Fragments Of A Family

"Daddy!"

My daughter shouted as she ran up to me, hugging my leg tightly. A huge smile appeared on her face as she continued to snuggle into my leg. Alice, my other daughter, followed Alissa's attitude and grasped onto my other leg. Letting out, I chuckled; I kneeled down and embraced them warmly. They are everything to me. And always will be.

Gracefully, my wife sprinted into me, jumping into my outstretched arms and collapsing on top of me. She let out a small cry as she clutched onto my shirt. Her tears dripped down, blue like crystals. Patting her head in an attempt to calm her down, my little kids galloped around us in circles with enthusiasm.

"I'm home." I finally said after her weeping stopped.

"Wel...Welcome b...back." She said in a muffled voice.

After she had sorted herself out, we made our way into the living room, where we sat down and talked about everything we missed out on. I caught up on the kids' education and how all the mundane activities my wife performed throughout the day.

After we finished our discussion, my wife began cooking diligently. No chef in the world, no matter how many years they had practised this art, would be able to be on par with my wife. A rich scent filled the house as our noses tingled towards the source of the succulent aroma. Like a child, I rushed towards the kitchen to greet the heavenly dish that was being prepared. My wife, of course, in celebration of my return, was cooking a thick steak the width of a wallet.

Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I gave her a soft peck on her neck. It was warm and soft as usual. My lips tingled with ecstasy as it made contact with her skin.

"Honey, the kids are there." She spoke.

"Alright, sorry." I said, letting out a small chuckle.

Gathering around the table, we all made our prayers and dug into our meals. Steak, cornbread, egg rolls, chicken strips, tuna sandwiches, jelly. All laying out on the table waiting to be feasted upon.

"So, I was wondering, maybe we should go out tomorrow?" I asked as we ate.

"Yes! Let's go to the park, then to a carnival, daddy!" Alice said.

"Yes, please, please." Alissa added.

"If my beautiful daughters say so, then we shall." I answered.

And then we continued to eat away. One big happy family. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The park was very crowded. It's more than usual today. Children and parents swarmed around the multiple playgrounds, enjoying their time. Couples walked up and down the field, holding hands and reminiscing about their time together. Sitting under a tree in the shade, my wife and I watched from afar as the kids ran away, chasing bubbles in the grass. Smiles were beautifully crafted all around the park as people gathered around to watch the children play. There was a certain emotion that you would feel when seeing the joy of a child. It is something that is quite hard to explain, yet everyone understands what it is when it occurs.

"Daddy! Come play with us!" Alissa shouted as she signalled for my presence.

Getting up, I rushed over towards them, making sure they did not wait long.

Blink.

Suddenly, I stopped in my track, fear covering my face.

Where did the kids go?

"Honey, did you see..."

Turning around, my wife had also vanished into thin air. And then I noticed I was all alone at the park.

Everyone was gone.

Rushing up and down the same exact field countless times, my heart could not accept the fact that they could just disappear. And so, I searched and searched and searched. But to no avail. They had vanished. Heartbroken, I fell to my knees, my eyes beginning to tear up.

How could I lose them? My wife. My kids. My everything...

"Aw, don't be disheartened, Harold." A voice said.

"Whose there." I said, looking around a slight undertone of fear in my voice.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. You're safe here." His voice was low and spoke in such a monotone that it sent shivers down my spine. "Are you afraid?"

"No, I just want my kids back."

"Well, they are right in front of you. Take them."

"Daddy, I'm scared." Alice said as she appeared out of nowhere in front of my eyes.

Instinctively, I extended my hand and held her tightly.

"It's okay. You're safe with me, baby." I said, comforting her. But then she slowly withered away into dust in my hands.

"No. No, no, no. Please bring her back. Give her back to me!" I wept trying to grab every single piece of dust that I could.

"Come on, Harold, you know that this isn't real." He said it with such mockery that such intense hatred for him brimmed up inside me.

"I don't care! Just let me hold them. They are real to me! You have no right! None at all, so give them back!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"What a sorry sight. I'm bored now, Harold. It's time to wake up."

And then I heard a click, and I awoke on a cold floor. My back aching from the harsh cold stuck onto it. Slowly getting up, I was in a small room. There was enough area to walk around for a while and enough to lay down anywhere. In the corner was a singular mirror. Standing in front of it, I observed myself.

My ginger beard and brown hair are the most standout of them all. Staring into my own auburn brown eyes, I felt my own fear crawling its way out of me. Fearful of what could happen, I immediately withdrew from the seductive mirror and made my way towards other parts. As I walked and walked,

I couldn't find anything. It's just a desolate mirror being my only partner. Then, the room went dark for a while. Raising my arms out, I prepared for any unwanted guests.

What is going on? I thought to myself.

Slowly, I began walking around, trying to find my way. Unexpectedly, the room lit up brightly again.

"What was the point of that?"

As I turned my head around, my body froze. Tears began to well up in my eyes as my lip quivered, Picture of my daughters and wife were plastered all across the walls. Every inch of it was covered in them. Only the mirror stood out as if it wanted me to watch my own body succumb to madness. Walking up to one of the pictures of Alice, I brushed my hand over the photo. It was almost impossible to see anymore as my eyes had been overtaken by so much water. All I could do was wail like a child.

"My beautiful daughters. Forgive me for leaving you." I whispered.

Before I knew it, I found myself circling the room hundreds of times, observing through each singular photo form top to bottom. The more photos I saw, the more my emotions became restless. And the more my emotions became restless, the more I lost my mind. And the more I lost my mind, I knew that there was no hope for me. All I could do was wonder like a lost fool. A pawn in this mad man's pleasure. Frustration built over me as I felt my pride as a man demolished in front of my very own eyes.

I could not take the pain anymore and resorted to weeping in the centre of the room. Closing my eyes, all I could see were the photos that were engraved into my mind. A man surrounded by photos of his very own children, those who he cannot touch, or comfort was something only the devil was capable of. And I realised that the man in control of this was the devil himself. And so, I drifted into my own depression. A lone man in the middle of the room. Surrounded by his children. All of them peering directly into his soul.

God save me from this torment.