Alone

Chapter One

The memories flipped by like pages in a book. One year old, a blurry image coming into focus as she stands up and unsteadily teeters to the side falling, before a pair of large hands come and pick her up and the owner coos in a baby voice "It's alright Mamma's got you, and is never letting you go Ann." Ann giggles and repeats the woman, struggling to say the first word before screaming out in delight "M-ma... Mamma stays!" The woman smiles, and laughs along with a giggling Ann.

Two years old, two faces appeared above Ann as she laid coloring on the floor. "Look Mommy, Daddy I drew us! Can we hang it on the friggie-rator?" The couple laughed at their daughter's pronunciation of refrigerator and nodded. Ann smiling jumped up and ran to the kitchen hopping around in a circle shouting "Hurry Hurry!" The couple laughed again before proceeding to the kitchen. The man plucked the picture from Ann's hand and using magnets hung it on the fridge as Ann squealed with happiness. Ann then pointed to the picture saying "See there's Mommy and oh! There's daddy! And look me!" And just as she'd said there was three scribbles two large and one small.

Three years old, Ann sits on the couch watching the cartoons as her parents launch a tickle attack. Ann turns her attention to them laughing and giggling. She tries to kick away the hands, but is quickly defeated and yells between giggles "No," a giggle "I give up," another giggle "please!" And so her parents stop only to attack her with kisses and Ann starts giggling again, the kisses attack turns into a group hug before Ann yawns and falls asleep between her parents.

Four years old, Ann and her parents are at the zoo, and Ann won't leave the penguin exhibit. She cries out "But mommy, look they're fluffy and cute! I want one, please! Her mother pulls on her hand again, attempting to pull her away from the exhibit and Ann starts crying. Her father rushes back over, and in his hand is a zoo gift shop bag. Ann stops crying and looks up for a moment asking "What's that?" Her dad in response pulls a stuff animal penguin out of the bag and Ann's eyes widen in delight as she squeals "Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you!" And runs over pulling the stuff animal into her arms, hugging it tightly refusing to let go.

Five years old, a crying Ann is sitting next to a crashed tricycle. She holds on to the sides of her knee where blood is starting to gush out of the ripped skin caused by the crash. "Daddy it hurts!" she whispers as her father rushes over and starts putting a band aid over the wound. As Ann stops crying she says "Daddy, kiss it like mommy does to make it all better!" Chuckling slightly her father does as she wishes and kisses it as Ann smiles happily.

Six years old, a scared Ann is standing next to the bus stop holding her mother's hand. A little girl with red hair walks up with her mother and starts chatting excitedly with Ann "HI! I'm Dahlia (Pronounced Dahl-Yah)! Is it your first day of Kindergarten? Its mine, I'm so happy!" Ann hides behind her mother and waves shyly before responding "I'm Ann, it's my first day too..." The bus pulls up and Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) grabs Ann's hand pulling her up the steps chatting along. The mothers laugh at Dahlia's (Dahl-Yah's) actions and walk away together, talking.

Seven years old, Ann is playing in the snow with a laughing Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) who is now her best friend, through a window you can see their mothers talking and drinking hot chocolate. Ann and Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) lie in the snow spreading the arms and legs to make snow angels. Scrambling, they stand up and start playing tag running and slipping on the snowy ground. Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) falls and Ann falls on top as her as they collapse into a giggling fit. Getting up they brush the snow off as they walk inside, taking their boots of in the entry way and running to the kitchen to grab their hot chocolates.

Eight years old, Ann and Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) have their first sleepover. Giggling they pull blankets over chairs to make a fort; they stuff the inside with pillows and lay down. Using a flash light they look through a Picture book of Alice in Wonderland and whisper to each other until they fall asleep.

Nine years old, Ann and Dahlia (Dahl-Yah) have the same teacher; they sit across the classroom and make funny faces to each other during a test. Mrs.Leja, the teacher looks up and sighs before giving them both detentions, the girls glance at each other with fear, as both had never had a detention before. After school is over the walk to the classroom holding hands in fear, Mrs.Leja talks to them both saying "I understand that you two are friends, but try not to distract the other students. Now run along."