Homework idea 2- Untouched

She had just stepped into the living room after a relaxing bath, wrapped only in her towel. Her husband sat back on the sofa with his laptop surfing the internet for anything to entertain him on his day off work. They both turned to each other they heard footsteps outside the house, it was nothing to worry about probably their little girl coming back from playing in the communal playground. No sooner had they dismissed it when 'POLICE, GET ON THE GROUND!' was reverberating through the room. He was down instantly catching a glimpse of masked men with guns pointed straight at them. She was on her knees suddenly aware of how vulnerable and exposed she was in only her towel. She was terrified but knew that lying down would leave her completely exposed and at the mercy of these men. 

With a slight quiver in her voice she spoke with all the calmness she could muster, 

'Sir, I know you do this out of necessity, you like me have a family that needs taking care of -please take anything you want, take it all but know that I need to be here when my daughter comes back from the playground. ' 

She knew saying this was a huge risk, would it make this man angrier or would it hit a nerve ?. Seeing a glimpse of doubt in this eyes she continued 'We will give you everything we have, the Christmas gifts are wrapped please take them, give them to your family, just don't harm us.' She slowly began to raise herself from the floor keeping her eyes locked on the hand holding the gun while he angrily pointed his gun at her chest and demanded she show him where everything was kept. 

She went from room to room methodically relinquishing all her possessions  As she entered the bedroom ahead of the masked man she pushed something quickly behind the night table as she handed him the tray she kept by her bed with any jewellery she removed before bed. She quickly moved him away and started handing him all her newly purchased Christmas gifts praying continuously that her daughter would not return and startle them by ringing the doorbell. As long as they kept calm there was hope these men would leave and she could hold her daughter in her arms, this alone would be enough. Watches, teddy bears, games, jewellery, ipads and ipods all in rucksacks she provided. 

Meanwhile her husband has been tied up and thrown on the bathroom floor. As she was led into the bathroom and ordered to lie down next to her husband her only thought was, this is it, they will kill us here to contain the bloodshed to one room.

 'Please my daughter needs me she will be home any minute, and I will need to open the door for her. Don't tie me up I will sit still I swear.' she sobbed. 

' Get on the floor, I will lock this door when you hear me knock you will untie your husband and leave the room after 20 minutes. Do you understand?' 

She could only manage the slightest of nods as acceptance. He locked the door as she sat silently clawing away at the rope that held her husbands arms and legs tied up, listening out for footsteps coming towards them. 

'They're coming' he whispered. 

TAP...TAP...TAP. She stared at her husband through tear filled eyes holding her hand to her mouth terrified of making a noise and provoking any change to the plan. Time seemed to have stopped in those seconds they waited before they heard guard dogs barking in the distance.

She called her daughter from outside and embraced her as tears run down her face, she could not have been happier.  In the aftermath of so much destruction she could hardly believe they had been left unharmed. Looking around now it was clear anything of any value and not too cumbersome for the 5 masked men was gone. 

As they sat in the empty flat with papers scattered all over the floor her husband called the police and relatives while he drank a shot of vodka to control his nerves. The worst was now over. She sat with her daughter who was happy beyond belief, after the initial shock of what she could grasp had happened, because her treasured Cuc was still sitting where she had left it on her bed. Her long since faded and furless lion with splitting seams and exposed stuffing was overlooked by the horrible men that had taken mami and daddies things. To this little girl it was the most priced possession every stain and bump in its fur tells her a story of their 7 years together. Cuc had adorned her crib before she had even spent her first night in it and had been by her side ever since, with any luck he would continue to play a central role in all her games and be by her side when she slept until she out grew the need for him. 

Once everything was sorted, police reports made, enough alcohol had been handed out to calm racing hearts and minds the mother went up stairs and looked behind the night table. There glinting in between the carpet threads was her most valued possession. As she held it in her hands she knew they would get through this, they had overcome so much together, nothing reminded her of their journey more than this emblem to their companionship. Putting her smooth caramel like band on her finger with its brillant transparent facetted stone she knew they had lost nothing, everything she valued was there, untouched.