“Mother, how did you and dad meet?”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yiasFP4cd
“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!”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVog67HmRj
“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.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnpAILjYl1
“What’s the rest of the family like?” Zak asks.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF03NaYDW5
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.” 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG73VjsKel
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.”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY1HPidtHF
Remember. Remember. A thought pops into his head: a memory that makes his head spin and tears well into his eyes.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnUEf89jqb
687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz475UopAnN
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.”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIlZVVyIYi
“I love you too, Leah,” he says as the memory fades out.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUadfBxmKVN
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?”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5KAAo8iNo
“I told you not to bring up her name! I swear, she is not worth your time,” she scowls.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3fKyAA21l
“Fine, I was just wondering.” He goes back into his book. Though, reading is the least of his interests at the moment.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BazS0LEK0
687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOQ6g0DhXV
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.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g17Y6D2tG
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.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vfkRwE5zq
687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebxqBJr6SI
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.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKefvoZIot
“Why do you care? Why are you even here anyways? This is my woods,” he scoffs.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbXvK9QHuy
“Actually it is state property, idiot. It’s yours as much as it’s mine,” the look on her face embarrasses him.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzABRVg5ft
“Whatever. Shove off and leave me alone, would you?”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Met8Bv8Aa
The girl refuses to back down. Nothing affects her.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLeSzQ8sWX
“Come on, Zak. You hungry?” she asks.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxyn0eF0z0
He’s startled, “How did you know my name?”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NMMt7Mc2G
“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.”687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7HZf5bhpg
“I guess I can keep a secret. This better be worth my time,” he sighs, giving in to her.
