Prologue

The cries of the seagulls echoed in the distance as I stood within a corner among the others that had gathered around. Closing my eyes, I tried to listen but the words of the priest never reached me. Giving my whole self to the truth of your existence isn’t as easy as it is for others. I’ve been to many funerals in my life; one even belonging to my father but the numbness I feel now is a stranger to my emotions. I’ve always been flexible to change, capable of responding the right way and knowing what to do but standing here, at a funeral ceremony that belongs to you, I’m lost.

You’re still here; with me. You’re just hiding behind a corner somewhere, like the times when we were kids and we played Hide and Seek. But after all this searching, no one’s been able to find you. Can’t you come out yourself and rid the pain we’re all feeling?

My eyes lifted and flickered to the faces of the people gathered close to me. The expressions on their faces varied from pain, depression, remorse. Each had a different story to tell of what they thought of your vanishing. Amy stood by me, her face stoic as she kept her eyes on the priest’s face, shutting everything else out. She’d put on a veil of utter calmness and maturity as if she could easily handle things; a lie. Joseph supported Diana as she wept silently to herself, her eyes refusing to meet the coffin - inside which is your body. Mom stood to my left and her face was expressionless as Amy’s as she watched the moments pass her in complete silence.

I could feel the tears start to pierce my eyes as my emotions drifted from numbness to a hurting. This couldn’t be happening. I stepped away and let go of Amy’s hand as I turned my back on the funeral, starting to walk towards the entrance gates of the cemetery. I could hear voices call my name but I took no notice. This isn’t where I wanted to be.

Cemeteries aren’t that bright or lively because sorrow is the main emotion that’s triggered from being there. It’s the resting place of people you loved or cared about. If a person were going to the cemetery, they would have a very good reason to do so but I don’t and that’s why I’m not willing to stay there any longer. I walked at a slow pace down the sidewalk, thoughts flying through my head and leaving me feeling a little dizzy and mind shaken that I had to stop and recall where exactly I was headed. When I remembered once more, I continued down the small neighborhood, crossing the street, and then being met by the familiar sights of the greenery of the park.

Making my way through, I headed towards the lake situated in the center and sat down on the bench. The sun kissed the ripples on the surface of the water made by the tossing of the rocks as children played, laughter escaping their lips. Their laughter had soul and meaning which felt like an insult towards things that happened in my life. A single tear made its way down my cheek as the smiles and happy chatter of people around me hit me with an impact that left me feeling upset and infuriated.

After all that had happened…this is what it had come to. The sun’s still up, hearts still content around me and life’s continuing. But I feel left behind; sitting here with you in another world and I on this one. You couldn’t be gone…you’d promised that you’d stay with me for as long as we both shall live. You always kept to your word. So why didn’t you keep to the most important one?

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

Author guidance for This story

Dedicated to CassandraMorrow Her comments, ratings, and hilarious reactions have really helped me to continue writing this. I love you!

Also dedicated to CrystalRose
She's been a very dedicated reader! Who doesn't love one like her? :D

This is one of my serious attempts at writing a novel and I've put my all into it (especially considering I did it for NaNo in 2011).

The original is something I started to write a few years back.I always saw it as something that had potential but never really considered taking it seriously, well till November 2011. :D http://www.protagonize.com/story/a-midnight-reverie-original

Please do read, rate and comment. I would really appreciate feedback and response from any readers! If you rate any of my pages below a 4.5, please do tell me how I can improve the chapter!

Enjoy!

NOTE: There may be a few words stuck together, and spacing errors as I type my chapters on MS Word, and then paste it on here. So please do ignore any mistakes. :)

--

Character bios (seeing as I didn't describe some of them well enough so I hope this helps you in imagining them in your mind while you read):

Lillian Jones:
Age: 18
Appearence: long wavy scarlet hair accompanied by hazelnut brown eyes. She has a lean figure and stands at five foot alongside full lips and has a rosy complexion.

Clarence Jones:
Age: 39
Appearence: medium length brown curly hair accompanied by gray-blue eyes. She's tall and thin and has thin lips and is tan

Matthew Richards:
Age: 19 (one year older than Lillian)
Appearence: tall, lean, untidy light brown hair and stormy gray eyes. Caucasian.

Amy Richards:
Age: 14
Appearence: Layered honey-blond hair till her waist, chocolate-brown eyes alongside a heart-shaped rosy face. Around five foot. Lean.

Adrian Richards:
Age: 22
Appearence: Dark silky brown hair accompanied by emerald eyes. Is muscular and tall and has a tanned complexion.

Diana Richards:
Age: 41
Appearence: Tall, thin, olive-skin tone, dark green eyes and short curly brown hair. Full lips.

Joseph Richards:
Age: 43
Appearence: Tall, a little muscular, graying brown hair, thin lips and tan complexion.

Other bios for minor characters:

Nick:
Age: 17
Appearence: Light amber eyes, bright blonde hair, rosy complexion. Lean and tall but not nerdily so.

Damien (aka the Perv):
Age: 17
Appearence: Dark brown hair, light green eyes, tannish complexion, slightly muscular.

Leo:
Age: 17
Appearence: Round, baby-shaped face, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes. Looks pretty bored most of the time.

Erica:
Age: 18
Appearence: Tan, medium length brown hair with yellow highlights, brown eyes.

Jessie:
Age: 18
Appearence: Curly brown hair, light green eyes, pale, tall and skinny.

Jason:
Age: 19 (very soon to be 20)
Appearence: Honey blonde hair, brown eyes, tall, muscular but not riduculously. Your average hot college dude. :D

Cassandra's Interpretation of Some of My Charcters
Adrian = adorable nerdypoo. And that's a good thing.
Nick = sweet and adorable.
Leo = the shadow in the background that you can never quite forget.
Damien = sparkle toofus. I made that term up, and I still don't quite know what it means. But that's what Damien is.
Amy = pretty cool. A bit possessive, but hey! Pretty cool.

updated Jan 8 by Trish