All alone, in a child's world

"Wake up! I've got news!" I heard a loud voice, which has awoken me from my nap. I didn't have a clock in my room so I didn't know what time it was, but it was still dark outside. Half asleep, I started rubbing my eyes. Only then, I raised my head to see who has entered the room. It was Kai, that talented presenter with magnificent voice. Tone was indeed a very fitting stage name for him. 

 "Thank the Gods!" Valentina looked at the newcomer with a tired expression. She grabbed my hand in a reassuring gesture. Kai was looking very exhausted, he probably haven't slept at all. He also probably ran here to tell us the news, because big droplets of sweat were visible on his face and neck.  

 "Mister Leandro..." he glanced at me, and then chuckled "I mean, grandpa. He is alive."  

 Valentina's face twisted in a grimace, which I recognised as a mixture of relief and happiness, but she was too exhausted to actually smile. She sighed heavily, and then hugged me. 

 I raised my head, very confused "Why wouldn't grandpa be alive?"  My question, for some reason, made Kai uncomfortable. He looked at me with his joyous, shining eyes, and then showed me a bright smile.

 "Oh, dear Focus! Dear little Focus! Sorry to make you worry. Not for a second did we question whether he is alive or not!" His voiced sounded sincere, but the situation was indeed weird. He wouldn't hide anything from me, would he? 

 "Can we see him now? I want to see my pawpaw." I said, while freeing my arms of Valentina's hug.  

 "No." he smiled some more, his grin grew wider and wider "Not today. Your grandpa is very sleepy, he needs to rest. But he is safe." 

 "I want to see him! Kai, please!" I felt my heart sinking in my chest "You are acting weird. I want to see him!". I was ready to start whining, but he shook his head in a nonchalant gesture.

 "I told you already that he is sleepy. He needs to sleep. You are a big girl, no? Don't you know what a nap is?" 

 "Kai!! Stop acting like that! You are making me scared!!" I looked him in the eyes, which were bright and joyful, as usual. He was a great actor, I knew that. Everyone who worked in the circus was. Even though his smile seemed sincere, I could sense that he was in fact mocking me. He wasn't taking my concern seriously!  I felt tears running by my cheeks. All I wanted now was to see my grandpa again. I wanted to hug him again, to hold his hand. I wanted to hear him reassure me that everything will be okay.  But he wasn't there with me. Only Valentina and Kai were. One big sister, and one lying jester.  

 I stood up, ready to make a huge fuss. I gathered all my courage, and looked Kai dead in the eyes. "Everybody keeps lying to me! All I want to know is what happened to my grandpa! I want to see him immediately!" And to add more impact to my words, I grabbed him by his sleeve.  Kai grinned even more, but this time, it wasn't his usual smile which he was using during shows to entertain the guests. It wasn't the smile which I was used to. It was a smile full of pity, a weird mixture of pain and ridicule. He looked down on me, once again. "You little whore. Don't touch me, or I will sell you on a human market, where you belong. Leandro is not here to stop me, is he?" 

 I backed off. What was that? I didn't understand. Valentina stood up, either to capture me, or to scold Kai. I didn't want to wait to see what her intent was. I had to act quick, so I just ran out of the room, as fast as I can. 

 I heard some shocked yells, and voices calling me by my name. And also a lot of swearing. I didn't know what to do, I just kept running, as fast as I could.  It's not like I was a fast runner, Valentina sure was more sporty than me, and could have easily caught me if only she wanted to. But none of them followed me. At least that's what I thought, as I couldn't hear or see them.

 I stopped once I entered a deserted corn field. It was looking incredibly sad, all the plants were in the process of withering. The weather has been awful for the past few weeks, it barely rained at all, and it was very hot. Droughts are pretty common in the area where I live, but still take a deadly toll on farmers and their families. And also many citizens of our town.   So I was lying in the middle of the drying corn field, and breathing heavily. I was trying to process what was going on. I can't remember the last time when I was feeling so overwhelmed.  

 When I calmed my breathing enough to have a stable pulse, I started to analyze the situation.  It was a normal show, just like we usually had. I couldn't see the stage. And then, during grandpa's performance, Valentina dragged me outside. All the guests went home, because the show got cancelled. Grandpa went to the doctors, and he hasn't come back ever since.  

 The truth which Valentina was trying to hide was that an accident happened. Grandpa had to miscalculate his movements... or maybe he got distracted and slipped for real? But how could this be? He is a professional, he has trained years, and practiced his act hundreds of times. Is this really the truth?  There's no other way to find out, but to ask him. But he was far, far away, in some hospital, I suppose? And I was weeping in the middle of a corn field.   I was too exhausted to think of a solution at the moment. The night was harsh, and that run was rather demanding.  

 And even if I thought of something, what could I possibly do? I am just a child. Nobody takes a child's worries seriously.