Prolouge: Faylinn

She believed in dreams, wishes, and pixie dust. She kept her eyes open for them, kept her heart open. She believed in a happily-ever-after ending and love at first sight. She believed in living life happily.

They thought of her as naive, as an immature child. They looked down upon her unwanted happiness. They turned their noses away from her explanations.

She didn't give up; not in the world she grew up in. She kept believing in those wishes, miracles, and pixie dust.

Always the odd one, she kept to herself. Fine blonde hair, blonde to the point of white, cascaded down her back, and her ice blue eyes scared others away. She didn't mind. She didn't like their ways of thinking and actions. She was stick thin and pale, only a slight bit muscular from her running; all the running she did didn't affect her skin but, she loved to run. It was the closest she could get to flying. Her hands were slim and obviously belonged to a girl. They were the kind that looked soft to the touch and belonged to some wealthy person, not to a girl who spent her time drawing and running.

Her face was slim and angular, her features soft. Her chest was flat, almost like a boy's, and her hips small. Her voice was quiet and, as some like to refer to it as, musical.

If you ask anyone, they'd say the girl kept to herself. The girl was always daydreaming. The girl was abnormal. She only had one other that accepted her.

The girl believed in wishes, and pixie dust. She still does.

Her name is Faylinn Lorelle.

CHAPTER 1: Dreams Unveiled

"Shit. Not good enough." I growled as I threw a bucket of water onto the pavement, erasing the images on the ground and mixing the colors together. I threw the bucket behind me, not listening to where it decided to crash.

"Not good enough. Not yet. Not yet." I muttered to myself. I picked up the bucket of chalk that layed on the ground beside the puddle and stalked off to find a dry spot to start over.

A fairy. One with beautiful wings of green and blue hues and sparkles made of light. Yes. That's what I want to see. What I want to make. What I want to be.

"Miss. That's a pretty fairy." Glancing up through the curtain of hair that fell infront of my face, I glared at a kid. He was cute, in that 'I-want-to-squeeze-you-to-death' kind of way.

"Hmm... Really?" I asked as I settled on the balls of my feet, in a crouched postion, as I watched the small kid. "What makes you say that?"

He thought for a moment as he studied me and the picture. "She looks like you." He nodded, as if making sure to himself that that's what he wanted to say.

I laughed bitterly and stood. "Whatever." I said and picked up the chalk that was scattered about.

"Aren't'cha gonna' finish it miss?" He asked. I turned to him again and shook my head. "But, it's not done! Ma says to always finish what you started." He added, looking down a bit.

I looked at him quickly before sighing. "Catch, kid." I said before throwing him a light green pice of chalk. "Finish it for me. Kay?" He caught the small piece and nodded with a smile.

---------

"Daddy, what am I?"

"A pretty fairy. A beautiful one."

"I am?"

"Yes, Faylinn. And your my fairy."

"Daddy, do I make wishes come true?"

"You do. You do."

Daddy....where are you?


CHAPTER 2: Living life just a bit

Wake up. School. Home. Eat inbetween things. That's all there is to do here. All that's left for me to do. The same old routine everyday. It gets boring after a while. It doesn't help that no one likes 'lil ol' Faylinn'. Pfft. Whatever.

I sat up in my bed, throwing the worn green blankets away from me. Too hot in here, I thought as I got up and made my way to the window. Lifting it up, I shivered a bit from the sudden cold wind that lifted my light blue cami up.

"Fay! C'mere! I need help with my homework!" My sister yelled (too loudly) from her room beside mine. "Do it your damn self!" I yelled back.

She stomped her way into my room, all four feet and five inches of her. Her brown hair bounced, weaved in small pig tailed plaits, as she made her way in and glared at me. I looked at her with amusement.

"Mama said so!" She yelled. I blinked and rubbed my ear.

"Don't yell. I'm right beside you idiot." I scoffed and went back to my bed and sat on the edge. I eyed my reflection as the little brat growled and stalked out of the room. Probably to tell Ma that I won't help her. She should start paying attention in class instead of texting on that damn phone.

Sighing, I looked around my too clean room. Everything was in place: the books over on the shelf, my art things on my desk, clothes in the dresser and closet, and my school stuff by the foot of the bed. I didn't really like it, but it was better than having to clean it up every day. And plus, I'm hardly ever in my room except to sleep or think.

