Before the thunder came, we were out in the open throwing balls and eating candies. I had just turned ten, and my little brother, six.

Renee and Andrew, my cousins, were preparing to leave for school. They were both seniors in high school, and there was my aunt, Venessa. She was staying over because of her husband's plan for divorce.

Young as I am, I could feel the coming rain. But not at much as my little brother.

He wanted everyone home, and would cry the moment someone made for the door. 

Since it was a very bright day, you may wonder how the storm began. No one warned us. 

My cousins were unusually cooperative that day. They went upstairs and changed. Only then was our little guardian at ease.

But aunt Venessa couldn't stay back. She had something to take care of and those teary puppy eyes could not stop her. Philip, my little brother, watched helplessly as she exited the house.

He watched her from the window, his attention undivided. I could feel every word he couldn't utter, as clear as the white chalk on a blackboard.

No sooner had she gone into the car, before it hit home.

Tears trickled down his eyes. He rushed upstairs and met my mom heading down.

" She's gone," he wailed.

The first missile launched that day claimed her life.

We were not given any chance to mourn her. While the vehicle was yet up in flames, following its volcanic blast, the rain came.

It came from every direction. It was everywhere and so long we could not hear our screams. 

Our house was coming apart, but mom insisted we stayed together. 

And just when she had gathered us into dad's small underground store room, she noticed someone was missing. Dad was working in the neighbourhood that morning. He was not home.

“Renee... Andrew, take care of your cousins. No matter what, you must stay together. Do you understand?”

I nodded along with them, while Philip curled in my arms. 

" Darling, you are never alone..." She rubbed his cheeks and hastened away the next minute.

That was the last of her that we saw. None of them who left the house that day returned. Four of us remained... orphaned before we could understand what happened to us.

So, the next time someone cries for war...let them know, war is no one's friend.

Dedicated to the children in Gaza, and all that we have lost.