Ash Lined Her Face

"Ar - Grandmother, let me help you inside." Now was as good a time as any to start calling her what she was. I helped her to her feet. My mom shared many stories with me about the sad woman in my arms. She'd made Ariel out to be tough. A fighter. After what Sharra had done to her city, she seemed tiny, not strong at all.

"Mizu," Ariel said between sobs. "All of my people."

"I know. I'm sorry." I helped her up the back stairs. She leaned heavily into me and I practically carried her inside and up to my room. "Lie down."

She did as I said, crawling across my bed and resting her head against the pillow. I took a blanket from the bottom of the bed and covered her.

Ariel was filthy. Black ash lined her face and clothes. She smelled like smoke. She appeared so insignificant. But she was more than that. She was my grandmother. My mom's mom. I would do anything for her.