Leap
It was evening when the lone horseman entered the barnyard. From the moment he first saw the dust rising behind the man, Daniel knew his life had changed inescapably. Nothing was ever going to be the same.
His first suppositions were confirmed when the rider wouldn't meet his eyes, simply saying, "Danny, where's your ma?" Daniel pointed to the house door that would lead to the family room where Ma was mending the shirt Daniel had torn the previous day, climbing a tree. Speechless, and oddly incapable of feeling anything at all, Daniel continued feeding the chickens. He knew this was going to happen.
He heard his mother begin to sob. Daniel couldn't cry. He just couldn't. Daniel looked at his hands. So small. But never again to climb a tree, or play in the dust. Never again just to frolic through the fields and meadows. He would never do anything just for fun anymore. He had to be in charge now. He had to be a man.
He went to the house, opened the door and closed it quietly, instead of simply letting it bang closed behind him. His mother heard the difference and looked up from her crying and the man's helpless attempts to comfort her. She opened her arms to her son and cradled him close, as if keeping him near to her would keep him safe from the world. Daniel hugged his mother back, but when she pulled back and looked into her son's eyes, she didn't see her Daniel looking back. Not the son she knew at least. A different boy looked back at her. One who knew that life wasn't always fair, but was prepared to face it anyway.
Daniel smiled at his mother, the only person he had in the world, now that his father was dead. He inherited his father's responsibilities. A heavy burden for a seven year old who would never be a child again.