• The darkness of sleep finally lightens into the gray of early morning. I glance across my bed. 3:14. Oh well, not like I'll have any luck of falling back to sleep. Remembering the chilling sight of my parents being killed flash through my dreams forty times. I leaned up realizing my hair, clothes and bed were damp, with sweat no doubt. I feel my hand gripped around something icy and cold. I glance down, my pocket knife. I fling it open and throw it sideways without a glance. I pull my body around and off the bed. I stand facing the calendar, my knife piercing the paper on October 15th. Happy 26th birthday to me.

    I slip on a black shirt, jeans, boots, leather jacket, toppped of with a grey scarf, brush my brown hair, and head to the kitchen to grab an apple when I hear a knock at the door. Jake. I forgot its Saturday, That’s when we head down to the shop for coffee and bagels. I swing the door open, feeling the frosty bite of the cold New York air.

    "Hey, baby." He greets sarcastically puffing smoke in my face.
    "Get that out of my apartment" I order with a hint of his sarcasm as I wave the smoke away, he drops the cigarette and stomps on it with his hands up. These sarcastic comments, dramatic acts, and his humor got me through the years at the orphanage with ease.

    "I’m sorry for puffing in your castle queen Ameth." He jokes taking a bow. Most of his jokes aren’t very funny but something about him gets laughs out of me.

    "That’s Amy to you." I say locking my door. He hooks his arm in mine as I step away from my door. Most people think we have something going on but honestly, he’s like an older brother to me.

    "Here you go sweetheart." Jake says sliding a box into my hand.
    "Why thank you sir." I thank fancily. My icy fingers fumble with the wrapping then open the box, inside is a pocket knife.
    "Happy birthday!” he chuckles.
    "Thanks, just what I need.” I thank sarcastically as I give him a quick hug. We walk on down the stairs and cross the street to the shop. We walk through the grocery section and into the small cafe in the back. I walk up to the counter.

    "The usual" I request sliding money across to the cashier but her eyes widen in fear and she takes a few steps back.
    "EVERYBODY GET DOWN!" a man’s voice yells. I feel jakes hands grip my shoulder as he moves his body protectively in front of me.
    "Sir, put the gun down." An unarmed cop orders.
    "NO! YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
    I hear a gunshot and the cop drops to his knees than smashes against the floor.
    "NO!" He screams again. Another shot and a little girl in a yellow raincoat and boots falls against the wooden boards of the floor, her mom weeping as she pulls her limp body into her arms.
    "NO!" He screams again. No gun fire, but Jake is hurled into a table and I feel a sharp pain as I’m pulled away from the counter by my hair.
    "You're very pretty.” He whispers into my ear, I smell alcohol on his breath. I shove away. There’s a gun shot.

    I feel a jabbing pain in my chest. My knees cave, Jake punches the guy and he falls to the floor.
    "Amy? AMY!" He cries pulling me into his arms I feel his warm body against myn that’s going cold. I see Jakes face blur until there’s only darkness. The last thing I hear is another desperate cry of my name. And I know it’s the last time I’ll hear Jake.