I felt small enough to fit inside the pothole I was on.
I shivered.
The road was littered with debris- a brown shoe, pair of glasses, road map, backpack, a white sheet.
I turned my head away when my eyes fell on the white sheet.
I heard no noise except my labor breathing.
No one came for me.
I was alone.
I wanted mom.
I pulled my legs in closer to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.
I rested my head on my knees and watched drops ripple on the pavement.
The glare of the lights didn’t touch me but I saw their reflection in the rain: blue, white, red, blue, white, red.
“Cassidy?”
The word suddenly exploded with all the noise and pain I had been holding away.
“Mom?” I screamed hysterically.
“Cassidy?” Mom’s hysteria climbed. “Where’s my daughter?”
“We’ve accounted for everyone,” was the answer.
“My daughter was in the car with her dad!” Mom screamed.
I watched long inhuman shadows fall across me and move on. I heard my name again and again.
I screamed in answer.
“Cassidy?” I filtered Mom’s voice through the chaos.
“Mom! Please!”
“Here! I found her!”
I closed my eyes and let go.
I was safe.