So here it begins, in the town of Charlton.
Aiden and Elyssa, two very red headed twins.

We had lived with Granny Lara, who took us in after the death of our parents.
Mother was a sweet and kind soul. We always remembered dancing around the living room
with her. Baking cookies and stuff. Daddy we always did outside things with, like
fishing and playing ball.

One night, after we had been out for dinner this man tried to mug dad. Dad just looked
at him like he was an idiot and punched him right in the nose. It was times like these
when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the
bravest man who ever lived. That is my most precious memory I hold onto.

Granny did try her hardest, even though she wasn't a very good cook.





How many words can explain a bond between two siblings? Even since We were toddlers
we had an amazing connection. We did a lot together, chasing each other around the
house playing tag, chasing the neighborhood cat to put a bell on her neck. Heck we
even dug in the sand looking for crabs once. Until it bit into Elyssa's finger, and that was the end of that one.





One gloomy and rain-ridden day, the kids decided they were going to share a room.
We decided to join our bunks together, and got rid of the bottom bunks so they could make a fort.

Fort Ashby they named it.

Their favourite Pac-man lamp, books, Miss tripper (Elyssa's toy bunny), and Mr Noodle
(Aidens bear), a pile of books (for story telling), and Mothers favorite house plant, all got
places in the fort. Of course, the dress-up chest also.





Our favorite dress-up game was "Battle of the ROAAAAAR-asours."
We would stomp around crushing buildings, in search of the famous medicine that
would turn us back into people.
Sometimes we would have a rolly-polly fight and roll down hills and stuff.
Elyssa always did beat me.
Sometimes I would storm off in a huff; her success was really annoying.





Elyssa really loved to pretend she was a message bearer thing. She would make me sit and listen to her
babbling for hours. By watching her, I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl.
Maybe she will be the President one day, with all her bossiness and controlling. All while being filled
with a sugary, marshmallow center. Sometimes I wish I had her confidence.





I used to be scared of the dark once; now, I never bothered: I knew that I had Elyssa at my side.
Together we could accomplish anything, defeat evil and triumph over home work.
It gave me a sense of pride to know that after losing so much, we were still able to hold onto little things.
Our innocence, independence, and creativity still gave most people a run for their money.
It gave our dreams more of a special touch.





But like everything, when you are having a good time and everything is perfect, something has to go wrong.

It was a Saturday morning. Not long after breakfast. We were playing hide and seek, Elyssa was counting upstairs.
While I was running outside, I slipped and bumped my head on the side of the pool.
It took a while before Elyssa found me. But it was too late.
The poor girl has to live with that vision for the rest of her life.





The day of my funeral Elyssa was calm and collected. After the men had come and put my head stone
in the hill in the front yard where we used to play tag, she planted some dandelions and agapanthus or something.
She had put up with all these people coming to pay their respects, spoke to them politely but was on the
verge of breaking. Then, once everyone was gone and the sun had started to set, Elyssa broke down.
The tears began to fall and they wouldn't stop.





Granny had watched from the window. Once she had cleared everything she needed to take care of, she set out to
comfort her grandbaby. She wanted to comfort her. Give her solace, and tell her everything is going to be ok.
But Elyssa wouldn't hear of it.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE GRANNY, EVERYONE IS DEAD AND SOON YOU WILL BE TOO," yelled Elyssa.
Granny stood there for a bit just staring at Elyssa, not sure what to say and not wanting to making anything worse.
"It's going to get better sweetheart, and I will try my best not to leave you anytime soon." Granny soothed as she finally
got to hold her grandchild in her arms, in attempts to hide her from all things miserable.





After Granny finally got Elyssa to sleep, she broke down too. Blaming herself for this tragic incident, causing
Elyssa more pain then she deserved. Knowing fair well that if she had that damn pool fenced, this would not have
happened. She decided she was going to have it emptied and filled with concrete tomorrow. Still, this would not take
away the pain, the aching and the hurt. Three beautiful souls taken away far too early and watching everyone else suffer.
But she will be here for her grandchild, even if it kills her.