Chapter 5: Holly (Part I)

When God punishes you for taking a martyr for granted.

I lay in bed, unable to sleep, I felt uneasy and sick, something was wrong. I sat up, the eerie silence from before returning, taunting me. With the silence and my gut, I couldn’t ignore it this time something was wrong. Nan flooded my mind, and tears streamed down my face; no, no, no...Not now.
“Nan!” I yelled, my high pitched wail ricocheting off the walls, the thud of my feet on the wooden floor matched the slow agonising pounding of my heat. I hit a brick wall, or so it felt. My breathe escaped me, my heart skipped and couldn’t seem to find the right rhythm as I stood there at the end of the hall, speechless and flooded with tears that ran so fast I thought my eyes would flood out along with them. I walked to the land-line attached to wall and dialled for the police. I was so shocked so numb to the pain, of my loss. Whatever filthy b*****d was toying with my family had to be stopped, before he killed all I cared about, I felt like a puppet on a string; my life controlled by those who take pleasure in the pain of others. I was more angry than anything, the sight of my Nan truly one that will be singed into my memory forever.
     The police arrived within moments, they were good like that.
     “Holly, do you have anyone you want me to call” Deputy Jones asked softly, after he found me sitting on the edge of my bed, shattered into a billion pieces. I now knew how Nan felt to lose someone dear to you. She was all I had, why would someone do this to her?
     “No, I’ve already called the morgue” I said bluntly, trying hard not to cry.
     “What about your family?”
     “I have none left” I said coming to terms, with the situations. Tears streaming down my face, I lent in towards him holding him close. I wasn’t much of a hugger but he looked like he needed it more than I did. I looked up from his shoulder and saw the coroners take my Nan away from me before my eyes. The situation hadn’t really hit me yet besides form initial shock; I was completely numb to the fact that she was really gone.
     Life was tough the weeks that followed, neighbours came and brought me baked treats and offered they’re sympathies and to be honest I hardly knew any of them. I never really knew how to get by on my own, I always thought of myself as strong and independent lie I could tackle a wildebeest if I wanted to. I am surviving though, it been almost three weeks now and I have less burns and bruises from cooking and I even did I little gardening. I put all childish things aside, I couldn’t live like that any more I had to be sensible and responsible. I only had four years left of official childhood, I wouldn’t miss much. I would then be internationally recognised as an adult an able to travel freely on my own. That was always the dream but I couldn’t bring myself to leave this place, not now. Perfect; I’d cut my finger once more, this time on a steak knife. I sighed, dropping the useless towel in the bin. I should have replaced it, but it only had a few holes I thought it would still be alright -guess not. I went out the back door and washed the cut under the tap not wanting to contaminate the dishes in the sink.