31 Anchor

"Mommy, there is a black car behind us." His mommy glanced into the rear-view mirror. He saw her eyes widen. But he did not know why.

"Mommy, what's happening?" he asked more.

"Nothing, honey, just close your eyes and sleep. You must be tired," his mommy said in a kind voice. She was the kindest person he met, even his childhood friend said that. He was so glad he had her. He closed his eyes and slept. She was right, he was tired.

But as soon as his eyes closed the car suddenly jerked. His mommy let out a tiny scream, and he was frightened. Chao opened his eyes and stared at his mom trying to get their car under control. There was another bump and Chao saw the black car crashing into their trunk. His mom had so much trouble to stay in the line.

"Mommy, mommy, what's happening?" he shouted, crying. Chao knew he had to be quiet but he was so afraid.

"Nothing, honey, close your eyes. It will be okay." She tried to sound reassuring but Chao was sensitive. He heard that panicked tone. His mommy was never in panic. She was as calm as toad in the sun. That was bad. But he was a nice boy, he always listened to his mommy. So, Chao closed his eyes, and tried to keep calm, tried to not cry anymore.

There was a last bang into their trunk. Chao felt a sudden force throwing him around. He pressed his eyes, to close them even more. And to not see how the black car smashed full force into their trunk, making them swing sideways. His mom had no chance of keeping the car straight. And she could only hope it wouldn't be worse. But their car was thrown against the wall, at the corner of the park. They crashed fast and front first, making their airbags fly out. Chao was thrown by sudden impact, but his car seat kept him safe. Nothing happened to him, only a few scratches. He opened his eyes and saw only smoke. White dust. He immediately started crying. Why was nobody coming? Why did no one help them? Why was his mommy laying down on the steering wheel? He knew what to do. He already knew how to unfasten his seat belt, so he did it. Chao leaned forward and tapped his mom on her shoulder. Many times, but nothing happened.

"Mommy!" he screamed. He looked around. There were some people, but they were only looking. Doing nothing. He opened his doors, getting out. "Help! Help! Mommy is not moving!" He was shouting while crying. But still, nobody helped him. They whispered amongst each other but that was it.

He would be as heroes in TV shows are, he decided and opened the doors to mommy. At least, he tried to do it. But the doors were not moving. Finally, there was one guy that decided to help him, that even shouted at others.

"I will help your mommy, okay? Stay here, okay?" The guy made him stay at the side of the pavement.

"Yes, yes, please, help mommy." He sniffled and cried more. The stranger put his hand through the window and tried to open the car from inside. Without any luck. He then slapped Chao's mom a few times to wake her up. She luckily came to consciousness. Chao saw her wake up and ran to her.

"Mommy, mommy, are you okay?" he screamed sobbing. She hazily looked at her son. Being glad he was okay. She knew they were going to crash and when she saw, it would be the side where Chao was sitting, she made some last efforts to turn the car, so he wouldn't be injured. She was glad to see him only with a few scratches. She sniffled. And smelled something very horrible. The white smoke wasn't only from the airbags, but her car was on fire. After a few seconds, she saw an orange light in front. The sirens, she heard, made her relieved a bit, but then she tried to unfasten her seat belt. It wasn't moving. She couldn't get out. In the panic clouded brain, she looked to the side, her child was there, too close. She had to save him.

"Chao, honey, run!" She screamed, seeing the fire getting bigger and bigger. She looked at the guy who was still trying to help her and with teary eyes, she calmly said only one thing: "Stop helping me. Please, save my child." The stranger noticed the fire. And seeing how big it was, he himself wanted to be far away from there. He nodded, turned around, grabbed the sobbing child, and ran away with him. The child was shouting for his mom, crying. When the car blew up. With the woman inside. The impact threw the kind stranger with the child on the ground knocking them unconscious.

***

Yitian was woken up by a scream. Unusually, not by his own, but it was from the next room. Chao's room. The scream came again. Yitian decided to go and take a look. He got up, went to the next room, and knocked on the door. Only another scream could be heard. It was a scream of agony. So, Yitian did not wait any longer and opened the door. He saw Chao in a messed up bed, grabbing his sheets and sweating. His mouth opened again. Yitian now clearly heard the scream. Mommy. Now knowing why, he climbed the bed, lifted Chao, and hugged him. Stroking his back, he was mumbling, it's okay, I'm here, all over again. Soon, Chao's screams transformed into sobbing, hugging back Yitian and almost crushing him, he calmed down.

"Please, don't leave me." This sobbing plea almost made Yitian cry.

"I won't. I will always stay by your side," Yitian said, knowing that Chao saved him, his soul, so he would never leave him again. Yitian's soul will always belong to him. Chao let Yitian go and laid back down. Yitian wanted to go back to his room, but Chao was still holding his hand. So, he laid down next to him being the only anchor that kept Chao sane.