Amy was lying her bed. Soft aftertaste of toothpaste was still in her mouth. The room was dark, only night lamp produced dim light. She tucked in the blanket. Then, the door opened with a loud creak and Johnson entered. He held a book in his hand. She smiled. Her blue eyes shined, but with some tinge of fright.

"I'm scared, Papa" she said, pointing her finger at the wardrobe "Someone is there"

"Oh, really?" said Johnson "Let me go and check"

He slowly approached the wardrobe. Nobody was inside, only coat, some dress and jacket were hanging.

"No one is here, my dear" he said

"But someone was there. I saw" she said

"Okay, then I'll close it, so no one gets out of there, fine?" he said.

"Yes!" she answered happily.

The clock on the wall struck midnight. Pretty late for a 8 years old girl. The room was warm enough for Johnson to yawn constantly. Walls of soothing pink. Rays of placid orange light. Thuds of rain hitting the window.

"Papa" suddenly said Amy

"What, my dear?"

"You're my hero, Papa" she said and hugged him on his waist

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Ohhh, my Amy..." moaned Johnson, tears of sorrow rolled his cheeks. He bend down with his palms trying to hide his face.

"What's wrong, Papa?" said Amy

"No, it's nothing, my dear" he said, rubbing his eyes "Let's read some fairytale", the lamp was right behind him so Amy saw only his shaded silhouette. Johnson loved his daughter more than anything. His heart leaped of despair.

In half an hour Amy was asleep. Johnson sat there for the next hour, just looking at her, unable to stop crying. Then he kissed her on the forehead, went out the room and closed the door behind. Not long after sweeping off his tears he went to Charlotte. She sat on the porch stairs, smoking. Her chin shivered. A dead silence was around. The cigarette filter was burning her skin but she didn't pay attention. Her dark hair fluttered of chilly wind blows. His wife was weeping.

"She's sleeping. Would you like to see her once again?" he said standing beside

"I'm a bitch!" she mourned with tears like tiny diamonds standing at the corners of her eyes "I'm a fucking bitch!"

"Don't say that"

"Tomorrow they will come and take her from us! What can I do as her mother? Even death would be much more merciful. But I can not kill her, never in my life!" cried Charlotte, stomping

"Then what?" said Johnson. She suddenly calmed down.

"I know you also won't pull the trigger, so the only thing left for me, I can't stand this anymore. Promise me you'll take care of her after she becomes a piece of metal with flash inside"

"I will" said Johnson without a hesitate

"Then I wish you luck, sorry for me being so weak. It will be really hard for you" she said

"It's okay. I understand"

Charlotte passionately kissed him for the last time. Took a revolver from the drawer and with words "I'm sorry, Amy" shoot herself.

Johnson got cursed for his whole life. He promised nobody would ever touch his little girl. He wanted to die, but had no right to. Amy held him tightly, made him stay at this accursed world, forced him to contemplate as it burned.