America

“Hey! Hey, give her back! Don’t you touch her, that’s my mommy~!”

A hand covered the squirming, brown haired girl’s mouth, cutting off her desperate yells.

“Now, now, America.” Her father scolded. “You know better. They’re only doing their job.”

Tears ran freely from her hazel eyes, staining her cheeks and stickying her father’s hand.

The woman, who was the reason for the conversation and tears, kept silent.

Heavily armored men shackled her wrists and neck, loading her into the back of a truck. She kept her mouth shut till seconds before the doors shut on her, concealing her face.

“I warned you, America! Don’t trust that man! Don’t trust this government! Don’t trust-“

She was cut short as the truck doors finished their journey and drove away, leaving the father and his sobbing child in the middle of the now empty living room.

“Why would you do that?! How could you let them take mommy away?!” The girl cried animatedly. The raven haired man tsked, taking his daughters arm and tugging her gently into the empty study across the hall. He closed the door and walked over to his desk, picking up a few of the sheets of paper that lay there.

“Your mother was not who you thought she was.” He told her casually. “Your mother committed serious crimes against the government. This government that we love and cherish. The government that supports us and cares for us more than your mother ever could.”

“But why?” The little girl sobbed. “Why’d she have to be taken away?”

“Because I told them to.” Her father said blankly, ignoring his daughters stunned expression. “There was no other way. Its my job to turn her in, as it was theirs to take her away, and as it is yours to be a good, obedient child. Do you understand?”

She didn’t understand, nor would she ever. But she nodded slowly, as the realization began to sink in that her mother was gone for good.

“I understand.” She whispered.

“Good. Now go to your room. Your father needs a little quiet tonight.” The man sat in his chair heavily, flipping through the files.

She turned and walked up to her room, not a sign of grief on her face. How could she grieve, when he did not? How could she grieve, when the world around her was falling apart, and all it took was one tear to break it?

She could not. So she sat on her bed, staring at the wall, and wondering what was to happen in the days to come.

Nothing good.