Pompeii

“Go quickly,” mother instructed me as she handed me a small sack of food. I shouldered it as she continued. “The fire has reached the southern gate already. If you move fast, you can get there in a half hour.”

“But, why can’t you come with us?” I asked helplessly. But I already knew. 

My mother’s gaze lilted to the corner where her wooden crutch rested against the wall.

“You know why, dearest,” she said apologetically, seemingly unbothered by the dumb question. “A cripple couldn’t make it to the high ground given all the time in the world, much less in a hurry.”

I stared at the ground, tracing shapes in the dirt on the stone floor. I knew she was right. I guess she sensed my regret as she rested a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“Stay strong, Helena,” my mother said, clasping my hand gently. “Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. The silver lining is always there.”

I couldn’t help but turn my eyes to the window to see the grey clouds rolling over the hills, bringing darkness from above.

“But mother,” I whispered, turning back to face her. “How am I going to be an optimist about this?”

My mother’s smile didn’t falter but her eyes filled with tears. She gently pulled my hands to cover my eyes, but only briefly.

“Close your eyes,” she said quietly. I heard a scream in the distance. The fire would be here soon. But I did as she said. “Does it almost feel like nothing has changed at all?”

In the dark, I focused on her voice. Memories resurfaced of my time on the island. Playing with Alexia and walking along the shore with my mother. Crouching by the water, I always tried to catch a fish with my hands. I never succeeded, no matter how many times I tried. Once I even got so close that I grazed the fish’s body, but my hand slid along the silvery scales, unable to grip it well enough to catch it.

“These memories,” mother’s voice was even softer as she spoke. “They’re never far away. Just close your eyes for a moment. Take a deep breath. And open them and be brave.”

I blinked back the tears as I bid mother farewell. On the way out, I grabbed my sister’s hand. She was didn’t understand what was going on, but she knew something was wrong. Mother didn’t explain but only hugged her, saying, “Go with your sister. It’ll be alright.”

~*~

From the island’s high place, I could see everything. The lava rolling down the mountain’s sounds, crashing into structures as it went. It tore through the buildings, burning its path wherever it wished. Helpless, Alexia and I watched as the walls kept tumbling down, in the city that we loved.

We waited for an hour, watching the grey clouds inching nearer and nearer, the ground rumbling every moment or so. I half expected more people to arrive at the island’s high spot- after all, the other children of the island knew of it. But no one came. We were alone on the rock as we watched the fire and ash fall upon Pompeii.

After a while, a sinking feeling began to grow in the pit of my stomach. It only grew worse as the blue sky began to grow more and more grey. I could see the mountain continuing to spew the fire and the lava continued to push on. It was getting closer. We weren’t safe.

Alexia noticed this as well, I knew she did by the worried look on her face, her brow furrowed. But she still opted to say nothing, at least until the dark settled over us completely. Now she was scared. She looked to me, saying, “What should we do, Helena.”

I grabbed her hand and led her to turn her back to the oncoming flames along with me.

“It will be alright.”

Another rumble. Without looking I knew the lava had come closer. I could feel its heat now. It wouldn’t be long.

“Alright?” Alexia questioned. She felt it too. “How? How can you be an optimist, Helena?”

I grasped Alexia’s small hands in my own and moved them to her eyes. 

“Close your eyes,” I commanded.

Yet another rumble could be heard. The air grew hotter.

“Why?” Alexia’s said deftly. Her grip around my hands tightened, seeking comfort in the moment.

“Because,” I answered softly, pulling her close. “If you close your eyes,” she was close enough that I could whisper the words in her ear. They were the only consolation I could offer. “Does it almost feel like nothing has changed at all?”

~*~

I crouched over the water, staying as still as I could manage. The silvery fish circled in the water below me, seemingly taunting me with every flick of its tail.

Aaaaaaand now!

I shoved my hands into the water and pulled them out just as quickly. In my hands, the fish wriggled around, angry that he was so forcibly removed from his habitat.

“I’ll put you back in a second, don’t you worry,” I told him.

I stood, yelling over my shoulder.

“Alexia! Mom! I caught him!”