Speaking of sleeping, it sounds like a wonderful idea... I closed my eyes and drifted off quickly.

---------

"Your art has to have meaning. Has to be perfect."

"But, Daddy, I can't! Its so hard!"

"You can do it Faylinn. C'mon. Take the chalk and draw."

"Alright."

"That's how you do it! Such a beautiful fairy."

"Like me Daddy?"

"Not as beautiful as you. But beautiful nevertheless."

CHAPTER 3: Ash

I hummed a tune, not a specific one really, but a tune nonetheless, as I walked down the street to the store there. It was one of my favorites because of the many books and things that they held. And they had their own section for fairies.

"All my life, I've been good," I murmured under my breath as I switched from humming to singing. "But now? Whoa~ What the hell." I chuckled at the lyrics and stopped at the door of the store. My blue eyes scanned the inside to see if anyone was in it. Only a few stranglers on the inside. I wouldn't expect much in there, since it was 'round ten at night.

As I stepped in, the bell on the door rung out in the comfortable silence. "Hello Ryu." I called out to the cashier. Ryu Takashi was in his early sixties, with grey hair and a bright grin. For an old dude, he was cool. He's like my second dad. In his own way of course.

"Konban wa Faylinn. How are you doing?" He asked as he finished ringing up a woman's purchases.

"Just fine Ryu," I replied as I walked up to the counter. He nodded and pointed towards the back. "Some new things came in. Thought you'd like to check them out."

I grinned and reached over the counter to hug the old man and scurried off towards the way he pointed. When I reached there, I found a lot of new things. Books, makeup, and games. All for fairies. Of course, the games were directed towards the younger selection.

I scanned the rack for a cetain book. When I found it, I hugged it to my chest. This book, I had been waiting for the book to come out for a long time. "Ash" by Malinda Lo. I've heard it was really good too...

"Ryu! When'd you get this book?" I asked as I skipped back over to the counter. He eyed the book, probably trying to remember when.

"I think either last week or today. I'm not entirley sure." He said as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Save it for me? I'll be getting it tomorrow." I said as I handed it to him. Ryu nodded and put it under the counter with a smile.

"Best be getting home Faylinn. Your mother must be getting worried." He said. I sighed and nodded.

"Alright Ryu. See ya tomorrow." I called as I waved and walked out the store.

---------

"Faylinn, you'll find your prince someday."

"I don't want a prince papa."

"Then, what do you want?"

"I want a fairy papa."

"Then you'll find a fairy prince. Only the best for the best. That's what I say, right Faylinn?"

"Yes papa!"

CHAPTER 4: Reminiscing

Dear....whoever?

I loved him. Father. Papa. Asshole. Even after the many things I've heard people call him over the years, he'll always be my Papa.

I miss him. I miss his hugs. I miss that mischeivous glint that never left his eyes. I miss when he threw me in the air, letting me 'fly'. I miss his paintings and sketches. I miss his presence in the small apartment.

One thing I won't miss though is the smoke. The raw stench of alchol. The red-ness of his eyes as yelling ensured into the night, mostly directed to Ma. Never me. Never his little fairy. Just Ma.

Except that one time. And that one time was the last time I saw him.

Oh, he never used to beat me. He just lectured me for a good hot minute, then always smiled and gave me a small treat, sometimes ice-cream or candy. I perfered the candy.

He said he didn't mean to hit me. He said he wasn't thinking. He said it wouldn't ever happen again. He said this all with watery red eyes.

It didn't happen again. He left us. Ma told me he couldn't take it, and he left. But my grandma said he died that night. Taken by a bullet as he ran for his life. He ran as if he was flying. That's what grandma says. I think I believe her more than I believe my own mother. Why? Cause he said he'd never leave me. He'd never run away. And if he did, he'd take me with him.

I don't hate my Ma. I don't really like her either. It's more of a neutral feeling. I'm thankful for her taking care of me, feeding me, clothing me, giving me a roof to sleep under, but that's as far as I'll go. Other than that, she doesn't speak to me except to lecture me or tell me to clean up my mess. Yet, I thank her.

Hell. Why am I writing this? This 'diary'. Only a homework grade to me. So why do I write down my past, my feelings, in such a readable place for anyone to see?

Oh well. What's done is done. I don't care anyway. These pages are too pretty to rip out. And I'm too lazy to rewrite this.

