Prologue

Alone, alone I was. I felt I would never see anyone ever again. I worried that my life would come to an end and I would never see my father, my friends, or even the one person that I loved most, ever again. I wanted so desperately to get out of that prison that I was in. I could see nothing but darkness, and I wondered if I was already dead. I tried so hard to make myself believe that it was not so, but I couldn't believe it anymore than I couldn't believe that I was alone. I pictured my mother, my mother of all people. I wanted so badly to see that face again, even though I had not seen it in two years. I wanted to see her beautiful smile and the grace of her steps. I longed to feel her light touch against my cheek. I wanted to see that beautiful blond hair all pulled back into the purple ribbon that trailed so elegantly down her back. But I knew I would never get back to the world I had before. Nothing would be the same, even if I got out of this prison. I tried opening my eyes, but I didn't know if they were really open or if they were still closed. 'Dark as pitch' I considered that for a moment, and then I figured it was true. I was in a room that was dark as pitch, never to see the most important person in the world to me, again.