“Mother, how did you and dad meet?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x8kODiivw
“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!”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz36YmTnz6T
“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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsTEpeA06t
“What’s the rest of the family like?” Zak asks.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz4mMvO0S2
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.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNv16stJhp
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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4p4QCoGiB
Remember. Remember. A thought pops into his head: a memory that makes his head spin and tears well into his eyes.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PsjoxSraD
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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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2D6cYd8DV
“I love you too, Leah,” he says as the memory fades out.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TiK5X2k7C
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?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6UxuVByQa
“I told you not to bring up her name! I swear, she is not worth your time,” she scowls.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LwWwBTUun
“Fine, I was just wondering.” He goes back into his book. Though, reading is the least of his interests at the moment.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBq2t115VU
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEtGkuHbBS
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzDsyJONi6
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ36dacHSvF
“Why do you care? Why are you even here anyways? This is my woods,” he scoffs.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHh748SZLH
“Actually it is state property, idiot. It’s yours as much as it’s mine,” the look on her face embarrasses him.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONdZZ7LdFb
“Whatever. Shove off and leave me alone, would you?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzYsVkI8vW
The girl refuses to back down. Nothing affects her.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lhO553c84
“Come on, Zak. You hungry?” she asks.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCbqO5crqT
He’s startled, “How did you know my name?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWm9Bc05vb
“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.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ3XLg7qG5
“I guess I can keep a secret. This better be worth my time,” he sighs, giving in to her.