Damn.


CHAPTER 5: Void

"Robert! Stop putting these silly fantasies in my daughter's head! Look at her. Ten and still believes in those damned creatures because of you! You!"

"Lillian. If she believes in them, let her. It's not ma-"

"Robert! You don't understand! She says she sees them! Plays with them! Sings and dances! Girls her age should have friends. Be begging for money to go to the movies and such. Not play with imaginary friends!"

"Faylinn is perfectly fine the way she is. Let her have her innocence and youth. Just cause you didn't have a childhood, doesn't mean she can't!"

"Damn it! I mean it, stop telling her those damn stories."

A red faced woman stomped out the house with a ten year old girl in tow. The girl looked at the man who was sitting on the couch as they left with a sad look.

In the car, the girl tried to explain she didn't have an imaginary friend. That what she said was true. That she had been in another world.

The woman would hear nothing of it.

---------

"Niki... Why would Ma say such a thing back then?" I asked the figure beside me. The figure had the body of a child, the kind you knew would be beautiful all its life.

"Your mother can't see us. Only a select few can, you being one." 'Niki' replied. I nodded and threw a stick at a tree.

"Why can I see you?"

"Because you're special. A gift you have."

"...You sounded like that imp thing off of Star Wars."

"Hmm.... "


CHAPTER 6: May I?

"Ryu! That Ash book, wonderful!" I exclaimed as I skipped into the store. The old man laughed and leaned against the counter.

"That so? Sore wa subarashiidesu." He said with a laugh.

"English, Ryu, English." I said as I waved my finger at him playfully. He grinned. "There anything new for me?"

"Iie. Not today Faylinn. Gomen." Ryu replied as he came from behind the counter and went to straighten a shelf that some careless kid had messed up.

"Ryu, I have a question."

"Hai?" He looked at me curiously.

"Do you need help around the store? I don't mind working." I said as I skimmed through the tidy shelves and displays. He was quiet for a moment.

"Watashi wa shiran... I'll let you know tomorrow." He replied as he turned back to tidying the shelf.

"Arigatou Ryu!" I hugged him, said my partings, and left for the day. I'll likely be back tomorrow.

---------

"So, Ryu may give me a job tomorrow Niki." I said to the figure. She smiled.

"Wonderful." We laughed a bit for some unknown reason. After we quieted down, I looked back at her and smiled.

"Can you grant wishes Niki?" She shook her head. "Well, that's not good. You should be able to!" I puffed my cheeks out with aggravation. Her laughter sounded like bells.

"Wishes belong to fairy it does not. Wishes belong to the genie." She replied. I eyed her wearily before sighing.

"You still sound like that imp thing."

"An imp I am not!" She puffed up a bit herself, making me laugh.


CHAPTER 7: Papa!

"Papa! NO! Don't take my papa! He didn't do anything!"

"Faylinn, get back in the house."

"B-But Ma! Those men are taking Papa!"

"Hush Faylinn. He's going where he can't hurt you or me anymore."

"I don't want him to go! He hasn't hurt me!"

"Faylinn Lorelle! If you don't get in th-"

"Papa! Papa!"

"Faylinn, get back here!"

Flashing lights illuminated the night sky at the Lorelle household. Two cars were awkwardly pulled into the yard, one squishing a flower bed. Men were standing around talking, some were putting a resigned man into one of the cars. A crying girl yelled for the man she called 'Papa'. She tried to escape the clutch of the woman who sent the men to take her 'Papa'. The man sat in the car for a bit, watching with red eyes at the crying child. He threw open the door and ran to her.

He told her he was sorry. He didn't mean to hit her.

She said she didn't hurt. She said she only wanted him back.

He nodded and said soon. And he ran. Ran down the street, almost as if he was flying.

"Faylinn. Back in the house, now."

The girl watched the back of the retreating figure as the men who came to take him away chased after him. Some on foot. Some in the cars.

And, the flowers were the one who wept with the girl.


CHAPTER 8: Doodles keep me entertained...

School. The place to be educated, to learn, and to me, sleep.

Not that I ever get to. The teachers all seem to pick me out for everything. Humming, doodling little faries and such in the margins of my paper, laying my head down, eating, day dreaming; I'm the one who gets picked out. But when I see people do the same thing, she never calls them out.

