Silence is Suicide.

Chapter Three.

I glanced at the clock. The dull, green numbers flickered "3:47." My seven year old sister, Kimmi, was going to get off the bus and bounce through the doors in about eight minutes. I slowly climbed out of my bed and cautiously tip-toed into the living room.

My monster of a mother was passed out on the floor with an unlit cigarette in her fragile, weak hand. I gulped and hesitantly walked over to where she laid on the floor. I checked for breathing and a pulse. She had both. With quick, nimble fingers, I pulled the cigarette out from her hand and into my own pocket.

I hurried back to my room. I grabbed my half dead, ugly, old cell phone and texted my grandmother.

"Please come pick up Kimmi." I sent her.

"What's wrong?" she replied quickly. I'm assuming she had that text in her "Quick Text" dictionary because it's used so frequently.

I typed the magic word, "Mom." and I knew my grandmother would pick little Kimmi up in a heartbeat.

I walked into Kimmi's room to begin packing her clothes. Almost all of her things were pink. I didn't know how long she would be at our grandparent's house, so I packed her a week's worth of things. I picked up her bag full of things and her favorite pink stuffed bunny I gave her when she was just a baby. I quietly walked through the living room and waited outside on the cold porch, waiting for my sister.

It's very sad that she's used to these kinds of things. I don't think she fully understands what's happening. No child should ever have to go through with this.

My sister trudged home, barely able to move in her snow suit. "Hi Emerson!" she started to run, which looked more like a bounce, when she saw me.

She tackled me for a hug then pulled away. "Why are you outside?" she asked with a confused expression.

I pulled the small notepad i always carried with me from my pocket. "Waiting for grandma." I scratched on the paper, "You're staying with them for awhile."

Her baby blue eyes looked up at me in confusion. I pulled her close to me and hugged her. I brushed some of her naturally curly hair, blond hair away from her face.

"You're coming too, right?" I heard her muffled voice say.

I shook my head, no.

"Why not, Emerson?"

Then, my grandmother's silver Buick pulled into the driveway. I took Kimmi's small hand and lead her to the car.

"Come along, Kimmi." my grandmother said taking her things and putting them in the trunk. My grandmother didn't bother to acknowledge me.

Kimmi's small hand waved me good-bye from the back window as the car drove away down the street.