Saturday September 9th, 2000

The black BMW was cruising down the interstate at a reasonable speed; the driver, a middle aged man kept his eyes on the road; he was accompanied in silence by his wife and daughter. They turned off the interstate and continued down a tree lined road for several miles until they reached the town of High Point, population 2,432. The young girl, in the backseat, began to take in her surroundings; not quite what she had in mind, but anything was better than where she had just come from. Quiet and shy, she really was not looking forward to being the new girl in such a small town. When the car pulled to a stop in front of their new home she was slightly relieved to see that it was on the out-skirts of town. She had a better chance of avoiding nosey neighbors here.

"So, what do you think?" Her mom asked as they all stretched their legs from the long drive. Her mom looked like her, except with short hair and laugh lines.

"It's nice." She replied as she let out a yawn.

"Not the house," her mom chuckled. "That." She said as she pointed to a car in the driveway.

"Is that…" she gasped, "for me?"

"Sure is," her dad said throwing her the keys to her new car.

The little silver Honda with black interior was everything she could have imagined. The engine purred to life and hummed quietly as she enjoyed the new car smell. "Fits like a glove," she said smiling at her parents.

Happy to see the smile on their daughter's face her parents let her enjoy her new car for awhile. Before long her mom waved her into the house excited to show it off. From the street, the outside of the house was plain, not that she cared. They didn't move here for luxury, they moved out of necessity. Inside was not much different. A musty smell smacked her in the face as she walked into the foyer, and she realized she had better get used to it; this was one of the rainiest places in the world. Being completely dry was no longer an option for anything, including the air. Her mom had moved to the kitchen, still chattering away, while her dad made himself comfortable on their new couch in the living room.

"The kitchen is small, but your dad and I already have some thoughts to expand it out toward the front door. And when the renovation is done, I'll need your help picking out colors and helping me with the design." She just smiled at her mother and nodded waiting patiently for her mom to take a breath so she could ask where the bathroom was.

"It looks like it's going to start raining soon." Her dad yelled from the living room.

Looks like it's going to start raining soon, the girl thought to herself, of course it looks like its going rain, it's Washington. She continued to examine her new home while searching for the bathroom, completely giving up on her mom who had now moved to the living room she had "big plans" for. Despite the odd smell, outdated layout of the house, and the weather (that completely explained the suicide rate she read about on the internet) she was happy, though you would never know by looking at her; she rarely smiled anymore. But she was genuinely happy, looking forward to moving on with her life and starting over fresh.

The bathroom was at the top of the stairs, small, quaint, and the only one. Again, she didn't mind; it took very little to please her anymore. She took a quick look at herself in the mirror confirming what she already knew. Her ivory skin looked almost translucent without the sun, eye's darker now with no light to bring out the green in them, dark hair piled on the top of her head like a birds nest, she had an athletic build but no reason for it, and no smile.

"Spectacular look Em…Mia…" She said to herself. She had been memorizing her new name for weeks. They could only think it at this point because speaking it would leave too many clues. But that girl, with that name, was dead, and the plan was to forget she ever existed. She took one last look and splashed some cold water on her face to help wake her up after the drive; then she went in search of her room.

"Mom," she yelled from the top of the stairs, "which one is my room?"

"At the top of the stairs, turn right. Your room is at the end of the hall." Her mom yelled from the kitchen.

"Top of the stairs, turn right, end of the hall," Mia said to herself, left was not an option so that made it easier to navigate. Once she was in her room, she sat down on the bed that had been ordered new and delivered prior to their arrival. She took a nice long look around, light carpet, beige walls, and a new computer on her new desk. She inspected her closet, and admired her new view of the front yard. Past the front yard were the woods, woods that lined their drive into town, woods that bordered her new home, her new future. They made her feel safe, secure, like she had a wall built around her that no one could get through. She opened her window to let in some fresh air then investigated her new furniture.

