Prologue
I stood across the lake looking into the murky water. The moon gave enough light for me to see my faint reflection. I cocked my head staring at myself. I look so different now than I did then. My hair was brown. It was cut just below my shoulders. No more layers, just flat straight hair. My eyes were traced with thin black lines. Not like the thick lines and black lids i had.
A rain drop fell into the lake, straight into my replication. I shoved my hands deeper into my jacket as the rain started to fall faster. The lake had many ripples now, i couldn't see myself any more. That's alright with me. I don't want to anyways.
The raindrops thudded against the dark waters, as the wind was also picking up. I'm going to be right in the middle of a storm. I sighed, and started walking back up the gravel path. The wind was blowing my hair in every direction. I groaned and quickened my pace.
I was on familiar ground, although it was dark I knew where I was. I could never forget this place, these woods. They were a part of my soul. Once where happiness was abundant. Now when I come here it yanks my heart out. The feeling I get when I come here now… the twist in my gut. The tears that flow freely. The memories that haunt me.
I almost reached the end of the path when a flash of lightning struck. It lit up the small area of trees where I was. I glanced around, happy for the moment of light and gasped. My face dropped. I couldn't believe what I was staring at. Memories flooded through my head, my stomach twisting. There was a small, rotting picture pinned to the tree in front of me. I could make out the faces easily.
There was a small girl, with straight black hair. It hung to her shoulders. Her eyes were bright with joy, she looked like the happiest girl on earth. Her arms were wrapped around the other figures waist, One whom I knew only too well.
He had chin-length choppy black hair. His eyes were a piercing blue. His arms were well-defined. His lips… his lips were warm and inviting, always turned up into a smile. He was smiling down at the girl, looking as if she was his life-source.
At the bottom of the picture, there were 2 scrawled words. I didn't have to walk up close to read them but I did anyways. As I got closer my heart skipped. I choked on the air in my lungs. I read it over and over and over each time stabbing my heart. The names were intertwined together, hearts around their names. No, our names.
"Max & Emily"
My head rushed through everything, remembering that day of the picture. The kisses, the hugs, "I love you's", the warmth of each other bodies. I went numb in complete shock.
"Why did you leave Max?"