a minute after midnight

SECRETS[unedited]

The peony garden

26 sept, AVP NEWS: Yesterday at around 5pm in the evening, a massive fire broke out in dunkin street, dreamland. The fire originated from house no.12 and was contained before it could spread further .Three dead bodies were found in the house. The owner of the house, Mr. Parker was in his office and his children were in their schools. Out of the three bodies he recognized one to be his wife but he couldn't provide any news on the other two. After initial investigation the police speculate that the fire was manmade. Further investigation into this matter will be carried out.........

I was back in this garden again. It has been five times by now; five times this week. Today was a Sunday so I know what they are going to do. Tom will take out the trash early in the morning then he will take the kids out to the sports club. Then Athy will come out wearing a pretty sundress to tend to her peonies. Her peonies are the best peonies I have ever seen. There may be less variety in this small garden than back home but everything becomes the most beautiful with Athy here. Athy makes even the sunlight seem brighter. She is so amazing. I should be at school right now for extra classes but I just couldn't focus on my studies so I came here to see her. Every time I come here I have to park my car outside the community so that I don't seem suspicious because of that I have to walk for such a long distance. But if Athy knows that I walked so far for her will she feel pained for me? I am pretty sure she will because she is such a kind soul. Thinking about it makes me so happy. But I have to go back home now, it's nearly the time for school to end. I really don't want to go but I can't stay either. Bye Athy see you soon.

It's been two months since I came to know about Athy. It was a conversation of my parents I overheard. They weren't conversing much, more like fighting. Mom was again talking about divorce cause dad didn't love her and all and dad was just ignoring her screams. My dad says mom is just a banshee I believe it sometimes. My mom and dad are good people, at least good to me but never to each other. All they ever do is screaming. But that day was different, I was going to walk past them when mom suddenly said," it's been 20 years, 20 years are too long Dave but you still are stuck in the past. Just because of that one summer with that Athiana you are willing to overlook everything that I have done for you in these 20 years". Dad became oddly silent after hearing that. I was shocked. In the 17 years of my existence I never could figure out why they always fought but today seemed to be my lucky day. That night after everyone fell asleep I went into my dad's study. After searching a lot I found an old dairy with a photo of a couple. The man was my dad but the woman was a stranger. After reading a bit I found out her name was Athiana Reynolds. She was a beauty to behold. Everything about her was written in the diary, including her address and her husband's name.

The next day I skipped school and went to that address. I waited outside their house for a while and went around for a bit. There was a crack in the fence in their backyard from where you could see everything. I didn't know what I was doing there but I stood there the whole afternoon. They were really a happy family. They laughed so much. Out of all their laughter I found Athy's laughter was the sweetest. She was so kind, sweet and loving. I don't know why but I went there again and again as if being there and watching Athy laugh would make me happy too. I realized that if I were dad I would fall for such a beautiful Athy too. I think maybe I already am falling.

I couldn't control it anymore, I knew today was Thursday but my desire to see Athy was so strong that I couldn't control and thus I was back there again after skipping schoo. I was so happy . I had been there for so long but she still hadn't come out yet. I was getting abit worried. Just as I was going to check inside, I saw her coming out with a man; a man that was not her husband. She was kissing him. How could it be? How could Athy do this? No my Athy isn't like this...no....no. her husband doesn't know she is cheating. Athy is so bad. No...Athy needs to be punished. But who will punish her? Her husband doesn't know though. Or may be .... May be I will. You shouldn't have done this Athy. Athy is so bad . My Athy broke my heart....so bad.

So I waited for them to get back inside. I knew the kids and tom wouldn't be home for another 2 hours. I could finish everything by then. I have heard fire cleanses everything. It will cleanse Athy's sins too. But what will I do after she dies? Or maybe I should burn too. I had so many sins anyways. So I went to the grocery nearby and bought some gasoline and poured it all over the house. Then I knocked the door and went in.

"ATHY YOU ARE SO BAD BUT I STILL LOVE YOU SO MUCH SO I WILL HELP YOU CLEANSE YOUR SINS. YES I WILL HELP YOU. DON'T WORRY."