:Part Four:
Sarah McGreggor The time I spent in Shistoba at this moment seems like millions of lifetimes ago. Although the people are long gone, their memories will always reside in my heart. Growing up, I had two best friends. Amelia Smith and Sarah McGreggor. Amelia could be a little on the dark side, she was always pessimistic about life. Nevertheless, she was always there when I needed a friend to lean on. Sarah, on the other hand was a very perky and free-minded soul. Her heart filled with kindness and love for others, and animals. She was a die hard animal lover. Her mother had died when she was only 2 years old, leaving her in the care of her workaholic father. Sarah was one of the luckier ones in town, residing in an upscale home near the river away from the rest of town. Amelia and I would always walk her home after school, mainly to make sure she didn't pick up anymore stray animals on the way home! Sarah's house was filled with small critters, nine cats, four dogs, four turtles, two bunnies, two birds and tons of fish. It was practically a Zoo at the McGreggor estate. Her father, who was never even home, didn't mind the animals as long as the servants kept the messes picked up and the animal smell out of the house. Amelia and I lived only a few houses apart, we'd always playfully joke about Sarah's pets on the way back from her house. Of course, more than anything in the world, the two of us had vowed to protect Sarah. She was innocent, perhaps too innocent at times. Her ignorance for certain ways of the world, although very adorable, got her into trouble with the older crowd. No matter how many years pass by, I will never forget the dark night in which Sarah vanished. A gentle rapping upon the kitchen door sent chills down my spin, I had no idea anyone was coming, but I knew something wasn't right. Sometimes, I just get these feelings. As my mother slowly opened the door revealing Nathaniel McGreggor, Sarah's father my heart sank. His worried questioning of his daughters whereabouts were not helping me shake the feeling. Before Mr. McGreggor even had a chance to sit at my fathers table, I was out the door and down the street to Amelia's house. Just as shocked by the news that Sarah could not be found as I was, Amelia shook her head. She stated that come hell or high-water, we'd find Sarah. The first optimistic thing I'd ever heard uttered from the nihilist. Together we left her house on our quest, the search for our best friend. Minutes turned to hours, which gave way to days and soon a week had past with no signs of the young carefree blonde. Amelia grew weak in her search; the once bright optimistic side began to once again give way to doubt. The search did finally come to a close. The morning gave way to a fresh scent of flowers and spring, however lingering in the air a stale decay. The rumor spread quickly through the town and once it touched my ears I fled into the square to find truth. Before I had even arrived, Amelia stood waiting with news. Sarah had indeed been found. Her battered and bruised body had been tied to a tree on the outskirts of town, one word written in blood across her stomach. "SINNER" Both, Amelia and I, horrified by the site of her mutilated body broke into tears as the 15-year-old Sarah McGreggor's body was pulled from the oak tree and placed gently into a wooden coffin. Who would do such a cruel thing to someone as kind and peaceful as Sarah? The answers came quite quickly as her father appeared on the scene demanding that the culprit come forward or he'd take matters into his own hands. No sooner had noon come on that very day that a young man, fresh out of school came forth. He said that for many months he'd watched Sarah, followed her and her friends, waited until the time was right and kidnapped her. His hopes of course were that she'd fall in love with him, promise her life to him. Sarah, although quite innocent and naive wasn't really a 'boy' kind of girl. Her love was for Amelia and that's how it would always be. Once the boy realized such, he grew angry. In his rage he raped the young one, and by his account tried to 'beat the veniality' from her. Then tied her body to the tree leaving her there to rot. Indeed he was punished for the transgression, Amelia changed drastically that day. She'd always been a dark and tormented soul, however now she withdrew from everything. Locking herself into her room and on the first anniversary of Sarah's death, Amelia was found hanging from the very tree in which Sarah's blood stained. The town stood in awe as the young woman's body was taken from the tree and placed in a coffin just as her young love was only a year before. Suddenly the town turned to me, waiting...watching for me to fall. I had to stand strong; I couldn't allow the deaths of the ones I cared so much for to bring me down. I stood tall, strong. However, so many of the townspeople frowned upon me, my friends 'sin' seemed to be pushed upon me. They all watched as I conversed with their daughters, wondering if I too were like the others and would somehow convince their innocent children that female love was pure and holy. That wasn't who I was though, not that it matters anymore.
