The Cherry Trees

Chapter One: 2013

It was the 7th of January in the new year, and Lexi seemed very depressed. She didn't say but a few words the entire day, and she didn't ask what my like of the day was. I would have said the Georgia Aquarium, for I had gone there over the weekend and loved it. However, since she didn't ask, I didn't offer.

At recess that day, she went over by the fence and started picking the yellow dandelions out of the ground. I heard her humming and watched her make a crown out of the flowers. I hadn't really ever seen Lexi like this, and I was wondering what it was about, but I figured if she wanted me to know, she would tell me.

On the bus, I asked if she wanted to come over to watch a movie. She simply shook her head and said that she had something else to do. I left it at that.

When I got home, I dropped my backpack by the kitchen table, and I headed out to our clubhouse, hoping that I could find something good to read so that I wouldn't try to get into Lexi's business. I climbed up the ladder and unlocked the door with the key I always kept in my left shoe. I pushed it open, and popped my head inside. What I saw there was beautiful, though I was very confused. Where our card table would usually be, there was a pretty white tablecloth with a framed picture of a girl who looked like she could be in high school. She had blond hair and green eyes, and was very pretty. Surrounding the picture were flowers that spread out on the floor all over the room. Along with them was the dandelion crown I had seen Lexi making earlier that day. Though my curiosity was at an all time high, I forced myself to leave the clubhouse when I heard Lexi's backdoor shut. I didn't want her to know what I had seen, so I slowly lowered myself back down, and ran into my house.

Later that night, I looked out my bedroom window and I saw Lexi's bedroom light on. I got up out of my bed and grabbed my Furry Friend that I had made at my birthday party. I loosened the stitching in his back, and stuffed my hand into his fluff, searching for my walkie- talkie. I hid it inside of him knowing that my parents would never find it there, or even look there. I clicked the button on the side.

"Lexi? Over," I said quietly.

The walkie-talkie came to life, and I hear her take a breath to say something, but then it went dead, and I knew that she didn't feel like talking.

I was playing in the river when the beautiful girl from the picture approached me. She took my hand and spoke to me, though I couldn't hear her. I kept asking her what she was saying, and I was so frustrated that I couldn't hear her no matter how loud she screamed. After a while, I could tell she was getting tired of trying to communicate with me, too.She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her abruptly and that was when I stared straight into her eyes. She had the same eyes as Lexi, and then I knew that they had to be related.

I woke up startled, finding that my pillow was soaked with my sweat. What was the significance of this girl? Who was she? How was she related to Lexi?

I decided that I needed to find out who this girl was. I thought about who she could be. Her sister? No, there were no pictures of her in Lexi's house and I probably would have met her.  Her cousin? Maybe, but I had a feeling that Lexi was very close to her. Then I remembered how sad Lexi had been today. The girl had probably died. So maybe that explained why I hadn't ever met her or why there were no pictures. Maybe the girl was in college, and today was her birthday. I wasn't really sure yet, but I knew that I would have to find out.