- Title: Abandonversary
Characters: Holi
Time: 5:00pm
Age: 21
Mood: Questioning, Wondering, Slightly angry
Summary: She doesnt know why she tends to remember this day, but every year, she always manages to come right back to the same station she was left at.
Word count: 1113
Today was the 20th of July and Holi found herself in the same spot that she was always in every 20th of July [for as long as her foster mom started letting her go out without a chaperone], outside of the police station, looking lost and confused. The police knew not to really bother her by now, when she was younger, that was a different story, since she would wander here when her foster mother wasn't looking. This often prompted a whole slew of questions from “do you know where you are” to “Where are your parents?”. While this was nice now that she thinks about it today, when she was younger, that was a different story.
She pulled out an old but well kept teddy bear from her bag, staring at it with a frown.
This was the only thing she had from that day.
”Holi, would you like some ice cream?” her mama was always tired looking, but today it seemed like she was less tired. “Ice cream?! Yes please!” She's never had ice cream before, but she has heard the other kids at daycare say it's amazing! Holi wasn't really allowed very much in the way of sweets at home. -they will rot your teeth Holi! Do you want dentures at the age of ten?! Well you will get them if you even try a morsel of any sugar!- Whenever she was at daycare, her mother gave explicit instructions to never give her any types of sweets.
Even if the daycare lady felt bad for the poor child, she had to follow the wishes of the parent.
“Alright, grab your teddy and go wake your papa so we can go~”
Holi wasted no time, running and dodging some random objects to get to her father. He never looked tired, but he did get angry if Holi tried to bother him for no reason. “Papa?” She heard him snoring and decided to tip toe, tugging on his finger. “Mommy said we’re getting ice cream~” He popped up mid-snore, bloodshot eyes looking down at the little accident he managed to create. He swore his wife cheated on him, but he could not deny that hair color, the perfect blend of his and hers. “Yeah?” He sat up, stretching. He assumed today was the day, forcing a smile on his face, “Alright kiddo. Daddys up. Did you go get teddy?”
Oh! No she didn't!
Holi raced out of her parents room, stumbling and almost tripping into her room. It was small, but she never complained. Her mom and dad said they couldn't afford a bed for her just yet and didn't want her sleeping with them anymore by the time she turned three, so her bed was a small futon on the floor with her old baby blanket and two quilts that have seen better days. Either way, she could fit a drawer, and that took up most of the room.
At five years old, Holi did not realize that having a closet as your literal room was not something normal. Looking back on it, she remembered that the small house they stayed in was a two bedroom, but her father kept that for all his gaming things.
Holi was never allowed in there, and the one time she went….Her father was VERY unhappy with her.
Teddy in hand, the five year old girl walked up to her mother, taking the hand that was offered to her. “Alright.~” Holi smiled while looking out the car window, marveling at how the city looked today. It was summer, and it wasn't super hot, but still she was jealous of all the kids that got to play outside in their mini pools. Her parents said that she had to stay inside unless they were with her and they didn't want to go out often, but that's alright. She could watch her dad play games from the doorway or listen to her mother humm while she cleaned the house. Cleaning was always something her mother had her help with, especially when she asked too many questions.
There was an ice cream truck that they passed, “Momma there's an ice cream truck there.” “No baby, we are going to a special ice cream store.” Her father huffed and rolled his eyes, grumbling about making things harder than they should be. Holi did accept the excuse, bubbling with excitement. “Alright Holiday, close your eyes and count all the way to 300.” She wasn't sure if she would get that far, but she closed her eyes, feeling the car come to a stop. Her father took her out of the car, taking one hand while her mother took the other.
“You sure? I-I think….” “No, I'm not doing this. It was YOUR idea and I'm not about to back out now.” Her parents always fought about something so this wasn't new to the five year old. “This is what's best for US. You know that. “ “Yes but….” “No. That’s final. Let it be someone else’s problem. I already told you it was me or her, and you chose me. Deal with the consequences of your actions.” They came to a stop. “Holi, baby girl keep your eyes closed. Me and daddy are going to get your ice cream alright?” “Yes momma~” The moment they let go of her hands holi felt the need to open her eyes but she didn't want to ruin the surprise.
However, it seemed like something was wrong when it felt like she was waiting forever.
When the little girl peeked through one eye, she didn't see her parents at all.
“M-Momma? Daddy?”
Where were her parents? Where was her ice cream?!
Holi flinched at the memory, but didn't shed a tear. After crying on the steps of the police station, one officer that saw the entire thing came out to hug her. This did not happen often but when it does, it always breaks his heart. That same office came to sit down on the steps with her, hugging her close. “Hey Holi-Bear. That time again huh?” She looked up and smiled at officer Deacon, nodding solemnly. “Yeah. But that's alright. I'm glad it was you that hugged me that day.” The officer gave her a small kiss on the head, “Yeah kiddo, me too.”
Her parents left her, but maybe that was for the best.
Who knows what would've happened if she stayed in that household.
