by Zahra HT

Created on: November 04, 2009

A small bell rang as I pushed the door open. The sweetshop was almost deserted, like everything else in that town. Smiling at the shopkeeper, I picked up a bag and started choosing some sweets. As I arrived at the row of colorful jellybeans, my feet froze. I stood there looking at the jellybeans for a long time. The shopkeeper must have noticed.

"May I get you anything? Perhaps some jellybeans for your granddaughter?"

"I don't have a granddaughter," I replied without turning around to look at her.

"Oh," she murmured, slowly going back to her counter, casting an awkward sideway glance at me.

I kept staring at the jars of jellybeans. I couldn't tear my eyes away. Slowly, the colors started dancing before my eyes. I was no longer a bent woman in a raincoat. I was a healthy, joyful seven-year-old skipping around the shop, pointing at the sweets she wanted.

"Daddy I want some of the orange ones too! And red! Oh and a handful of the blue ones, Jake loves blue!"

Her father laughed affectionately. Addressing the shopkeeper, he repeated what his daughter had asked for.

He paid for everything and they left. It was raining outside. He opened an umbrella and held it over their heads.

"Ready to go home?" he asked as they walked towards the car.

"Do we have to? I still want to go to the park."

"But it's raining, you'll catch a cold." He bent down and kissed her forehead. "There's always tomorrow," he added, smiling.

She smiled back. "Tomorrow," she agreed.

She held her father's hand tightly. It was starting to rain harder. They stopped on the side of the street, waiting for the lights to change. The car was parked on the other side.

Suddenly, she noticed a clown handing out balloons in a shop on the other side of the street. Taking her hand out of her father's, she ran across the street, her eyes set on the red balloon the clown was giving to a little boy in a stroller.

"No Eliza," be careful! She heard a shriek. Tires screeching. She turned around to answer her father. Someone covered her eyes, dragging her into his arms.

Eliza looked up.

"Mom are you okay?"

As my eyes adjusted, I saw a young man holding me in his arms. The shopkeeper came forward to help. I closed my eyes, trying to remember where I was. The sweetshop.

"Mike, can you please take me home?"

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