Little Bird (new version)

AMARA

"Amara," Aria says. "We're going to take you to the hospital."

"The wh—what?"

"It's where they'll look over you to make sure you're okay." She explains.

"N-no."

She furrows her eyebrows. She's very pretty—she has medium length blonde hair and brown eyes, and perfect cheekbones. I can make out the freckles dotted over the bridge of her nose. I frown; maybe if I looked like her people would've liked me more, and they wouldn't have been so mean to me.

     "What do you mean?" She asks.

     "N-no thank you. I can s-stay here." I whisper, pushing the words out quickly because if not I'll be too afraid to say them at all.

     "You don't have to stay here anymore." Dad tells me. He's scary; he's tall—so much so he could touch the roof with his hand if he wanted to. He has lots of muscles and could probably tear me in half if he wanted to.

     "No th—thank you." I repeat.

     The door opens and a younger man steps in. "Kasey, I need you out here."

"Okay, one minute." She says. He leaves. "I'll be back in a little bit, alright?"

She doesn't wait for a response. She doesn't wait for me to tell her that no, it's not alright. I don't want to be left all alone with these strangers. She just walks out, closing the door behind her.

I wrap my arms around myself, my frown deepening.

"Are you cold?" Dad asks.

"N-no." I whisper, even though I am. I'm freezing, but it isn't bad. I've gotten used to being cold.

"Why don't you come sit on the chair instead?" Aria suggests.

     "No th—thank y-you." I repeat again.

     "I'm sure it's much comfier than the floor." She attempts.

     "I—I'll stay h-here, th—thank you." I whisper.

     She looks up at Dad. He looks down at her, and I begin to feel self-conscious. I back up against the wall, my hands starting to shake.

"Amara." He says, and I forget that's my name for a moment. I look up at him, swallowing the lump stuck in my throat. "Is there anything we can get you?"

"N-no."

"How about some water?"

     I look up at him. I do want water. I feel like I haven't had any in forever. Still, I shake my head.

"Why don't we sit on the floor with you?" Aria asks.

I look up at her, then back down at my legs silently. A few moments pass before she lowers herself down onto the floor, sitting with her legs crossed. My eyes widen a little.

Dad sits down too with a small sigh. I frown. Why are they sitting on the floor?

Dad looks uncomfortable. He shrugs his jacket off, and my hands begin to tremble when I see that he has drawings all over his arms. They're scary. Intimidating. I think he should wipe them off, because who wants to look scary? Why do people intend to make people be fearful and afraid? Why do they get to do that?

I don't say anything, and neither do they. They just sit with me. I wait for them to shout. To scream at me to get up or to do something for them, but they don't.

The woman comes back once, looks at us and then leaves again after grabbing a couple more files.

At one point, Aria moves. I snap my head over to her and watch carefully as she moves her legs behind her.

     "Why don't I go get some food?" Dad speaks up after a long time. I look over at him and then back down at the floor.

     "Okay. I can stay here with her." Aria tells him.

     "Alright." He stands up. They both have strange voices unlike my own. "Amara." He says.

     My eyes widen again as I look up at him.

     "I'll be back soon with something for you to eat and drink."

I focus my attention back onto the floor. He leaves.