Mummy brushed my hair and I closed my eyes, smiling. I loved it when she played with my hair. “Can I have pigtails, please?”
“Of course,” she replied. “You can have anything you want, my special girl.”
“Mummy, can I do your hair, too?” I asked.
“You can but Mummy’s hair won’t look as pretty as yours. Mine is too short.” She sat down and handed me the brush. I combed it through her short, blonde hair, pretending to be the mum.
“I want to be a hairdresser when I’m older.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you are destined for greater things.”
My eyes finally flicked open but only for a second. The light slides through the gap and I wince, closing them immediately.
“Scarlett!” I heard Jeremy say. “Hey, can you do that again? Scarlett, open your eyes.” I tried to but it was too hard and his voice sounded so far away. Then I was gone again.
I sat with David, Gregory, Linda and Freya, waiting for Mummy and Daddy to get back. The house was crowded today but we were the only ones still and reading. Jeremy ran through the room and out of the other door, chasing Evelyn. I wanted to join in their game but I had to read.
“Auntie Linda, how many days until I’m four?” I knew my birthday was coming up and reading about it with my family made it more exciting.
She didn’t look up from her book but replied, “Twenty-one days to go.”
“I can’t wait!”
“Neither can we,” Gregory said, stroking my hair and pointing back at the book, read to help me again.
“Is my daughter going to be okay?” Mum said. She sounded tired like she’d not slept in weeks.
I tried to remember my dreams but I all I could picture was Jeremy running after a little girl I’d never seen before. I didn’t usually dream. Well, I didn’t remember dreaming anyway. There were things I remembered. Mum combing my hair but she looked different. No one I saw was the same. I didn’t recognise anyone but Jer.
“She opened her eyes,” Jeremy said. “She’s going to be fine.”
Another voice I didn’t recognise replied, “It’s a very good sign that she opened them but there’s still some way to go yet. Let’s allow her to rest.”
I didn’t want to rest anymore. I wanted to wake up properly. I hadn’t heard Dad’s voice yet and I needed to know if he was okay. I tried my hardest, willing my eyes to open but it was useless.
The darkness was back for me.
The big room was the prettiest room I’d ever seen, especially because it was in a big, ugly grey warehouse. The floor was covered in leaves and Mummy said that’s because I was so special. My party was going to be the best party ever. Candles were everywhere, making the room really hot. “Wow,” I said, clutching my teddy in my hand.
Daddy held his hand out. He was standing in the middle of the room, in front of circle of rocks filled with green leaves. “Come, sweetheart.”
I walked over to him and looked around. Everyone was here and they were all dressed in white – just like I was. “Where’s Mummy?” I asked.
“Here I am, my special girl,” she said, walking into the room. Everyone moved to stand in a big circle around me, Mummy and Daddy.
Jeremy tugged on someone’s arm, but I couldn’t see who it was because Aunty Linda was blocking them. He looked scared and had tears running down his face. Jeremy was tough and I’d never seen him cry before. It made me want to cry. I didn’t like this anymore. Everyone looked down at me. They were so tall. I was scared. This was scary.
I looked up at Mummy and Daddy. “Can we go home now?” I asked, my lip trembling.
Mummy shook her head. “No, sweetheart. It is now time.”
Everyone was screaming. The flames were taller than Daddy. I started to cry and my body was shaking. “Mummy! Mummy!” I didn’t know where she was. I was too hot and I dropped to the floor. I wanted Mummy and Daddy to get me but I didn’t see where they went when the fire started.
Someone picked me up but I was falling asleep.
I jolted awake, but I was still in the dark. What was that? I had a horrible, horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Can you hear me?” Mum asked, stroking my hair. “I can see your eyes moving. Try opening them, honey.” That was all I’d been doing while I was conscious. Come on. I forced them open and this time they responded. “Oh, Scarlett.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Thank God you’re awake. Everything’s going to be okay now.”
I nodded slowly and smiled. My head felt like it was being bashed from the inside and my throat was as dry as the desert. “Water?” I croaked.
My heart was still pounding from the dream.
Jeremy was beside me with a cup of water and straw in an instant. “You sure like to be the centre of attention, don’t ya?” he joked, but behind it I could see the relief in his eyes. I sipped from the straw until the water slid down easily and no longer hurt to swallow.