Everything was new, it had to be even the clothes in the dresser drawers were brand new. All the blankets and sheets that were stored in a cedar chest in the corner were new. Mia remembered the time her parents went away for a 'romantic weekend'. She worried about them and whether or not he would figure out what they were doing. But when they got back it seemed like their plan was in full swing and it would only be a matter of time before she would be free of him forever.

"Hey," her dad called as he came into her room. "What do you think of your new room?"

"It's great." She said with more enthusiasm then either of them expected

"What would you like me to do with this," he asked holding up the one bag Mia had brought with her.

"Just set it down I'll get to it later."

"Your mom and I are going to run out and do some grocery shopping, would you like us to get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks"

"Alright, we'll be back in a little while." He said as he left the room.

Mia examined the bag her dad had brought up to her room, she ruffled through it and pulled out a red sketchbook then she quickly shoved the bag under her bed to be forgotten forever, hopefully. Feeling the exhaustion finally catch up with her she decided to lie down until her parents got back.

Sunday September 10th, 2000

Something bright and seemingly unnatural woke Mia; it took her a moment to realize she had slept through the night and that the sun of all things was shinning in on her. She looked at the clock, seven, she checked herself and seemed well rested so she decided to get up despite the time.

"So the sun does exist in this town." Mia said to herself as she grabbed some fresh clothes to wear. It was Sunday, one more day before she officially started her new life, with her new name, in a new town, at a new school. It was September and although the school year had already started Mia felt better knowing it was not too far along. She walked quietly past her parent's bedroom, and into the bathroom for a long awaited shower.

The hot water felt miraculously good on the aching muscles that had just started to wake up. This was more than just a morning shower, as she started to relax she felt the water wash away her pain, her fear, wash away the smell of his breath, and the feel of his skin, all washed down the drain never to return again. Hope crept into her heart again, a feeling she had long forgotten and although no one was there to witness it a smile appeared on her face as she felt the weight lift from her shoulders. After her shower she got dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a comfy hooded sweatshirt and boots. She had plans for today; she had made them yesterday when she saw the woods around her house. She was going to find a place where she could go and be alone, where no one would interrupt her, a place all to herself. It was in those woods and she was determined to find it. She left a note for her parents so they would not worry; they had done enough of that over the years.

Thanks for letting me sleep.

Went exploring, be back later.

Love,

Mia

Once outside Mia realized that the sun did nothing for the temperature and was glad she decided on the sweatshirt. Even though she knew the sun played no part in restraining him she had wished they could have picked a warmer place to live. But she knew that would be the first place he would look if he didn't believe their story so with hunched shoulders she started on her journey. She walked through her front yard, past her car, across the street and into the shielding woods. Most people would not think of woods as a safe place to spend time alone but Mia had experienced much more than her fair share of danger and the stillness of the trees gave her peace. It was not long before she had found a trail, not commonly used but still visible. The growth had not quite taken it and before long she noticed some light creeping through the trees several yards off the trail. Keeping a close eye on how far she walked off trail she came into a clearing, eyes squinting as they adjusted to the sunlight being let in by the break in the trees. She had found what she was looking for. It was perfect, exactly as she had imagined it. It was almost surreal the way the trees parted and formed a complete circle, letting the sky in and keeping the rest of the world out. Mia surveyed the area already decided that she had found her spot and noticed a fallen tree slightly to the right of the circle. She investigated its sturdiness by jumping on it a few times and tested its dampness with her hand.

I'll have to bring a blanket with me next time; the sun doesn't stand a chance against all this moisture. She thought to herself as she cleared some fallen branches to make a nice bench for herself.

"Perfect." She said knowing she was all alone to enjoy her new discovery.

