Chapter Text
It is Friday, February 10th, 1994. My name is Madelin Fattler, and I wake up as I do on any other day. Today I have to go to the bank, withdraw some money, and buy a new washing machine — the old one broke yesterday, useless thing…
Little Judy wakes too, crying again. She still doesn’t understand that her father will never return. I struggle with it myself. My firefighter — my hero — who died tragically a year ago. I step into her room.
“Mom, when will Daddy come back?” she asks, tears shining in her eyes.
“Sweetheart, you know Daddy went to heaven. He died in a great fire, helping people…” I try to soothe her.
“But I want Daddy…” Judy sobs.
“You know what? I’ll try to find you another daddy. Another hero — someone who will love us and protect us, all right?”
“Okay, Mom. But he has to be kind to me…” Judy’s voice softens a little.
“He will, I promise. Now let’s get dressed. We have things to do today. You’ll come with me, won’t you?”
At last, Judy calms down. I help her into her clothes, and half an hour later we set out for the bank.