it begins with a flower and it ends with war

The little girl smacked her lips looking emptily at the pictures on the wall and after moments of silence she gets up, with the pup at her heel, and begin her search for food.

At the beginning when no one showed up, she though if she doesn't eat she would get her parents attention and they will come back. She realized that it wasn't her case when three days passed and she unconsciously eat dog kibble. She wake up when she though it was tasty.

A week passed and the six years old finally ventured in the other rooms, the still nameless dog at her feet. He was sticking to her feet at every step and despite the fact she didn't like him and was kind of scary, the little girl didn't have the heart to throw him out. One abandonment was enough for her.

'' Doggy!'' she scolded him when he tripped over his own feet. Huffing she walked over his fallen form just to get her check washed with drool. '' Ugh.''

She wiped the drool off already used with his attics and opened her mother door. Her bedroom, was separated to her father's since she could remember. The stale air immediately hit her and she grimaced. A wide open wardrobe, empty drawers and the faintest smell of her mother's perfume. On her mother's bedside was a note and a stack of papers.

School admission papers.

The dates when allowance comes.

More papers with things she didn't understand, like taxes and bills and medical things about her new dog. She didn't even understand half the words written.

What she know though was that her mother didn't leave an apology or a 'goodbye' note.

'' I don't think dad even tried at this point.'' she said once she left her mother's room. Was she still her mom if she left? Didn't she say that bad things should be punished?

She was curled down in front of his door, the dog leaving his fur on her, panting and just being a general bother in her mind. She didn't want to even think on the fact that he was actually really comforting.

Sighing she opened the door and was immediately surprised of how many clothes were left behind. It didn't look at all like her mother's, but that made it worse. Because shouldn't that mean he didn't need anything from here? Her eyes bein to water again. The dog bumping in her made her stumble but also brough her back to reality and she swallowed putting on a determinate face.

'' Right...'' she mumbled. The clothes were still on the floor, the same with his half drink coffee. There was a single empty cabinet, the one which had all his work related things. On his bedside was a heavy envelop. She looked back for a moment, at the dog that was sniffing the clothes madly and she relaxed a little.

The envelop revealed a small key, a small note with a four cipher number and something that say she has a spot ready for her in highschool.

'' I barely reach the counter...'' she muttered to herself. With her head bowed and dragged steps she exited the room, never to be opened again. She walked in the living room, climbing the sofa, the dog immediately climbing after her cuddling his big head in her lap.

She though of the steadily barren fridge and at this guy almost empty bag, and finally though it was time to get out of the house. Food makes you do dangerous things.

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With a bag bigger than her and an equally big dog at her side, the fool didn't want to stay in the house, she walked towards the closest convenience store. Her mother left behind microwave meals, doesn't that mean she should buy them in continuation?

The store though, didn't let animals in if the big sign with 'NO Animals' was saying anything.

'' Don't leave.'' she says, pleads really, to the dog before entering the store her heart pounding. It was the first time in a week she saw other people and despite the fact she recognized some Aunties and Grandma's from around the neighborhood, it was still her first time buying her own groceries.

The small bell-like sounds when she enters wakes her up from her daze and without looking at anyone she goes straight for the isle that showed frozen goods.

'' Oh my!'' an old women that she recognized as her neighbor '' Sora-chan? Did you and your parents come back from your trip?'' she asked smiling gently and walking closer to her '' I was so surprised when your mother packed so many luggage's so early in the morning. But she looked excited as well so I didn't bother her.'' the woman continued looking at the small girl stuffing frozen pre-made food in her bag

'' What about father? Didn't he leave with her?'' the little girl asked surprising even herself with how calm she was

'' Oh? I didn't see him, assumed he left before then.'' the old woman said hesitantly '' Where was your trip Sora-chan?''

'' Who knows.'' the golden eyed child said nodding to herself at her full grocery bag '' I didn't go.'' she walked away

'' Oh? Then who are you staying with now?'' the woman walked with her to the checking point

'' Umm...'' the girl hesitate, golden eyes moving awkwardly around to the old woman to the cashier to her groceries and finally the door. The outline off a big dog could be seen clearly staring at the shop. '' My new dad.'' she said paying and getting her groceries. The little girl left before either woman could comment at her choice of words.

She never once turned around to them, she also didn't hear the mocking laughter from behind or the rumors spreading.

' Sora Danuja was abandoned. Poor girl thinks the dog is her dad now. She must be cursed for being throw away like that. Like a puppy wanted by no one.'

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That's how her summer was filled.

With short travels to groceries stores, incontinently intimidate the postman to explain to her in simpler words how her bills should be paid.

With a vet visit, where she found that the dog was actually a pup, an Irish Wolfhound at that.

With silent nights and crying or screaming in her pillow. With frustrated screams at the pup she didn't know how to raise or cope with. That just didn't listen until she begin crying and he took pity of her.

With the Aunties comments every time, and with eyes following her around, every time she got out of the house.

And so when summer was over and her first year of elementary school begin, the little gold eyed girl was walked to the school with a too big dog following her steps, not seeing a school bento in her entire life and with whispers and nasty rumors following her around.