Without a clue as to what time it was she decided to head home. Carefully she back tracked her way to the trail, again keeping a close eye to make sure she would have no trouble finding her clearing next time. Once out of the thick of the trees she could see her house. When she crossed her front yard she noticed that they lived on a pretty quiet street and had yet to see one car pass by. This would have been dangerous before but now she felt at peace with the seclusion. When she walked through the front door, she could hear her mom in the kitchen, discussing plans to knock down walls and move major appliances. The image of her father rolling his eyes to the upcoming construction made Mia smile to herself.

"M…ia, is that you?" Her mom called. A moment passed before she responded, causing her mom to stop what she was doing and poke her head around the corner to see for herself who had just entered her new home.

"Yeah, it's me." This new name was going to take some getting used to, she could clearly hear the awkwardness in her mom's voice and obviously she did not respond fast enough to her own name.

"Don't worry sweetie you'll get used to it." Her mom said in a comforting tone, while patting her on the back.

"So where'd you run off to so early this morning?" Her dad asked out of sheer desperation for a different topic. Mia had been given as much freedom to do as she'd pleased for years now, her parents felt that was the least they could do. So knowing the question was merely a plea for help instead of a request for information Mia gladly answered.

"Oh, I just wanted to explore the area a bit, get a little more acquainted with my surroundings."

"And did you find anything interesting?" Her mom asked eyes still on the wall she planned on tearing down.

"Actually…um, no, nothing of any interest just trees and grass." Mia replied wanting to keep her sun kissed clearing all to herself. Knowing her parents trusted her she did not feel bad keeping this small secret to herself, there was so much more they knew that she wished they had not.

Mia could see the wheels of construction starting to turn again in her mom's eyes and wanting to give her dad a few more moments of peace she suggested they go over their plan one last time.

"So I thought since tomorrow is the first day of school for me and work for you that we should go over our stories one last time."

"Sweetie, we've done this a thousand times, no one is going to figure it out, and you don't have anything to worry about anymore. Heck, before you know it we'll even be believing the stories ourselves." Her mom said, now focusing on her daughter.

Mia wanted to believe that and for a short moment she let herself hope that it was possible to completely forget the past and take on these new lives as if they had always existed.

"I know, I know, but it would make me feel better if we went over it one last time." Mia pushed, squeezing in a wink for her dad. Catching on, her dad started with the specifics.

"Okay then. Tomorrow you will be the newest student at the local High School; you will be a senior, transferring from your previous High School in Pennsylvania."

"Yes that's right, senior year, again." Mia interjected, clearly frustrated with this small fact.

"Yes, again." Her mom insisted.

"Right, tomorrow I will be the newest addition to the Class of 2001 at High Point… Wait what's the school called, High Point High? That sounds ridiculous."

"I believe they just call it Point High." Her mom informed her.

"Well that's a little bit better, I guess. So tomorrow the new student, Mia Russo will start her second senior year at Point High in High Point, WA." Mia grimaced at the thought; the school had a frightening total of only three hundred sixty two, now sixty three students, compared to her graduating class of over five hundred. "She moved here with her mother Loretta, but everyone calls her Lori, and her father Anthony, but everyone calls him Tony."

"Lori, works at the town library as an Administrative Assistant." Her mom continued.

"And Tony, works at the small town airport as an aviation mechanic. He met his wife, Loretta DeLuca, in high school; they will be celebrating their twenty second anniversary in May. He graduated in '77, she graduated in '78 and they were married in '79. They had their first and only daughter in '83 who will be celebrating her second 18th birthday this March." Her dad completed, throwing his daughter a quick smile at the mention of her second 18th birthday.

"And we moved here because dad was laid off and couldn't find work." Mia added.

"That's right," her mom concluded.

Hope flowed through Mia's veins as she dreamed of a time when her nights would be nightmare free, when happily ever after would no longer be just the end of childhood fairy tales. A time when a smile on her face would not be cause to stop the presses, a time when she could laugh freely with no fear that he was ever going to find her again. Hope was dangerous in the past, and might still be, but for a moment she let the feeling flutter inside her.