Like now this instant...

Shit. She took my test. Just 'cause I was doodling again. What am I supposed to do while I sit here and wait for everyone to finish. It's not my fault English comes easy for me.

She's probably gonna mark all of the questions wrong again like last time. And watch, when I confront her, she's gonna say "Opps, I'm sorry Ms. Lorelle." And then correct half of them. I give up by that time. It's not like I am going anywhere soon.

---------

"Faylinn! Wait up!" I stopped and glanced behind me to see another girl running towards me. The girl is dark skinned, with dark hair and dark eyes to match. She was on the pudgy side, but that made her, well, her.

"Fay..." The girl whined as she caught up. "Why don'cha wait for me anymore?" I shurgged at her question.

"Don't feel like staying here anymore than I have to, I guess. Aylen... What do you have on your face?" I ask bluntly as I point to the swirly designs around her eyes.

"Oh! The eyeliner? I was bored. Do you like it?" Aylen asked as she spun around with a giggle. I watchit the designs glitter as the sun hit it.

"Its... Its pretty." I said quietly before walking off. Aylen quickly followed.

"Fay! Fay!"

"Stop calling my name."

---------

"Niki... What do you think of Aylen?" I asked the shining figure that sat sbove me in the tree. She shrugged.

"Okay she is." She smiled a bit.

"Oh. Her designs on her face reminded me of you." I said boredly. "Just saying."

"Pretty they were."

"....."

"An Imp I am not."

"You sound like it."


CHAPTER 9: Dear You

Dear....whoever?

I'm writing in this damned thing again. Oh, don't think it's because I like or even want to. I'm trying not to fail my grade right now.

So yea. What should I write about? Well, I don't know either.

That's just great.

Okay... Maybe I should write about what my mother hates so much. Imagination.

Or better yet, fairies.

God, that's what I want to be. To be able to fly among the stars and clouds and moons and such. To have the wings I've always wanted, beautiful and magestic. With colors that are bright and shimmery.

I have a friend named Niki. She's a fairy...one that sounds so much like that imp thing on Star Wars. Yoda! Yes, that's right. She doesn't look like him though. She's prettier and quieter. Her eyes are the prettiest green and her skin is the palest white. Not ghostly white, but pretty white. And she's always there for me. Always.

She's been there from the begining. Since before my father left. Since before I even knew of fairies. She told me of a world so much different than this. Where everything is perfect. And I've been there a few times. But not for long. I'm always dragged to the present before I can explore the world to much.

Shit, ma is coming. Sorry. I'll leave now.

CHAPTER 10: Betrayed by your's truely

Dear....whoever?

Things have always been in routine. Always. The same things in the same places at the same times.

But, I should've known it wouldn't be like this forever.

Ma found my spot in the park yesterday. That's why she came to talk to me. To hit me. To yell at me. Like always when she's mad.

She said I needed to stop with the foolishness. That this has gone to far.

"You're a teenage for Christ's sakes! Where are the friends you are supposed to have? Why aren't you asking to spend the nights at someone elses?"

Those were her exact words. should know. She says it all the time.

And I explained to her, that not all friends were for her to see. Not all friends I could sleep at. Not all friends were human.

She threatened to send me to a special doctor. One to cure my madness. She told me my appointment is tomorrow.

I'm not crazy. I think I'm pretty sane actually. I am smarter than most. I am quicker than most. I think and process information that it takes some people serveral minutes to. It all comes so easily to me.

So easily.

I wonder what the doctor is going to say. I'm going to laugh when he tells Ma I'm perfectly fine. Because I am.

Right?


CHAPTER 11: You really want to know?

"Why did your mother send you here today, Faylinn?" A probing question.

"She thinks I'm crazy." Simple. Easy. To the point.

"What do you mean by crazy?" An uneasy feeling.

"She thinks I use my imagination to much." Truth be told.

"Doctor, she does! Its not healthy for a child her age to still be believing in such non-sense." An angry shout.

"That so? Faylinn, tell me. What do you believe in." Another probing question.

"I don't believe in anything Mr. I know there are fairies. I've seen them. They talk to me. I have a special friend. Her name is Niki. But Ma doesn't beleive me. I don't care if you do." More words. An explanation.

"I believe you. Don't worry. Mrs. Lorelle, would you please step out a minute. I would like to talk to your daughter." An underlying message. Can't make it out.

