A year passed, and we lived on, evading the soldiers and finding food. I began to relax. I sang songs to Lottie, songs that I found deep in my heart, songs I didn't know were there before. But more than that, I started to wonder, about my life before, longing to know what else there is in the world besides war, drought, and famine, wishing that I could remember my past.

Lottie had many stories of her family. An older brother who she loved to prank, a father who would kiss her on each cheek every day after he came home from the fields, a mother who made the most amazing food. A life I might've had, if only the soldiers hadn't ripped it from me.

"Sing me a song, Cassie!" Lottie begged as we settle down for the night. I started to sing the lullaby that I somehow knew, but it changed to a new song. A chant.

"Charlie and Cassie, best friends forever. Charlie and Cassie, Cassie and Charlie, Charlie and Cassie, best friends forever."

She was asleep, and soon, so was I. As I dreamed, I pulled up memories from my past. I was younger. I sang the song to myself in bed. It was my hope and dream and one and only joy. I made up the song for someone. Someone...

The scene changed just as I was about to grasp it. It was my one and only memory from my past, the one where I ran away. But a detail was different this time. I could see the woman who called out to me, and seeing her brought up memories. Her in the kitchen, her with my older brother and father. She was my mother.

But one detail stood out to me in particular. As I ran, I noticed a tiny thing about her.

She was pregnant. Charlie was the sister I never had.