Chapter one

In My Child’s Eyes

 

            Terri sighed heavily as she trudged through the front door. She collapsed on the couch, hungry, tired, and ready to fall asleep. Her body shifted several times before finding a comfortable position. When her elbow struck something solid, Terri searched under the couch cushion, and after several seconds, fished out her old diary. Dusty and covered with small scraps of stale candy and smeared chocolate, she could still make out the black letters “P-R-I-V-A-T-E” etched across the eerie silver crescent moon.

            Terri’s mind retreated to a devastating time in her life:

 

            Terri rummaged through her large closet, looking for her favorite top;  it was black, with red and burnt orange flames creeping up the three-quarter sleeves. The body of the shirt had a similar design as on the sleeves, but it was covered by a transparent black film.

            “Oh come on!” she muttered furiously. “Where can this shirt possibly be?” She continued searching for the black top, catapulting clothes and shoes all over her bedroom.

            “Of course, it’s the last one in the closet!” She threw on the shirt, along with her favorite dark red miniskirt. She looked around her room, in dismay, at the mess she had created. “I’ll have to deal with it when I get home,” she thought, knowing she should clean it up now. She flew out of her bedroom, and into the living room, bidding her parents good-bye. After promising numerous times to be home by midnight, she ran out to her car and was finally on her way.

            Terri cruised down the highway, searching for Rye Road, the road that led to her best friend Sagel’s house. Terri and Sagel were seniors at Crescent Moon High in Clear Springs, southern Alberta, Canada. They were on their way to a graduation party, an extravaganza, held at their childhood friend, Greg’s, house. Greg had been friends with the girls since kindergarten, but since his parents moved to the suburbs, they had limited contact outside of school. Terri was slightly above average height, at 5'8" and seventeen years old. Her eyes were hazel, and her hair was dark coffee brown, with honey-colored highlights. It fell about seven inches down her back, shiny with just a hint of curl.

            Terri finally pulled into Sagel’s driveway. Sagel, and her younger sister Mina, were on the front porch playing with their 5-month-old Husky. Sagel was slightly shorter than Terri, with dark brown hair and eyes. Her bangs were pushed to one side of her face, slightly falling in her eyes.

            Sagel rushed to Terri’s car and slid into the passenger seat. Terri eased back on the highway talking excitedly with Sagel about the party. The car turned onto an old dirt road leading out to Clear Meadows, which was a suburb about ten minutes outside of Clear Springs.

            “I wish Greg lived closer to Clear Springs. This drive is so long,” Terri said exaggerating the word “long.”

             “Hey, if you need a break, I can drive,” replied Sagel.

            “Apparently, you’ve never driven out here before, the road gets bumpy and curvy up ahead.”

            “I’ve changed my mind,” Sagel said, adjusting her belt around her waist. “So, what is going on between you and Greg? Are you two dating?” Sagel asked.

            “I don’t know. If we are, I’m the only one who thinks so!”

            The honest truth was, no. No, they were not dating. Terri didn’t really know if Greg was even interested in her. But Terri wanted to be with Greg so badly. He was everything she wanted: he was smart, cared about school just as much as sports, well dressed for the most part, polite, and unusually kind to every person he met. The only dilemma standing between Greg and Terri was Ashley, Greg’s girlfriend. Ashley was a senior cheerleader, blonde, and loved to show off her pierced navel. She was everything that Greg was not. She had an ego the size of Russia and an airheaded attitude about her to match. The good news was rumors were spreading that Greg and Ashley were having “problems.”

            “No, we’re not dating, but I really wish we were.”

            Sagel looked at Terri. “I know,” she said, a small, mischievous smile crossing her face.

            “Well, maybe one of these days I’ll get my chance with him - if I’m lucky. I wonder if he even - what is that!?” Terri said, rather annoyed.

            “Someone with his bright lights on,” Sagel said.

            “Humph, he needs to stay on his side of the road,” Terri responded. “Oh my God! Does he even see us?” Terri’s voice suddenly sounded urgent.

            “I really hope so,” said Sagel, shooting Terri a worried glance.

            Terri jerked the car to the far right of the rugged dirt road. The truck swerved to the left, heading directly toward Terri’s car.

            Before Terri could maneuver the car off the gravel road, the truck smashed into her car, bouncing it sideways. Terri’s air bag blew up, erupting into her face. Shocked, but shaken, the girls grasped hands. The car jolted again. The truck had collided with Terri’s car a second time. With the second jolt, Terri felt Sagel’s grasp loosen and she suddenly felt unusually calm. She could see only pure white, nothing else. Past childhood memories flashed though her mind.