Beneath the waters

Cocoa breathed in the nose scrunching smell of burning wood as she tiptoed into the living room. She should be in bed but she thought she heard her mother. It couldn't be her but Cocoa had to check. The warm glow of flames greeted her as she went closer to the fire. Beside the fire faced away from her was her mother's old rocking chair. A figure sat in it. She gasped. The figure turned towards her and there was her mother. The golden hair trailing down her back and the comforting smile. "Mama!" Cocoa shrieked throwing her arms round her mother. Yet no arms returned the hug. Instead Cocoa felt her mama turn to dust. Cocoa woke up trembling from the same nightmare as every night. Her father sat beside her bed smoking his pipe. "I thought you would wake up, sweetheart." He whispered softly careful not to disturb her sisters on beds either side of her. "Papa I miss her." Cocoa muttered, trying to stop the tears from falling. Her father paused. "Me too sweetheart... Me too." He stood up quietly and kissed her goodnight before leaving the room. Cocoa was left to ponder the nightmare that had woken her. Her mother had died two months ago now. It was never to be expected. A lorry had hit their car head on and sent her mother head first smashing into the window. She badly injured her head and died the next day. Cocoa only knew this because she'd been there. Strapped into the backseat shaking as she saw her mother sprawled on the car's front. Her father and her had seen it all while her little sisters had been at nursery playing with toys and having a whale of a time. It still left her shocked to know her mama was gone. But now Coco was facing change. Her father was to re-marry. Cocoa couldn't understand why he would move on so fast after her mother. She wasn't mad at her father though. She was mad at his new wife. Just the mention of the lady sent her blood boiling with hidden anger. Cocoa would never accept Elaine as her new mother. They were set to meet Elaine tomorrow before the marriage. Cocoa fell to sleep hating on Elaine.