Saddest sunrise

Past

Sigrid stayed in the cupboard until the first rays of sunshine crept through the slit at the bottom of the door. She silently step out of her hiding place only when she was sure that there definitely was not anybody in her vicinity.

“Why is it so quiet?” she whispered to herself. Even though her family did not have much, their house was always full of life. Sigrid tried to find her parents and checked their rooms, but it was empty. The sheets were strewn around on the floor as though they left in a hurry.

She did not understand what has happened. Most of all, why they did not take her with them if they left.

Sigrid decided to go outside because maybe one of the neighbour could tell her where the rest of her family is.

Outside it was not any different. Usually, after sunrise, the roads were bustling with people getting to work or going to the market to get food. On that day there was nobody.

It seems like everyone was taken away, and she was left alone.
“That can’t be true that has only ever happened in my scariest nightmares,” Sigrid thought. She kept walking until finally there was somebody she recognised. A woman who was one of their neighbours walked along the road with a basket full of vegetables out of her garden. Sigrid’s family sometimes bought things from them because they always tasted very good.

“Labrīt! Do you know where my parents and my brother are?” Sigrid asked the woman.

“Oh no! Poor child… You do not know what has happened? I am going to bring you somewhere safe, but you need to be quick nobody can get suspicious of us.” she answered, but Sigrid still did not understand what is wrong.

“Who is suspicious of us?” Sigrid asked, but the woman did not answer her and only took her arm to make her tag along at a fast pace. Sigrid could barely keep up.

They kept walking and walking. It seemed like they would never reach their destination. Sigrid wondered how strong the woman was, seeing as she was carrying the heavy basket with vegetables and gripping her arm quite tightly.

Suddenly they stopped. It was not the home of the woman. No, it was the home for children that were not wanted by their parents. Sigrid was not allowed to walk too close to it because her parents deemed it unsafe.

“Why are we here?” Sigrid asked and the woman looked conflicted about whether to tell her the truth or just leave her here. Her answer pointed towards the latter.

“Go inside and tell them that you lost your parents. They will help. Now go. Do not ask any questions.” the woman quickly answered and gave her back a little push to walk towards the old wooden building that seemed to be falling apart already.