Dying Ember #1

It felt like I had waited hours for dad to come home. The hardness of the banister didn't help with the long wait either. I then heard the leaves outside crunch from someones footsteps. I got up quickly and opened the door. I opened my mouth to say something but the man barging through used his arm to knock me onto the sofa. He made a disgusted grunt as he did. This was definitely dad, it was his typical way of greeting me.
"Um, hey, dad." I said nervously.
He didn't answer. He put his bow and arrow into the umbrella holder by the door and walked through the kitchen and into his room. Dad was always out hunting. Sometimes he'd go without warning and not return for a week, leaving me to care for Maya and Reece, who are my younger brother and sister.
All dad wants from me is peace and quiet. As soon as he's home from hunting he goes straight into his room and locks the door. I think it's because he still hasn't got over the fact that mum died. He didn't talk much when she was alive but he seemed to have more life inside of him than he did just then.
As soon as dad's door closed I ran upstairs to check on Maya and Reece. I crept along the small corridor and opened the door. They were both lying down but with their eyes wide open. I sighed but walked over and sat down in between the two beds. I turned on the lamp and took their small warm hands.
"Why is daddy home so late?" Maya asked quietly in her innocent voice
"Because," I paused and took a deep breath "He was getting us some dinner!" I stood up and tickled her tummy. She laughed but then stopped.
"What if one day he never comes back?" Reece's voice made me jump, I turned round and looked at him
"Now that's not gonna happen, why would you think that?" I said even though I knew there was the slightest chance it would happen.
"It happen to mummy."
This felt like a slap in the face. All the pained memories about my mothers death, that I thought I had locked away, now came flooding through my mind.
"That's enough," I whispered trying not to sound as if I was about to cry "You need to get some sleep, come on!"
I tucked them under their duvet and kissed each of their foreheads.
"Read us a story Alyssa, please?" Maya asked
"It's late, maybe tomorrow." I replied heading for the door.
"Oh please? Just a quick one." Maya pleaded picking up the book from the floor. I looked across at Reece who nodded, sitting back up again. I walked back over and sat down and started to read them 'Little Red Riding Hood'.
As soon as I had finished the first chapter, both of them were fast asleep. I smiled, got up and put the book away. I brushed a strand of Maya's hair out of her eyes and tucked Reece's duvet around him to keep him warmer.
I went to the door and as I was about to close it I whispered
"I'll never leave you."