SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO

Clutching my teddy bear, my thumb in my mouth, I head downstairs, hearing the noise from the basement. I make my way through the darkness quietly. I peek around the corner. Squinting my eyes through the darkness, I can see the guards bringing in the man. Struggling with him, I stood and watched him being taken into the room.

My eyes adjusted to the small lights down in the basement, I make my way down the stairs, seeing the shadows move around. I stay in the dark, clutching my teddy. I pull him toward my chest. Breathing harder, I move more to the door.

I bring my eyes to the small opening. Peeking inside, I see the man tied to a chair.

There was man near a corner, he held something in his hand. It glittered in the light.

Swallowing, I looked at the man lean down. It was Uncle Dante.

"Where's my money at?"

My breathing got harder, I listened to the man breathe.

"I don't have your money, Dante. I needed to feed my family. Please have mercy."

Uncle Dante moved his eyes back to the man. His face was blank.

Clearing his throat, he stood up.

"I don't give a damn about you needing to feed anyone. You borrowed money from my business, and you need to pay it back."

Uncle Dante brought his face closer to the man. He put his arms over the chair.

"Now, who should I kill first. You or your wife?"

Shaking, my breathing was harder.

He brought the glittery object to the man's head. He pushed it against it.

"Norah?"

Turning my head to the whisper, I see Enzo standing there.

Silently running to me, he pulled me into his chest.

"You can't be down here, Norah. My dad will be mad, and so will yours."

Letting me go, I look at him. Pulling my thumb from my mouth, I point to the door.

"I want that thing he's holding. It's pretty."

Enzo toward the door, He peeks inside. Quickly turning back to me, Enzo shook his head.

"No, Norah, It's not pretty. You can't have it, It's bad."

He grabbed my hand, he pulled me back towards the stairs.

"Why did you come down here? I can't protect you if you are not around me." Enzo panted.

Enzo let my hand go, we finally reached the top of the stairs.

"I wanted my daddy." My eyes were trying to adjust to the small light that was on in the living room.

He brushed my hair away from my eyes, bringing his lips to my forehead. He looked around the area. "I know, Norah. But you can't go down there. Not now, not ever. Promise me, Norah, you'll stay near me?"

I clutched my bear, My eyes stayed on Enzo.

"What's my daddy doing?"

Enzo put his hand on my shoulder, he exhaled. "He's helping the bad men pass a test. It's an important test of trust."

He gripped my shoulder, Enzo quickly let go of my shoulder and gripped my hands. "Let's go back to bed."

He tugged me upstairs, gently opening up my door. I jump back into bed, he crawls into bed next to me.

Enzo pulled the cover over us and laid next to me.

Bang!! My whole body shook with fear. "Enzo what was that? I'm scared."

Enzo pulled his hand into mine, I felt the comfort in him.

"It was nothing Norah. Can you sing me that song you learned in class? That one about the sunshine?"

My eyes adjusted to Enzo wrapping his arms around me.

The screaming from downstairs continue Enzo wrapped his arms tighter around my shaking body.

My voice shook with each scream and bang from downstairs. Enzo gently rubbed my back and comforted me. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear how much, I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

Enzo kissed my head. "That was amazing Norah."

Listening to him breath, he whispered into my hair. "I'll always protect you Norah, you will always be my sunshine. You are my everything."