school there.

But in life, where you think nothing can go wrong, you will be proved wrong.

You can never be too careful.