TRINITY
Ialways find myself sitting here. My back is resting against this gigantic oak tree right in front of my house, providing me just enough shade to read. I have the perfect view from here. The long, winding road ahead and the forest bring a peaceful aura in the air. Mom always worries that a bear or a coyote might run out of the forest and eat me alive—if only I were that lucky. But I reassure her it would never happen.
Since the strange triplets moved in, it hasn’t been as quiet as it was before. I always hear them talking and laughing loudly—sound travels here. Sometimes, I look out the window and search for them, curious to see what they do during the day.
They go into town a lot. Every day, I see them pile into their car. I wonder where they go. Do they know anyone here? And if they do, how did they meet people so fast? It’s only been two weeks.
Or maybe they’re just in the Mafia …
Amelia, Leo’s sister, keeps trying to talk to me. I see the way she stands on her lawn with a thoughtful expression on her face as she glances over toward our home. I feel bad for ignoring her, but she seems too wild and loud for my liking.
I wasn’t always a loser. I was the life of the party. Meeting up with guys on Friday nights and having a good time, going to parties, concerts. I had so many friends at school that I couldn’t keep count.
Now, it’s like I’m a ghost—forgotten, looking like I’m dead.
“Bitch, where have you been?” Amelia’s voice yells over at me suddenly as she runs toward me. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for days now!” She plops down beside me and playfully rolls her eyes at me.
There goes my peaceful silence.
Giving her a guilty smile, I set my book down on the grass. “You’ll learn I’m not the most social person on the planet.”
Her eyes fill with compassion. “I got that.” She turns and studies me. “You don’t get out a lot, do you?”
Chuckling, I lean my head back on the stabbing bark of the tree. “I used to, but not anymore.”
“How come?”
I shrug my shoulders, not really in the mood to explain my sob story. “I just realized what was important in life and started focusing on that.”
Crossing her ankles, she nods in understanding. “What’s important to you?”
“Family,” I reply, simply not having to think twice.
Family is the only thing that matters anymore. I quickly realized how fast that could be taken away from you, how life isn’t promised.
“We’re more alike than you think,” she says back.
I hate judging people without knowing them fully, but I don’t think she’s anything like me. It looks like she has her life put together. Whereas I’m taking it one day at a time.
“Why did you guys move here?” I ask, trying to get the conversation away from me.
Amelia stays silent for a while, eyes looking distant as they focus on the forest ahead. “We were having family problems, so we moved out here to get closer to one another,” she whispers finally, her tone wavering.
A gust of wind blows, making my gaze travel to the swaying tree branches.
“I hope you guys are doing better.” I attempt to lighten the mood.
She nods her head and gives me a smile. “It’s refreshing here. We love it. It’s different from what we’re used to.”
I agree, “I love the quiet.”
“How long have you lived out here?”
“We moved out here when I was ten.” I swallow tightly. “My dad wanted to be here for all the land even though he’s not a farmer.”
Please don’t ask any more questions. Please.
She looks puzzled. “I haven’t seen your dad for the past two weeks. Is he away?”