"Fine. Just cure her insanity." A angry voice. Slam of the door.

"... Faylinn, tell me ab-" Quiet then spoken.

"I'm not insane Mr. I'm not." Interuppted.

"I know. I know. Now, tell me about your friend Niki." Questioning. Friendly. Alarms.

"I can tell her anything. She was always there. When Papa left. When mom turned to a bitch. Niki is always with me. If not in front of me, she talks to me through our telepathic connection." Hesitantly.

"Did she tell you that you two had the telepathic connection?" Curious.

"No sir. I looked it up. How else would I be able to hear her through my mind?" Matter-of-fact.

"What is she telling you right now Faylinn?" Dread. Curious. More alarms.

"She's telling me that you're a bad person." Point blank.

"How so?" Curious. Too curious.

"She said I shouldn't be telling this to you. That I shouldn't be telling you my secret." Cautiously.

"Does she ever tell you to do things Faylinn?" Serious.

"Yes sir, she does." Boredly.

"What was the most recent thing?" Dread, again.

"To kill my neighbor's dog." Obvious.


Chapter 12: Discovery

I sat in the lobby again, watching the little kids who were also there run around and play with the rugged toys that the office had supplied for them. Ma's muffled shouts from behind closed doors were hard to make out. The doctor's voice was equally quiet.

"Miss. Play with me?" I look up from my nails to the little kid. It was the same one from the other day. The cute one.

"I can't, sorry." I replied with a smile. He nodded and climbed onto the chair beside me.

"I finished that fairy Miss. Mama took a picture of it just so you can see it." He said with a huge smile. I nodded. "Would you like to see it?"

"Not right now. Some other time maybe." I rubbed his head playfully, making him burst into a fit of laughter.

"I'm not a puppy! I want to be a fairy, just like you Miss!" He squealed with glee.

That was shocking. Someone...thought I was a fairy? I blinked stupidly and laughed. "That's wonderful Kid."

"It is, ain't it!" He clutched onto my arm and hummed a small tune.

"To be a fairy, you ha-"

"Faylinn! Get your ass in this office immediatly!" I hear Ma interupt me. The boy had surprise etched onto my face clearly.

"I have to go. I'll see you some other time."

"Oh, okay. Goodbye Miss!"

---------------

"Your daughter has a case of what seems to be Paranoid-type schizophrenia. It's not small, and undoubtly there."

"That's not true! She is perfectly healthy, right?"

"Her bodily functions are fine. Its her mind that isn't thinking right."

"That makes no sense."

"It makes perfect sense. She jumps at every loud sound she hears, has anxiety attacks pretty often, and she sees things other's cannot. Those are the major signs of this."

"I will not believe this! I will not!"

"Ma'am, she'll need to take this every night. Before she goes to bed."

"She will not touch that filthy thing. She is perfectly healthy."

"Mrs. Lorelle. I do not think you know how serious this is."

"She's perfectly fine. Now, we'll be leaving. Let's go Faylinn."

"Ma'am. One more thing. If you do not seek to cure this, the results may be devestating."

"I don't believe you. Good bye."

I watched the doctor's face the whole time. I couldn't believe him either.

I'm perfectly fine. That's what Niki told me. Everything she says is true....

Right?


Chapter 13: Something Done

I've noticed things are different the last few days since we got back from the doctor. Ma doesn't even speak to me anymore. At all.

She cleans up what I did for chores. When I ask for something, she gives it to me. It's like she's in a daze, walking around mindless.

It scares me really.

Sure, this is nice. But it's different. I'm used to the beatings I got for failing a test I should've passed. I'm used to the foul words thrown at me when she's drunk or I do something ridiculous.

Now, I just get that eerie silence. Niki tells me not to worry. That she has seen the daylight. Or something like that.

I don't understand though.

------------------------

"You want me to do what? I can't do that Niki. That's mean."

"Anything to be a fairy, you said."

"But I love their dog! Why would I even harm it?"

"Fairy you want, no?"

"Yes..."

"Follow footsteps of mine."

---------------------

The scream from our neighbor could be heard through out the night.


Chapter 14: Now what?

Dear...whoever?

Last night was like the one so many years ago. The questioning of the police, the sighs and note taking, the 'unreal-ness' of it. It didn't seem like it was real.