Sarah McGreggor The time I spent in Shistoba at this moment seems like millions of lifetimes ago. Although the people are long gone, their memories will always reside in my heart. Growing up, I had two best friends. Amelia Smith and Sarah McGreggor. Amelia could be a little on the dark side, she was always pessimistic about life. Nevertheless, she was always there when I needed a friend to lean on. Sarah, on the other hand was a very perky and free-minded soul. Her heart filled with kindness and love for others, and animals. She was a die hard animal lover. Her mother had died when she was only 2 years old, leaving her in the care of her workaholic father. Sarah was one of the luckier ones in town, residing in an upscale home near the river away from the rest of town. Amelia and I would always walk her home after school, mainly to make sure she didn't pick up anymore stray animals on the way home! Sarah's house was filled with small critters, nine cats, four dogs, four turtles, two bunnies, two birds and tons of fish. It was practically a Zoo at the McGreggor estate. Her father, who was never even home, didn't mind the animals as long as the servants kept the messes picked up and the animal smell out of the house. Amelia and I lived only a few houses apart, we'd always playfully joke about Sarah's pets on the way back from her house. Of course, more than anything in the world, the two of us had vowed to protect Sarah. She was innocent, perhaps too innocent at times. Her ignorance for certain ways of the world, although very adorable, got her into trouble with the older crowd. No matter how many years pass by, I will never forget the dark night in which Sarah vanished. A gentle rapping upon the kitchen door sent chills down my spin, I had no idea anyone was coming, but I knew something wasn't right. Sometimes, I just get these feelings. As my mother slowly opened the door revealing Nathaniel McGreggor, Sarah's father my heart sank. His worried questioning of his daughters whereabouts were not helping me shake the feeling. Before Mr. McGreggor even had a chance to sit at my fathers table, I was out the door and down the street to Amelia's house. Just as shocked by the news that Sarah could not be found as I was, Amelia shook her head. She stated that come hell or high-water, we'd find Sarah. The first optimistic thing I'd ever heard uttered from the nihilist. Together we left her house on our quest, the search for our best friend. Minutes turned to hours, which gave way to days and soon a week had past with no signs of the young carefree blonde. Amelia grew weak in her search; the once bright optimistic side began to once again give way to doubt. The search did finally come to a close. The morning gave way to a fresh scent of flowers and spring, however lingering in the air a stale decay. The rumor spread quickly through the town and once it touched my ears I fled into the square to find truth. Before I had even arrived, Amelia stood waiting with news. Sarah had indeed been found. Her battered and bruised body had been tied to a tree on the outskirts of town, one word written in blood across her stomach. "SINNER" Both, Amelia and I, horrified by the site of her mutilated body broke into tears as the 15-year-old Sarah McGreggor's body was pulled from the oak tree and placed gently into a wooden coffin. Who would do such a cruel thing to someone as kind and peaceful as Sarah? The answers came quite quickly as her father appeared on the scene demanding that the culprit come forward or he'd take matters into his own hands. No sooner had noon come on that very day that a young man, fresh out of school came forth. He said that for many months he'd watched Sarah, followed her and her friends, waited until the time was right and kidnapped her. His hopes of course were that she'd fall in love with him, promise her life to him. Sarah, although quite innocent and naive wasn't really a 'boy' kind of girl. Her love was for Amelia and that's how it would always be. Once the boy realized such, he grew angry. In his rage he raped the young one, and by his account tried to 'beat the veniality' from her. Then tied her body to the tree leaving her there to rot. Indeed he was punished for the transgression, Amelia changed drastically that day. She'd always been a dark and tormented soul, however now she withdrew from everything. Locking herself into her room and on the first anniversary of Sarah's death, Amelia was found hanging from the very tree in which Sarah's blood stained. The town stood in awe as the young woman's body was taken from the tree and placed in a coffin just as her young love was only a year before. Suddenly the town turned to me, waiting...watching for me to fall. I had to stand strong; I couldn't allow the deaths of the ones I cared so much for to bring me down. I stood tall, strong. However, so many of the townspeople frowned upon me, my friends 'sin' seemed to be pushed upon me. They all watched as I conversed with their daughters, wondering if I too were like the others and would somehow convince their innocent children that female love was pure and holy. That wasn't who I was though, not that it matters anymore.