Note: This story underwent rewrites in 2015.


The only way to make sense of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

- Alan W. Watts


Since the time she was nine years old, Elizabeth's Calvert's life had been a constant stream of change. Before that, life had been quiet and peaceful, living in the little town of Ojai, in her parents home in the hills. The little town was her whole world and to a young Elizabeth, it was heaven.

According to many who knew her, Elizabeth had eyes that looked just like the sunny California skies. The perfect set of baby blues inherited from her father that always seemed to have a special shine to them. With sun faded, blonde hair and tanned skin, Elizabeth's mother always teased her father about their daughter belonging to the sun.

July 12, 1976,

"Mommy, look what I got!" Yelled Elizabeth "Beth" Calvert as she rushed into the house, clutching a bouquet of dandelions. Her mother smiled at her and got out of her chair, still looking sick but better.

"They're beautiful, Beth. Why don't we put them in a nice vase and show them to Daddy?"

Beth watched as her mother pulled out her nicest vase and set the plants inside it. It was then she noticed the state of her daughter 's hair and she waggled her tounge. Beth looked at her sheepishly and sat down at the kitchen table as her mother brushed her messy blonde waves. She winced at first but soon calmed down and was having a conversation with her mother.

"Daddy and I have a very special surprise for you, Beth. How would you feel about a new friend?"

"You mean like a puppy?"

"No, not exactly."

Beth's face was brighter than the entire sky when she realized what her mother meant.


The girl who belonged to the sun always thought there was a horrible irony in the deaths of John and Belinda Calvert. It had been a cloudy, storming day when they perished in the water with their unborn child. Belinda had gone into labor almost three weeks early, right as the floods began. John tried his best to help her, but they soon realized their child was coming too fast. Beth remembered her mother's heavy breathing as she clutched her stomach while her frantic father searched for the keys. John helped his wife into their car but not before Belinda uttered her last words to her daughter.

"Don't worry, Beth, everything will be alright-"

Belinda never finished her sentence, She cut off by the pain of a contraction and John slammed the door, in a frantic rush to get his wife to the hospital. He had only worry and that was saving his wife and child, forgetting his older daughter in the process and with Belinda in so much pain, not even her goodbye to Elizabeth reminded him. It was this act that saved their daughter but cost them their own lines.

Beth remembered the funeral, when she stood by her parents coffins, trying to hold back her tears. Her aunt Josie rested a supportive hand on her shoulder as they both stared at John Calvert's body. She was her niece's guardian now and she'd would do anything to protect the little girl who was so close to breaking.

She took Elizabeth to a grief consoler in Sacramento, while her Uncle Roy packed up the house in Ojai.

"She needs a change." Said Doctor Strauss. "She has too many negative emotions to continue living here. I suggest you take her with you to New York."

"It will be good for her." Dr. Strauss said to the couple after her last session

And like that, Elizabeth's life changed forever.


New York City, 1985

Nine years later, Elizabeth Calvert was unrecognizable. For one thing, she no longer went by Beth. Even at nine years old, she realized she wanted a fresh start and a new life. Being Beth reminded her of Ojai and the loss of her parents and she found it helped. Surprisingly, it was the least extreme change that the now 18 year old had experienced. Over time, candy was replaced by cigarettes, time playing with Barbies was now spent flirting with guys and looking for a good time at night. No one would've ever guessed that the blonde child who brought her mother flowers was the same person in all black clothing, smoking inside a cheap bar.

"So, Calvert." Said the dark haired boy seated next to her, a crooked smile on his face. "What hell will we be raising tonight?"

Lizzy scoffed at him. "Are you delusional, Frye?" We're not doing anything."

Paxton Frye mockingly acted offended, raising a hand to his chest. "Oh c'mon, a pretty girl like you should at least let me buy you a drink."

Lizzy rolled her eyes but stayed put in her seat, taking one last puff from her cigarette before stubbing it out in an ash tray. She had no idea why she was staying put, but she was staying.


Lizzy's life changed again that night What was only supposed a single night together developed into a relationship.

Almost every night, Lizzy and Paxton would sit on the roof of her apartment building, smoking and talking. Paxton and Lizzy were the only friend for each other and the two would be up on the rooftop for hours.

"What do you think's out there, Calvert?"

"Well, you've got New Jersey on the other side and Brooklyn's only a cab ride away."

"You know what I meant."

Lizzy lit her cigarette. "What are you looking for?"