Was it real? Or was it a dream? I can't really tell anymore. Days fly by in blurs. Ma doesn't let me out the house unless its to school. Aylen doesn't talk to me anymore. Word had gotten around school that I was crazy. And no one wants to be around the 'mentally-ill kid' do they?

I am not crazy. I am not mentally-ill as the doctor told my Ma. He lied. I am perfectly sane.

Oh, the police are gone. I wonder what they were here for.

Ma said they thought she was being a bad mother. The doctor had called them because she wouldn't 'treat me for something that could be potentioallly serious'. It was weird, you know. To see the same people who took Pa away. Pa...

Where are you?


Chapter 15: A new Home

Dear...whoever?

They took me away. They said I was going somewhere where I could get better, be loved, be cared for. THe men in blue said that to me that night when they took me away.

When I arrived, the men left and was replaced with men in white. They looked all serious, stiff, and as if they were in pain.

"Another kid? What's with their parents now-a-days? Makes are job harder when they think they're perfectly fine." I heard one murmur. I watched them as a lady in the same eye-popping white took me inside the large building.

The building, it had a weird smell. It smelled...clean. Steril. Off. I didn't like it.

"Let me go." I had told them, over and over once I got in. They had only tightened their grip.

They told me I was gonna get better. Better? I'm perfectly fine. They had told me I couldn't have anything that would hurt me. I couldn't have pencils or paper to draw. Only crayons to write with in a notebook they had to keep. I could only get it when someone could watch me. That's what I'm doing now.

It's been days since I last saw Ma. Weeks maybe. They time seems to only blur together.

A girl down the hall told me I'm here because I'm crazy. She said I couldn't have the pencils because they were afraid I'd kill myself, or worse, kill someone else.

That girl is weird. Why would I kill someone? Or myself even? That's absurd. I wouldn't kill anyone. I wouldn't. Not unless Niki said I should.

I haven't seen or heard from Niki lately. I wonder why? Maybe she's sleeping.

Oh, I have to go. Sorry.


Chapter 16: The beginning of the End

A woman, around the age of thirty-three sat at her desk, holding a notebook. She sighed and swipped of the glasses that perched on her pointed nose and laid it on the desk. She also put down the book.

The last three days, the new girl had been acting strange. Jittery, suspicious, and just plain strange.

"What had happened to her?"

The day before, the girl had been found with blood on the front of her nightgown, sleeping like a newborn child.

Down the hall, a girl was dead. It was strange. The girl claimed she didn't know what they were talking about. She denied killing the other.

And this morning? They found the new girl dead. It was a strange thing really. The girl. She was undoubtly the most troubled Schizophrenic girl she had come across.

"That may be a stretch." She said to herself with a sad and humorless chuckle.

The note book in her hands told her all about her 'companion' Niki. It told her what was going through the girl's mind. It was weird. Why hadn't the other doctors read it? Seen what she had written? The girl had probably hidden it where the others couldn't find it. Or the doctors had slacked off.

What surprised her was the last line in the book, written as if she was talking to the reader itself.


Chapter 18: A Note From Me

Dear You.

Niki told me I should. She said she wanted me to be with her. Said she wanted me to linve with her in her world. I agreed.

SO, before I leave, I want to say... Thank you. Thank you for trying to help me when I didn't need it. Thank you.

-Faylinn Lorelle

P.s. Don't worry about the other girl. She'll be with me and Niki in the Fairy world. That's what Niki had told me.


Dear readers...

I like to thank you for reading this.

This is a story that could happen any time. Anywhere. You have to be aware that not everything is 'okay' in the world.

Faylinn could be anywhere in this world. Her personality, her mental state, her. She could be anywhere in the shape of anyone.

I'm not saying that she's ACTUALLY real. But there can be anyone in the world that are trapped in their own world just like her.

Schizophrenia is found usually when someone is small, and in caused by unknown reasons. You could never know someone is schizophrenic unless they have been tested or someone shows many signs to the real world.

Not everyone is perfect.

Love and Hugs
Ama

Impressum

Texte: Cover picture- leonajane.wordpress.com
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 08.04.2011

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Widmung:
To my highschool's Writing Club. Let us keep remembering our dreams. And to by wonderful friends Kristi and Haley, who are the very inspiration for this story. I love you guys. And to the BookRix community, in which this story may have never been seen.