“Mother, how did you and dad meet?”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwSD4bsu1E
“Oh, it was so romantic,” she gushes, “we met through a family member and it was love at first sight. Your father played coy at first, see, our relationship was forbidden by our families. Even still, I decided to pursue him because I just knew that we were meant to be. We were afraid, but that didn’t stop us. When we found out that I was pregnant with you, we moved away and broke our ties with our families so we could have this beautiful piece of land. Don’t you love it here? It. Is. Paradise!”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz1BQMNGWp
“Yeah, it really is,” he said with awe. Could she really be as bad as I thought she was? She sounds so genuine, he thought. Maybe I’m making all of this up.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27Bj0lFJxW
“What’s the rest of the family like?” Zak asks.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyCzIYQjPp
Mother makes a face of disgust, “Don’t even remind me of them. All my life, they ignored me and yelled at me. They even said that I was crazy! They’re the ones that were crazy.” 714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2hiBKXT8v
She stops for a moment and calms down, “You are the perfect combination of me and your father, Zak. You’re nothing like our families. I love you, remember that.”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuobqZdl2uz
Remember. Remember. A thought pops into his head: a memory that makes his head spin and tears well into his eyes.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm5UA7w2Qd
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We’re in the closet. The only light comes through the crack in the door, giving us just enough space to look through it. A whisper sounds quietly in the dark. “Remember, Zak, you’re nothing like your mother. Never let her make you believe that. I love you. We’ll get out of this, I promise.”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL86DTpMv1F
“I love you too, Leah,” he says as the memory fades out.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD6HPy4vHY
The memory brings back an intense longing for the blond girl. Before he can stop himself, he brings Leah up. “Mother, did Leah and I ever play in the closet?”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7BMaPtfFL
“I told you not to bring up her name! I swear, she is not worth your time,” she scowls.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpOCsCn9nT
“Fine, I was just wondering.” He goes back into his book. Though, reading is the least of his interests at the moment.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJN3uwdn2g
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Soon his eyes get tired from the book and he starts to get restless. Reminded by the nearby house, he jumps on his bike and heads down the road. The sun shines bright in the clear, robin egg sky. The boy feels the wind in his hair, and the sun warming his face. Feeling free, he pedals faster, faster. He flies down the endless road, almost missing the small trail breaking out of the ditch. Zak breaks suddenly, the wheels making a dull sound of protest. Memories tear through his brain.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZXXk1jxOP
He’s walking in the woods. The trees are thick and tall, towering above him with big, green leaves blotting out most of the sky. He’s barefoot, and soft ferns tickle his toes. He hears the crackle of something moving.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBPYOnhddo
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He stands still, remembering what his dad taught him. ‘If I stand still and breathe quietly, they’ll come right up to me.’ So he stands and waits. Another rustle of leaves surprise him and before he can react, there’s hands on his shoulders. “Boo!” the hands say. The startled boy turns around to meet the owner of the hands. She’s wearing a pink shirt and a pair of dirty overalls. Her hair is short and blond with green eyes framed by thick bangs. She’s laughing. “Ha, I got you! What are you standing around for?” she asks.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoiU7ZJbUJ
“Why do you care? Why are you even here anyways? This is my woods,” he scoffs.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tg2SUjKGc
“Actually it is state property, idiot. It’s yours as much as it’s mine,” the look on her face embarrasses him.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe3519As5U
“Whatever. Shove off and leave me alone, would you?”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xQ3P3i9AE
The girl refuses to back down. Nothing affects her.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBg7sj6STi
“Come on, Zak. You hungry?” she asks.714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77rrPjlXUF
He’s startled, “How did you know my name?”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4Zono6per
“It’s sewed into your shirt tag. You’re not very bright, are you?” she laughs, pulling him by his shirt. “Let’s go to my fort. You have to promise to keep it a secret though.”714Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlRd3mwacf
“I guess I can keep a secret. This better be worth my time,” he sighs, giving in to her.
