Story 6 - Not Strong Enough

As Kari lay wide awake in bed, she could not help but get lost in thought.

Tears welled in her eyes.

I wasn't strong enough to protect Papa, big sis Janine, or big brother Mim… And now they're all gone… She thought to herself as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I want to become stronger…" She whimpered as she closed her eyes.

*

"Kari?" A voice called out.

"Hey, Kari, Tammy's here. Are you ready?" Another voice questioned.

"Ah!" Kari exclaimed, rolling out of bed.

"I must've overslept!" She cried as she began rushing to get ready.

"Honestly…" Abbey sighed as Kari came barreling out of her bedroom.

"Leave her be, Abbey; she's still growing." Sena giggled.

"I guess…" Abbey mumbled.

"More importantly," Sena began.

"Are you two getting breakfast?" She asked.

"You really should eat to keep your strength." She frowned.

"A-ah yea!" Kari nodded profusely.

"Big sis said we'd be getting something to bite on while we're shopping!" Kari shouted as the door closed behind her.

*

As the two were walking, Tammy pointed towards the park.

"When I'm stressed, I like to go down by the bridge on the lake and just gaze at the water!" She smiled.

"I don't think looking at dirty water will help anything, at least for me…" Kari muttered.

"What's got you so down anyway?" Tammy asked.

Kari looked at her, then quickly looked down.

"I-it's nothing!" She blushed.

"I mean, I won't push you to tell me, but just know the window of opportunity is there, okay?" Tammy said, smiling softly.

Kari's eyes widened, twinkling as tears formed.

"W-well…" Kari took a deep breath.

"I feel like maybe if I was maybe good at anything…" She swallowed hard.

"Just maybe Papa and the others would still be alive…" She said as she choked back tears.

Tammy's eyes widened.

"Kari…" She whispered.

"Big sis, I want to become stronger!" Kari cried.

"I want to protect the ones that I love in my own way, just like big brother Rick and the others!" She exclaimed.

Tammy looked down.

"D-did I upset you, big sis…?" Kari questioned in alarm.

"No, it's just…" Tammy looked up with tears in her eyes.

"I feel the same way…"