Before Lyla awoke:

I stare in horror as my little girl and husband are pushed off the road right before my own eyes.
They had been driving home from the store. We lived right next to the river.
And the highway went across it.
Now my own husband and child had just been hit by a semi and we're being flung off the bridge.
I sob as the car splashes into the river.
No one ever emerges.

***

I awake sobbing.
It was only a dream!
I tell myself.
I jump out of bed and rush to my living room where a young girl sleeps.
I sigh with relief.
She isn't my own, but she looks so much like my late daughter.
She moans and twists.
I gently brush my hand across her dark forehead.

Hot.
I carefully flip her onto her stomach and unwrap the wet towel from around her.
Her whole backside is covered in oozing burns and blisters.
I grimace and quickly grab a new wet towel.
I wrap it gently around her.
She stops moaning and lies still.
I sigh and a tear slips down my cheek.
She is so much like my little Sophie.
I sit down in my rocking chair nearby and watch the little girl sleep.
Before long I nod off, myself.

***
After Lyla awoke:

Tap! Tap! Tap!
I gasp. Oh no!
It's gotta be Charlie.
I quickly conceal Lyla in my room,
then open the door.
My older brother stands there, as large as ever. His green eyes are wild with a light of love.
He wraps me in a hug.

As we chat, the Zink house fire comes up.
"It twas one of Azibo's Lassies." he tells me sadly.
My heart breaks then.
The little girl, Lyla, is my niece.

***

I stare at the hall where my niece has just disappeared down.
I hear the front door slam, and know that she is gone.
This is all my fault. If I had told her the truth..... None of this would have ever happened.

I stifle a wail and fall to my knees.
"Dear Lord, please forgive me!
What I have done is worthy of great punishment! If that be your will, rain upon me your wrath. But please dear God, help my dear girl! Please lord! I can not do this on my own. In your righteous sons name,
Amen."

I finish my prayer and hear Charlie start his own next to me.
When he finishes we stand, and he leaves to go find Lyla.
Well, I guess her real name is Rylee.
I sigh and quickly fix up her bed.

After Rylee fainted:

After a time, he returns with an unconscious girl in his arms.
I swallow.
He lies her down on the bed.
"Will she be alright?" Charlie asks.
I nod grimly.
"She most likely has just wore herself out. Now that I think of it, she hasn't had anything to eat today."

I carefully tuck the covers around the sleeping girl.
Charlie still stares at Rylee, worriedly.
"All she needs is rest and then some food."
I say reassuringly.
He nods gruffly.
"I told her 'bout me being her uncle."
I smile.
"What did she think about that?"

"She was asleepin' when I found her, but the lassie woke when I picked her up. I said I was her uncle, and she went back tae sleep."
He answers.
We stand in silence for a minute.
"Will you tell her family?" I ask quietly.
He looks at me pointedly.
"I have tae. I'll tell the lassie's family, gently."