Chapter
1
The wind whipped at Winnie's face and she held her coat close to her. She was now seventeen years old. Jesse Tuck told her to drink from the mysterious spring when she was seventeen. She wanted to with all her heart, to be with Jesse forever. To see the world with him. But she couldn't help but remember what Tuck had told her "Do not fear death but rather the unlived life. What we Tuck's are isn't living. We're just stuck." She took the bottle Jesse had given her and shook it. Slowly she undid the cap. "No!" She cried to herself. She continued walking through the forest. She hadn't been here in years. Seeing it made a few small tears fall down her face. She sat down on the Tuck's old porch. She thought about everything she and Jesse had done when she was 11 years old. The memories were so clear and beautiful. She had loved him then and she loved him now. But was that the answer? Should she drink Jesse's water? She sighed and walked back to her home."Winifred!" Her mother ran and hugged her.
"Mother? What is it?" Winnie asked kindly.
"I told you to tell me when you left for the woods!" Her mother scolded.
She and her mother had grown much closer over the years. Her mother now let her do whatever she pleased only if she asked permission.
"I apologize mother." Winnie smiled.
"What is that?" Her mother pointed to the bottle of water in her right hand.
"It's…it's just some water."
"Alright. Go clean up for dinner."
"Yes mother." Winnie nodded and dashed upstairs relieved that her water hadn't been taken away.
Suddenly the answer came to her. She wished to be with Jesse Tuck forever and always. She quickly undid the cap before she could change her mind. The drink was almost at her lip when she thought about what Tuck had said. In her heart she knew he was right. But she selfishly wanted to be with Jesse forever. She knew what she had to do. She took the glass bottle and went into the bathroom she opened it again and poured every drop of it down the sink. She cried as she did it because she knew this water was the last chance she ever had to see Jesse again. To be with him. She cleaned out the bottle with the water from the sink, sobbing. She then took it and walked into her room with it. She placed it on her bedside table. She knew she would now always remember Jesse Tuck and his family.