Welcome to my first story ever made, when I was 12. I really do hope you will enjoy this, and sorry for the future mistakes and everything. Anywho, enjoy.

-Sophia xoxo

It bothered me how people would say,"Everything will be okay." or,"I know how you feel." Because they didn't. Nobody does. I would always keep a smile on my face so people would think that I was fine, happy, and well. But that was just all lie. An act.  Funny how so many people can mistaken my feelings with just a false smile sewn in my face.

Losing something can be hard. But losing everything is impossibly difficult. It hurts to be living in so much pain and misery. But yet that is my life everyday. Pretend,smile,act. Is that happiness?  Isn't it so hard to be happy when you could never forget that day when you lose everything that means the world to you?

I was only four years old back then. It seemed like it was the best day of my life since it was Christmas. White, luscious snow poured from outside. We were all finished with the fancy dinner. My parents had finally earned enough money for this feast. As a piano teacher, my dad got a small salary compared to buisiness jobs and other stuff.

On the other hand, my mom was a math teacher at the same middle school. It wasn't a lot of money, but the amount was just enough so that we can pay for the bills and taxes.  The meal was a roasted turkey, fancy breads, and sparkling cider. Although it wasn't much, I felt like the happiest 4-year old in the world. Little did I know it was all going to end very soon.

     "Honey, I want to hear one of your songs. The one you played when you met me. I really loved that one. Please? Just this want for your daughter and your wife." My mom begged. I found myself making a puppy face.

If my mom begged for anything, it must've been pretty special to her, since she hated begging people, especially for money. My dad had a thoughtful look on his face. "Hmm, should I? Maybe just this once..." he said, standing up from the couch. My mom cheered and clapped. 

  "Should I began?" he asked again, taking his time. My mom was jumping from her seat, like an excited puppy. "Honey, play it. Play it! I love that song." He played one note before he stopped. I frowned. "Daddy make it sound bad. Mommy help?" My dad seemed to like that idea. "Yes, play the song with me. Like last time on our date. You knew how to play too. I was by far better of course-" my mom cut him off, giving him an annoyed look. "Fine, I'll play that song with you."

Together they began. Each key played sounded like a million warm memories, played into one note. My parents looked at each other in a loving way, like both of the sharing beautiful moments in their lives. The song played itself into my heart, leaving it beating faster and faster.

I was breathless, looking at my parents in awe. It was all so beautiful. The melody was so delicate and light yet when you listen to it carefully, it sounded warm, strong, and embraceful. If heaven could sing, it would sound like my parents playing the piano.

 This went on for hours, but it didn't get boring at all. In fact, it was the best moment in my life. When they played, everything else was invisible to me. Nothing else mattered in the world. I couldn't hear anything else but the music. The more I listened, a smile made its way to my face, causing me to grin like an idiot.

The sound was so hypnotic, I couldn't pay attention anything else, like the fact that there was a weird smell in the air. Or that the fire place had set fire to the walls causing the whole entire living room to be set ablaze.

The song stopped when my mother hit a wrong key off note. My dad smiled warmly at her, but the smile faded away when a frown made its way to his smile. His eyebrows were etched together and he wrinkled his nose. "Darling, can you smell that?" he asked my mother. "Yes it smells like fire-",her eyes widened. "Oh no. No. No. No." She looked at the ceiling with a horrified expression. Smoke began filling the room, making its way to us.

As soon as my lungs were filled with the nasty air, I started to cough uncontrollably. It set fire to my lungs and caused my eyes to water. "Mommy, Daddy, it hurts." I said, coughing more. Things happened so fast. The problem moved from plain smokes, to deadly fires. Its weird to think that in just a few minutes, everything you love could be ripped apart from your life.

 All I saw was fire. Orange, red, yellow. The colors that seemed so beautiful and free, were causing so much destruction. I remember hearing screams. The doorway was falling apart, burnt and fiery. I remembered it falling towards me, slowly. My feet were glued to the ground, frozen with shock. I stared up at the burning doorway, with big eyes. Time froze. To warm strong hands shoved me out of the way, forwards and away from the door. I felt my self falling dow hard, cut and bruised, but still okay.

 I heard my mother cry out a scream. It was a sad, long, and mournful scream that I've never heard before. A short small cry that was less than an utter, yet held a thousand cries.  The whole doorway collapsed downwards. My mother and I made it out of the blazing room.

I looked around the ashes. Something was missing. Something big. Where was my daddy? Where was he?  Daddy, stop hiding!  I thought. I don't want to play hide and seek. Please.  I thought. Tears sprang from my eyes, and rolled down my soft, chubby cheeks.

My mother held my hand and dragged me down the fiery steps. She coughed, her eyes frantic and red from crying. "Run. Run darling. Please. Run. I'll be behind you. If you run, you might make it," I listened. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could, trying to avoid the steps that were caught on fire. I kept running until I made it to the door.

I turned around. "Mommy!! Where are you? Mommy?" I screamed. My mom was across the room, trying to find something she dropped. She was trying to find a piece of paper, the music sheets I realized. "The last one. The last one." She kept muttering.

My mother coughed once more. "Mommy! You don't need them. Mommy!" I yelled, tears streaming down my face. Then she stopped. Her eyes scanned the room. The last music sheet was on the fifth stair. The stair that was on fire.

 "Mommy! Don't!! Mommy!" my screams were left  unheard. She kept trying to reach it like her life depended on it. Her hand was stretched to the max, the paper still in arms reach. "So close." She whispered.

"Mom. No!"

She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.The cracked ceiling couldn't hold it anymore. The fire had burnt every base, causing it to lose balance.

Within a second, the ceiling came down on top of her. That was the last thing I saw before the door lurched open, a pair of strong arms grabbing me back, and I lost consciousness.