Thoughts will be in quotation marks

Dom.
I was alone. All was dark. Not even Queenie was here. I felt scared. And cold.

   Where am I? Where's Queenie?

  "Mom?" Where is that voice coming from? "Mom? Momma where are you?" I heard the meek voice speak again. I tried to look around me. Moving felt like I was underwater, yet I could breathe fine. Slowly the sound of sobbing was building into my mind.

   "Who's there? Why are you crying?" I swam through the darkness around me, hoping to find the source of the heart wrenching sound.

    As I turned my head to the left I could see a small sphere of light. I swam towards it. As I approached it I was able to stand upright in the air. I began to reach for the sphere, my curiosity getting the better of me.

    Just before my hand made contact with the sphere, it exploded into blinding light. With it came shouting voices and whimpers of terror.

    "'IT' IS YOUR DAUGHTER! A small 3 year old child that practically worships her father. Do you know how hard it is to look at your child and explain how her father won't be around to kiss her goodnight?! Or why she always sees him on tv kissing women that aren't 'her mommy'?!"

   "That's your problem. Not mine. Take care of our daughter Kate." And with that the strange and blurred man left. The woman collapsed to the ground. Sobs shook her body.

    I reached out to comfort her before a small figure came scurrying from the stairs. I tilted my head at the familiarity of the features of this child.

   "Who are you?" I questioned the females. Neither answered me.

   "Mommy?" the child spoke.

  From there I watched as the mother and child walked into their living room.

   I saw the mother kiss the drowsy child's head. "I will always protect you." But as she stated this, I was shocked that she was looking to me instead of the child in her arms.

   "What? Who are you?" I spoke as the scene began to glow brighter and brighter until I could no longer see them.

   "In due time little one. In due time."

Then the scene was flickering, I saw that the mother and child were the center of it all. I saw homecooked meals, pets, other children and adults. My breath caught in my throat as I saw a familiar scene, it was the foyer of the first memory, but it was different. It was covered in streamers, ribbons, and the occasional balloon. There were pictures on the walls but none held the man I saw before. He was no longer in any of the photos. The ambiance was lighter. I walked to the kitchen where I heard clanging. There stood the woman from the first memory, she was cleaning up something that looked to be from breakfast. There was a plate of leftovers on the counter. They were tan circles of bread that were flat. "Pancakes"  I heard the mother speak quietly as she faced away from me. I saw as she turned off the TV before the small child ran in. 

    "Momma! Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny's here!"

  From there I watched as the mother and child duo spoke a bit more before the mother picked her up and carried her outside where the previously mentioned people stood. They were also seen often in the memories. "Wait, memories?" I didn't have time to process the thought before there was a change in the atmosphere. It became tense and stifling.

  In the driveway there pulled in a dark SUV. Out stepped a woman with ginger hair. She seemed to be carrying a large box covered in wrapping paper. I watched as the woman in the yellow sundress began leading the children indoors. The mother going to consult with the ginger. I followed the mother.  She stalked angrily to the fence gate where the woman stood. 

   "Couldn't be bothered to even show up?" She growled as she was handed the large box. 

  The ginger smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Kate. You know how he is." 

  "Yes, I've heard. Just tell him his daughter still adores him. Despite his lack of effort." Kate spoke venomously of the man yet kindly to the messenger. She nodded and the two parted ways. The ginger getting into the vehicle and telling the driver where to go. Kate heading indoors. Passing the man from a few minutes before. He was carrying a package of food that the others were teasing him about beforehand. He smiled sadly at Kate before heading over to the outdoor cooking device.

   I followed Kate indoors as she maneuvered the large box indoors to where her daughter and the other child were blanket hunting with the pregnant woman, the children not really looking with the same purpose as the adult. Whatever blankets they grabbed were taken to the living room where they were building a strange misshapen bunker.

   I've sort of enjoyed watching these people. The only thing that bothers me is the nagging feeling at the back of my mind-at least I think it's my mind. Maybe each of my personallities has a mind scape to themself. Before I can go off on that tangent though, I clear my head to watch the family. Their interactions, the way they move, everything about them seems so familiar. I feel as though I have seen this before, but from a different point of view.

  Where have I seen this?

"Not yet my child." I look back to the adults to see them all looking at me. Everything had paused around us. Kate walked towards me and raised her hands enough to touch my face. Tilting my face up to make eye contact. "You gotta keep fighting. Keep trying with all you have, but don't be afraid to ask for help. Your friends will be the difference between success and failure. Remember that."  She looked around as the scene began to fade. "I'll be watching you." She kissed my forehead. 

      I was back in my body's mind.

      Welcome back.

   What happened?

       You were ready. 

  Ready? Ready for what?

    To meet her. To meet our mother. 

       I woke with a small jolt. Queenie receded into the back of my mind. I sat up from Bobbi's lap. Her entire body slack indicating sleep. My eyes felt full and my gaze was blurry. Reaching up I wiped the tears from my cheeks and eyes.

        My gaze fell to my left ankle. If one looked they could see the small but noticeable anklet. It was braided and held two small beads. One represented me, the other represented Night. I smiled sadly. I had promised that we would escape with all of our loved ones, and that once we were out we would get proper anklets. At the time I had Nina help me weave together a bit of string and some beads I had made. Night had loved hers and I was glad to have made her happy. Any bit of happiness in that place was to be treasured. I feel more tears fall as I think of how I broke my promise. Not only to Night, but to little Nina. 

I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. Please forgive me.