The Edge Of Town

Chapter 1

The trees on the edge of town always spoke to me on my way to school, the wind whistling through them, creating strange humming noises that sometimes made their way into words. I never understood these words but for some reason, I've always felt like I had a special connection with the trees. Maybe I'm supposed to walk through them, to find out what they hold. Maybe it has something to do with my mom, how I never got the chance to fully know her.

The trees tower over the right side of the street, tall and skinny. You can barely fit your hand between two of them, they're so close together but they're so easy to push because of how delicate they are. I imagine the roots of every tree hug each other so if you try to take one out, all of the others would follow suit. I know there's something within those trees, there are many stories about what they could possibly hold. Deadly monsters, aliens, or some crazy man that lives in a cabin...but that's just what the kids say. I've never really listened because I'm not scared of the trees, I'm the only one that will walk on this side of the street...everybody else tries to avoid them and they crowd the other side of the street, pushing past each other like everything is alright.

In result of being the only one that will walk on this side of the street, I am considered one of the "weird ones" at school. I usually don't hang out with anybody, I've always been content with being by myself. Being in my senior year of high school and almost done with classes completely, I can't wait to finally get out of this school. Nobody really knows my story or my family, they just think I'm weird because I'm not scared to walk by the trees. Everyone tells me I'm not going to show up one day because somebody or something is going to come out of the trees and grab me, taking me into their dark depths to never be seen again. It is something to worry about, that's how everybody else has disappeared.

People have gone missing when they walk into the trees and I just assume they have gotten lost or attacked by an animal. The police have gone through the trees to find nothing and consider it to be a waste of their time. I consider my mom to be one of the people that has gone missing in result of the trees. She left to go for a walk one day because her head was bothering her, she said she needed some fresh air. When she never came home, my father and I went looking for her but we never found her. I considered the trees were the reason but he wouldn't let me walk into them, he was scared that he would lose me too. Ever since my mom went missing, my father has turned into a ball of anxiety and depression, it took him about a year and a half to stop looking. It's been five years now and I don't think he's ever going to get better. He just slips farther and farther, unable to return to his former state when he was happy.

I have a feeling that my mom is still alive, I have stopped looking for her but that doesn't mean I've lost hope. I think the trees hold the answer and I'll find out what's inside them.

* * * *

"Hey dad! I'm leaving for school, I'll see you when I get back!" I yell to my father from his office door. I hear his chair squeak and he gets up and pulls the door open. I study his face and see the large bags underneath his eyes, another night of no sleep. His back is slumped as if the weight of sadness drags him down and makes him unable to stand up straight.

"Okay honey, I'll see you later. Are you sure you don't want a ride? I could spare about an hour or so, I don't think my boss would mind...I don't know...maybe..." he scratches the top of his head, messing up what little hair he has left.

"No it's okay, I can walk, it's peaceful this morning too," I smile, trying to cheer him up. Ever since the loss of my mom, I've tried to be the light in his life no matter how bad his day may be going.

"Oh okay then, make sure to be safe, don't walk anywhere you're not supposed to, look out for cars, and if anybody is walking in your direction on the street then move to the other side." He folds his arms in front of his stomach like he's a robot, giving me all of my instructions.

"You got it dad, I'll be home after school. Do you need anything from the store?"

"No I think I'm alright...well I guess you could get..no it's okay I'll just go another day to get it," he says while looking up at the pictures on the wall next to him. He stares at them for a few seconds before returning his attention to me.

I notice this but don't say anything, not wanting to worsen his fragile state, "Okay see you later, love you!"

"Love you too, Willow."

I walk out the door and head to school. It's a calm morning, it rained the night before but the sun is out so it is reflecting off the wet sidewalk. The air smells clean and the sun is warm on my back when I turn the corner onto the next street. I try to avoid all of the puddles, my dad bought me new shoes and I don't want to ruin them. As soon as he sees that there is one speck of dirt on anything that I own, he thinks he has to buy me something new to keep me happy. In return, I wear them to make him happy. Ever since my mothers disappearance, he has put me as his first priority by making sure I have everything I need including the things I don't. Although this is true, he tries to stay home as much as possible, avoiding all conversation with people he used to know. The only time he ever leaves the house is to go to the store for anything we need and once he gets back, he goes to his office, turns on his computer and supplies us with the little money we have. He has a stay at home job editing papers and manuscripts that people have sent in to a website. He's actually really good at it, he has an eye for those kind of things.

Whenever my mom went missing, we moved out of our house because it became lonely, all of her belongings were just sitting around waiting for her to return. The house became too big for just the two of us and my father had to do something about it. We moved into a small apartment and packed all of her things away, making sure they were hidden deep in the dark corner of the closet. All of her things are eagerly waiting for her to return, just like me.

I turn the corner to see the tall trees. For the past month, every time I walk by the trees it sounds like somebody is trying to talk to me. It's just a whisper but I feel like it's telling me to walk into the trees. I'm not even sure it's a voice at all, it could just be my mind playing tricks on me. Although that could be true, it seems like the voice gets louder and louder everyday but never rises above a whisper. The side of the street opposite of the trees has a group of students walking on it so I quickly step off the sidewalk and into the street, walking fast to cross it. The top of the trees, the skinniest part, are moving slightly in the wind, their leaves rubbing up against each other. I can hear the students shouting things at me but I choose to ignore them. They usually tell me that I'm stupid for walking next to the trees and there's the occasional one that tells me he'll give me five dollars if I walk through them. I never answer, I don't even bother to look their way, instead I continue on to school.

I finally reach the school and walk through the doors, heading to my first class. The inside of the school is warm, the temperature changing so much from outside that my nose starts to burn from the heat. I peek over to look back at the trees to see the sun reaching their tips to warm them after a long night of rain.

I grab my English book from the bookshelf and head to my seat. All around me students are talking to each other, not paying any attention to me as I brush past them, trying to not disturb. When I take my seat, I look up at the board and the only thing the teacher told us to do is turn to a page number, read the story, and then complete the worksheet on it. I turn to the page and get to work.