Standing there looking out over the angry sea, Ginger held her closest friend and most beloved doll, Pumpkin, close to her heart. The wind played in her long, black hair, dancing in the pink and blue streaks. She brushed the loose hair back from her big, blue eyes with her skinny fingers, just as a bright yellow butterfly landed on top of Pumpkin’s ragged head. With a slight gasp, Ginger began to sing to the butterfly. She sang an old lullaby her mother once sang to her. Remembering the words and how gracefully they fell from her mother’s lips, tears began to fall across her cheeks. Her voice quivered as she spoke the last few words. She remembered that stormy night as her mom drove her to a skate recital.
“Mommy,” Ginger said in almost a whisper. “Will you sing me a song?”
“Sure, baby. What do you want to hear?”
“Sing me a lullaby.” Rain splashed over the windshield as her mother’s voice filled the air within the car. She had a voice like an angel and sang with amazing grace. She sang a beautiful lullaby any seven year old would love. It was a song about running through a field of wild flowers and chasing after butterflies. Ginger closed her eyes and listened to the words and absorbed their intensity as they drifted through the car.
Suddenly, her mom’s voice caught in her throat and horns began to honk all around, tires squealed, but Ginger couldn’t find the courage to open her eyes. The car jostled around as the sound of metal crushing under metal and the furious bang of the air bags caused her ears to ring and her heart the race. In a matter of seconds that felt like hours, everything was quiet once again.
Slowly, her curiosity got the better of her and she opened her eyes. First, she looked down the length of her legs and to her feet where shards of glass stuck in the carpet and in the sides of the seat. Then, she moved her eyes over the center console to where her mother had been sitting minutes ago, singing the most beautiful song she had ever heard, but now she sits there, slumped against the wheel motionless; breathless.
Warm tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached for her mother’s hand. Nothing moved and there wasn’t any sounds except Ginger’s own heart beat. Blood drizzled down her mother’s neck and pooled in the floorboard by her feet. Not knowing what else to do, Ginger reached for Pumpkin and brushed away a few chips of glass. Rain continued to pour from the clouds above. There was nothing for Ginger to do so she cried, lacing her fingers between her mother's and held Pumpkin close.“It’s okay Pumpkin. Momma’s only sleeping…”
“Ginger!” His voice echoed through the air and over the rocky ledge. “Ginger! Home. Now!”
Snapping back to the present, Ginger gripped Pumpkin tighter to her body and wiped away the tears dripping from her chin. The sun had begun to set and the sky was a beautiful shade of pink and orange. She could hear the calming sea as the tide started to rise and she could her the unsettling of rocks as her father reached the cliff’s edge where she sat.
“I thought I told you to come home.” He bellowed.
“I was just watching the sunset. I was going to be home soon.” She turned from her father and looked out over the mesmerizing sea and whispered, “Momma always loved sitting out here and watching the sun set.”
Her father’s hand was suddenly in her hair, pulling her to her feet. She wanted to scream out in pain, but there wasn’t anyone around. Her father threw her back against the rocks and started to walk away.
“Get home now. You have chores to do.” He said as he turned towards town.
Fresh tears began to blur Ginger’s vision as she watched him leave. There was no use fighting him. She crawled to Pumpkin’s side and lay there in pain. As she lay there, the sky grew dark and the air began to chill. With shivers covering her body, Ginger slowly stood, wincing in pain and followed the path back home.
The moon cast its gentle light over Ginger's bed as she crawled under th covers to rest. Her head swam with images of her mother and horrible thoughts of her father. She longed for her mother's touch and the sound of her graceful voice. Sleep overwhelmed her mind and her vision slowly began to blur as her eyes fluttered shut.Ginger drifted through darkness; floating aimlessly through space as a speck of light shone before her. She reached for the light; reaching and reaching, but never grasping it. Always, her fingertips fell just short of it. Her chest tightened and her stomach twisted into knots.
'What could it be? Where did it come from?' she thought as she gazed ahead.
'Do not fret, my little angel.' The voice came loud and strong, but floated gracefully through Ginger's mind. 'I am always here for you, dear one; you have nothing to fear.'
'Momma? Is that you, Momma?' Tears poured from Ginger's eyes. 'Momma, please answer me.'
'Hush, baby. I am here.' As she spoke the light grew bigger; coming closer and wrapping around Ginger. 'You are safe. Do not cry.'
'I'm sorry, Momma. I'm sorry.' ...
