Prologue
The rain poured, drenching her, as she ran her hand along the casket’s grain. With the exception of the complimentary attendance of the (army), Anna Jane Teller was the last one at the gravesite. The harsh rain had already driven the other mourners to the reception, but Anna was so lost in her grief that she hardly noticed. Feeling that half her soul, her very being, had died and now she was alone, she stared at the casket. Anna tried to imagine what could have been if their lives had been different or maybe if they had just made different decisions, but knew they would have made the same mistakes all over again. The tears that had been building ever since she heard the life-altering news suddenly burst from her with raking sobs. Her whole body started to shake when the realization that he was never coming back finally sank in.
Glancing up as if she just noticed the rain, Anna looked around and noticed everyone had left. Knowing it was time, she gathered what was left of her courage to say her final goodbye.
Stilling her hand, Anna opened her mouth. Instead of words of love and goodbye, came forth a giant unbridled cry. Her hand flew to her mouth trying to contain the noise while simultaneously trying to get herself under control.
Her courage gone, Anna fled from the gravesite and threw herself at the base of a large willow tree. How appropriate Anna thought sarcastically glancing up at the tree that sheltered her from the rain. Her all black knee-length skirt and camisole ruined and covered in mud, Anna drew her knees into her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and buried her head, sobbing, until the tears wouldn’t come and she was left trembling.
STORY
Cover in mud, stick scratched, and with leaves clinging to her hair, AJ heard her mother’s exasperated voice yelling for her. She glanced back in the direction of the kitchen door to see her twin Jamie caught in their mother’s unbreakable grasp. He made brief eye contact with AJ before sighing as his mamma scolded him then resigned to his punishment . Watching them disappear through the kitchen door, AJ decided she could wait a few more minutes before that consigning herself to that particular fate.
Turning as a blur of movement caught her eye, AJ followed it to the southwest corner of the property. AJ usually avoided the southwest corner unless Jamie was with her because (although she would never admit it) it scared her. The huge pine and oak trees were so overgrown that you didn't know where one started and the other ended. The bushes were home to thousands of bees in the summer that buzzed so loud that AJ swore you could hear them from the porch. Now in autumn, the bees were gone, but the dark colors of both the bushes and trees made for an ominous feeling. Dry leaves crackled under AJ's sneakers as she inched her way towards the bushes. At her approach, the bush closest to her rustled. Startled AJ jumped back then looked around feeling silly. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage, "Anna Jayne there is nothing to be afraid of. It's probably just a squirrel or something." Now determined to prove her fearlessness to herself, AJ strut up to the bush. Moving aside branches AJ peered in to the bush.
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