Soldier On

Soldier On.

Sam sighed as she heard her parents fighting, again.

She winced as she heard a door slam, and knew her mother had taken off.

Rubbing a tired hand over her face, Sam decided to go downstairs and see what was wrong this time.

She walked cautiously down the stairs and into the kitchen, where she spotted her father sitting at the table with his head in his hands.

Sam cleared her throat and watched as he turned to her

“Um, are you hungry?” She asked

Her father shook his head

“No.” He said quietly eyes watching her

“Right, well.” Sam said looking around at the smashed plates, and upturned chair

She sighed and moved over to start picking it up, but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder

“Leave it.” Her father said, eyes filled with sadness

Sam inclined her head as he turned around and sat back in his chair

“I think I’m going to head over to the park, if that’s ok with you?” Sam asked

Her father just nodded his head, staring off into space

Sam sighed, and turned to leave the house stopping to grab her jacket by the door

As she opened the door, she felt the cool breeze of autumn, and knew it had been a good idea to grab her jacket.

Sam closed the door behind her, and began walking down the street.

She looked around at all the yellow and red leafed trees, and waved to her neighbor, Mr. Johnson who was outside raking up the fallen leaves.

As she turned the corner, Sam saw the park about a block ahead of her.

As she walked she tried to push out the thoughts of her parents, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep them at bay.

It hadn’t always been like this. Her parents had loved each other, once upon a time.

They had met at a party in their senior year at high school.

Her father once told her that the minute he saw her mother, it was love at first sight.

So they dated, and a few years later they got married, and a month after that, a baby was on the way.

Andrew Collins Williamson, the boy who should have been Sams’ little brother. He had died at birth, leaving her parents heartbroken. Sam figured that’s probably when all the problems began.

Her father always told her that they loved her, but her mother had never been the same since she lost her baby.

Her mother Jane Williamson, a beautiful brown haired, brown-eyed woman, who loved life, lost her spark.

Her hair became uncared for; her big brown eyes no longer held their usual brightness in them. Instead they became dull, and almost lifeless.

Jane started leaving, not telling anyone where she was going or when. Sometime she wouldn’t come back home for days, sometimes weeks.

Her father Henry Williamson, tried to be understanding, and supportive of his wife, but eventually he grew tired of her constant leaving and uncaring attitude.

So they began fighting. Sam had been nine the first time they ever fought. Well at least the first time they ever fought in front of her.

Over time their fights started to escalate from quiet hushed conversations, to full blown out yelling and smashing of objects.

Sometimes Sam got scared, to where she thought about calling the police, but her mother would always storm out of the house, and drive off before she could work up the courage.

Sam sighed as she entered the park, and walked over to the swings.

Sitting down she brushed some of her long curly brown hair from her face, and looked around.

The park was pretty much empty, except for a few joggers, but Sam had expected that. Most people where probably home eating dinner, and didn’t want their kids out, seeing it was starting to get dark.

Sam sighed and closed her blue eyes, feeling the cool October air against her skin.

She opened them when she heard a whimper. Looking around Sam spotted a little boy curled up beside a tree.

Standing up, Sam walked over to the little boy, and kneeled down in front of him.

She reached out a hand and shook his shoulder, and watched as his eyes snapped open revealing two bright green eyes.

“Are you ok?” Sam asked softly

The little boy shook his head, and his eyes filled with tears.

“I can’t find my mommy!” He said as the tears ran down his face

“Hey, don’t cry, I’ll help you find her. My names Sam by the way.”

The little boy sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

“I’m Elijah.”

Sam smiled “Well Elijah, what does your mother look like?”

“She has red hair, just like mine! And blue eyes, and um, her names Emily.” Elijah bit his lip, but then looked back up at Sam

“That’s it really.” He said quietly

Sam nodded and stood up holding out a hand, which Elijah took.

“Come on then, lets go look for your mother.” Sam and Elijah started walking around the park, looking for Emily.

“What if we don’t find her?” Elijah said looking up at Sam with big, sad green eyes.

“We will. I promise.” Sam said

Several minutes later Sam spotted a woman, who was looking frantically around the park

“Elijah, is that your mother?” Sam asked him pointing to the lady in the light pink shirt

Elijah’s face brightened and he nodded

“That’s my mommy! Mommy!” He called out running over to her

Sam watched as the woman turned around, and fell to her knees, pulling Elijah into a big hug.

Sam smiled as the lady took notice of her.

“Who are you?” The lady asked kindly

“Mommy, this is Sam, she helped me look for you.” Elijah said

Sam watched as the woman stood up, picking Elijah up with her.

“I’m Emily, thank you so much for helping my little boy.” She said holding out her hand and smiling brightly at Sam

Sam took her hand, and smiled back at her

“Nice to meet you, and it was no problem.”

“Well I suppose we should be getting home now,” Emily said after a moment

“Elijah what do you say?” Emily asked looking at the little boy curled up in her arms

Elijah lifted his head and smiled shyly at Sam

“Thank you.”

Sam smiled at him

“You’re welcome.”

“Come on, little one, thanks again.” Emily said walking away

Sam waved bye, then she turned and left headed back to her house.

While she was walking home Sam thought about what had just happened. Elijah was lucky to have a mother like Emily.

Sam wondered what it would be like to have someone like Emily as her mother. She wouldn’t know, her own mother never took her anywhere, or did anything with her.

Sam sighed and was shocked to realize that a tear had made its way down her face.

She wiped it away, and pushed those thoughts away. There was no use dwelling on the past.

Sam spotted her mothers car in the driveway, and let another sigh escape her lips.

She stood in front of the door, and listened to her parents arguing.

Sam took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and walked inside.