Paxton looked over the skyline, his long hair blowing in the air.

"I don't know." He admitted "I just know I want to get the hell out of here."

He looked back at his girlfriend. She looked so beautiful, draped in a blanket they took from her living room, her brown hair braided loosely with delicate waves escaping. He knew he loved her and he stuck a hand into his coat pocket and found what he was looking for. He felt the small ring's coolness. He wanted to ask her so bad but he was terrified. She was the only girl he loved and he knew it would always be that way. Paxton had been rejected by Lizzy exactly 14 times before they got together in a booze fueled one night stand, the one that had turned into so much more. The idea of being rejected this time was crippling.

His attention was diverted by the sound of fireworks and he looked over the Manhattan skyline, mesmerized by the glow of the light on the twin towers. They were the most recognizable landmark in the city and Paxton found them enchanting, with the mutitude of colors reflecting off the Buildings. He was so mesmerized that he almost missed Lizzy giving him a peck on his cheek.

"Happy New Year's." She whispered, her eyes gleaming with passion.

The two barely even made it to Lizzy's bedroom.


January 3, 1987

One January night, Paxton Frye killed himself. He didn't mean to end his life, it was a genuine accident involving an overdose. His mother, a no-nonsense housekeeper named Rosa, stormed into his bedroom to demand to know why he hadn't done his chores and screamed. Her son's body was pale and still, with a sharp needle in his arm. The police came and left and there was frantic knocking on the Calvert's door at 2 AM. It was Josie who answered the door, shocked to see a sobbing Rosa at her door, her crying so hysterical she could only understand the word "overdose" and somehow knew what had happened.

"Mrs. Frye, Rosa..." whispered Josie sympathetically, for once at a loss for words. Roy, who had been too shocked to react, took over. "You're more than welcome to stay here Rosa." He said as he rested a hand on her shoulder. We have a guest bedroom, you can stay here as long as needed." The Calvert's escorted Rosa to the guest room, passing Lizzy's open door. Roy looked at his sleeping niece with pity, knowing how heartbroken she'd be when she woke up. He quietly shut the bedroom door, leaving her to sleep.

Lizzy wasn't sleeping. She'd been asleep until she heard sobbing but convinced she was still asleep, ignored it. You're still dreaming, stupid she thought, with tears forming in her eyes.

August 12, 1987

Lizzy held the newborn in her arms as she lay in her bed. The moment Lizzy had learned she was pregnant, Paxton had been dead for a week and she was scared out of her mind. She was thankful for the aid of her aunt and uncle and Paxton's mother, Rosa.

"Hello, Rosie." Whispered Lizzy, as she kissed her baby. "Mommy loves you." A small tear ran down her eye. "Daddy loves you."

Lizzy knew her life was going to be more difficult. But she was going to do anything for her daughter that she had to.


Ojai California, 1996

Lizzy found herself back in Ojai in the winter of 1989. Her Nana had fallen in an accident and since her grandfather had passed away a year ago, Lizzy found she had no choice but to move in to take care of her. She knew she would miss New York City and often found herself pining for what she saw as the greatest city in the world. She would miss the town where she fell in love and raised her daughter for a year and half. But she had to take care of her family.

At the age of 29, Lizzy found her hate for Ojai had faded. She and her Nana, a gentle, passionate soul named Rose Calvert, greatly enjoyed each other's company in their little house looking over the hills.

"Would you like coffee or tea, Nana?" asked Lizzy, reaching into the back cabinet.

"Tea please, dear." replied Rose, stroking Freddy, her dog who was lounging in her lap quite comfortably. It was a gentle Monday morning, with a breeze bringing relief into an otherwise hot day. Rosie was staying with her aunt in Washington, a half sister of Paxton's. Lizzy hoped to receive a letter from her soon.

Nothing eventful happened until around 11 that afternoon, when Lizzy turned on the TV to watch CNN, hoping to catch up with the news. She expected there would be coverage of the IRA bombing or the new space shuttle, but instead they were interviewing a treasure hunter. Lizzy paid little attention to it, until her grandmother asked her to turn up the volume. Confused, Lizzy watched the look on Rose's face, trying to figure out what was wrong.

"I'll be God-damned.." exclaimed Rose. The centenarian got on the phone as quickly as she could, motioning Lizzy to sit beside her as she called the number displayed on the TV.

Lizzy sat down at the table confused and unaware that her life was once again changing forever.