Before Her Eyes

Chapter 17

"What are we doing here May?" Valon asked once we got out of his car.

Valon had parked on the side of the street. It should be fine since this road wasn't used very often.

"I want to show you something," I said, walking towards the line of trees.

I turned around to see him in the exact same spot.

I frowned.

"Come on," I called back to him.

He didn't say anything, so I walked back towards him. I waited a second before grabbing his hand, anticipating body lighting up like a Christmas tree, like it usually did whenever our skin touched.

I stared for a moment at our hands before I looked back at Valon, only to see him staring at our hands the same way I was only a moment ago.

I started to pull him towards the forest in search of my secret hideaway when I paused at the light post just ahead of me. I hadn't noticed when I first passed it a second ago.

A flier titled "Annual Vigil for Lillian and Vaeh Lawson" was taped to it. Underneath it was a collection of pictures. A few were just of a woman. Some were just of a baby, and some pictures of them both, smiling or laughing in every photo.

The longer I stared the longer, they seemed more familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen them. I furrowed my brows trying to remember, but nothing came to mind.

"Do you know them?" Valon asked, pulling me from my deep thoughts.

"No....but I feel like I've seen this flier somewhere." I said as I continued to look.

"You probably have. They're everywhere. The whole town and previous residents come out to attend their vigil each year."

"I haven't been to any of them, but I know it's a big deal every year, honoring the memory of them both," He continued.

"What happened to them....?" I asked as I tore my eyes from the flier to Valon's curious eyes.

"I'm not sure. No one is, actually. I just know they disappeared almost 21 years ago. Other than that, know one really knows."

"Don't you know any of this?" He asked.

I shook my head no in response.

"I've only been living here for about 2 years, actually. When I did move here, no one ever mentioned it, and I guess I was too oblivious to notice."

I'm sure I was oblivious to some extent, but I was home most of the time with Dana or with Hunter, which mainly consisted of her house or the diner. I have only recently started to wander off on my own, so I never really had a chance to learn anything other than what I had ever been told.

"It's a sore subject for some people."

I gave an understanding nod.

"So no one knows if they are alive or dead.....?" I questioned, wincing when I realized my question may have been a little too blunt.

He shook his head no and said, "But after so long, you can only start to assume that they are....."

I returned my attention to the flier and frowned, "Held at Las Fort Community Gardens, April 19th."

"My Birthday....." I whispered.

"What's wrong?" He gave a questioning look.

"It's on my birthday."

"And?"

"It's kinda hard to celebrate when the entire town is basically mourning this family." I said, and he furrowed his brows.