The Stories of Leah Clearwater - (Book One)

Chapter 11 - The Funeral

I woke and read the display on my alarm clock. The numbers read 4:30am. The sky was still dark, and I quietly slid off the bed. I grabbed my jeans out of my drawer along with a t-shirt and got dressed in the dark. I walked out into the living room and found my mom sleeping. She was in my dad’s chair curled up under his jacket. In her hands she held the plastic that had a lock of my dad’s hair. I grabbed the afghan off the back of the couch and draped it over her. She stirred a little and mumbled, “Harry.”

I slowly stepped back and slipped out the front door not waking her.

I looked around and there was a dense fog. I took off into the woods. The guilt hung over me like a 100 pound weight. Once I was safely within the woods I let myself relax a little. I stopped behind a tree and slipped out of my clothes leaving them in a pile. I started to run and felt my whole body start to shake and I phased. I continued running. I just wanted to be free for a while. I was trying to discover this new ability I had. All of the sudden out of nowhere I head Sam in my head, “Listen we need to find her. The red head is after Bella.”

I listened and thought, “Sam was talking to someone and, who were they talking about?”

Then he spoke again, “What’s going on I just head Leah?”

I stopped running and didn’t move I just listened.

“If Leah can hear us, then we can hear her.” Jacob's voice was there now.

“Leah please just tell us where you are.” Sam’s voice was there again.

“I ignored him and ran back to where I left my clothes and phased back.

“Dammit, she’s not in wolf form anymore. She’s somewhere in the woods.” Sam thought to the others. He just shook his head and continued with the rest of his patrol.

I put my clothes back on and headed back to the house. Once I finally arrived there I sat down and leaned against the truck. I kept my eyes on the spot where he’d collapsed. I don’t know what I was expecting to see. The sky was still dark. I just thought about everything that had gone on. I blamed myself for his death. If I hadn’t phased he’d be alive. I was there for a while until Charlie pulled up.

“Leah, what are you doing out here?”

I looked up to see him wearing a suit that was a little dated, and he couldn’t button the jacket shut. It didn’t matter.

I stood up and shrugged. “I was just thinking and needed some fresh air.”

He nodded. We walked inside and my mom was just waking up.

“Leah, were you outside?” I started to nod and Charlie spoke,

“She was getting some fresh air.” He smiled at me and shut the door and took a seat on the couch.

I headed into my room and grabbed my towels. Once I was in the safety of the bathroom I locked the door and turned on the water. I stood there for a few minutes looking at myself in the mirror. There was a blank look to me. I climbed in the shower and just sighed. I stood there waiting for the tears to flow. Nothing came. Was I broken? Was I just dead emotionally? Why do I feel so confused? I finished up and shut off the shower and wrapped myself up in my towels and resorted back to my room. I got dressed effortlessly without any distractions. I put on a simple black sleeveless dress. I found a springtime sweater that was black. I grabbed a pair of black flats out of my closet. I pulled my long hair back in a ponytail and gave myself a quick look-over in the mirror. I let out a long sigh,

“You ok Leah?” Seth appeared in the doorway.

I stood there for a moment and looked at him using my mirror. He came over and stood beside me putting an arm around my shoulder. He was wearing a black suit with a white collared shirt and a nice royal blue tie. My little brother looked like a young man now.