“Mother, how did you and dad meet?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMgVS0pPb8
“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!”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yeRmDfdVs
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWzG1qAs5w
“What’s the rest of the family like?” Zak asks.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx9QWZXxUo
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.” 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotX9SF5v0e
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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiqFsl7EnZ
Remember. Remember. A thought pops into his head: a memory that makes his head spin and tears well into his eyes.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljnEpefQiz
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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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRGNunzf8v
“I love you too, Leah,” he says as the memory fades out.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SUdxga8UJ
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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPE4dhQ2BY
“I told you not to bring up her name! I swear, she is not worth your time,” she scowls.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiRGrFwAif
“Fine, I was just wondering.” He goes back into his book. Though, reading is the least of his interests at the moment.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKyiZjnq8B
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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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb7p1B5jBc
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAHlZfQRPd
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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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGGO4Mq8Be
“Why do you care? Why are you even here anyways? This is my woods,” he scoffs.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OzsicFCs6
“Actually it is state property, idiot. It’s yours as much as it’s mine,” the look on her face embarrasses him.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRQdsIpzVC
“Whatever. Shove off and leave me alone, would you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vNwM3E3do
The girl refuses to back down. Nothing affects her.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw18ToCAcM
“Come on, Zak. You hungry?” she asks.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8VoorTOMH
He’s startled, “How did you know my name?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTaOFe4juL
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYYSCXE7aL
“I guess I can keep a secret. This better be worth my time,” he sighs, giving in to her.
