By the Potomac

Chapter Nineteen

There once was a girl who Skared of pensil and paper though she used to love them, now she is afraid of them. Probly cause she is aFrade that they will tell her the truth...

A single tear fell onto the sheet of paper Meredith gave me. She was right. I was afraid of pencil and paper. I was afraid of the truth. The truth that I was a good writer. That I was wrong all these years.

I wasn't ready to face Mr. Hathway or Meredith, so I decided to go see Annalise. She would help me sort things out.

"Margaret, I need to see Annalise," I said as I sat down next to her in the kitchen.

"Okay, dear, John needs to go by her house anyway. I'll have him drop you off there," Margaret said while mixing a bowl of ingredients. I thanked her and quickly ran out the door to catch John before he left.

"John! Wait!" I hopped in the backseat.

"Where are you headed for?" he asked.

"Annalise's," I replied. It was about a twelve mile drive from our house to hers. I wanted to get there now.

Finally we pulled into Annalise's and Jack's driveway. Their house was quaint and small, with cream colored walls and a darker roof. I walked up to the mahogany door and knocked twice. John drove away once he saw Jack usher me in.

"Hello Liesel, come in." I nodded and gave him my shawl and mittens.

"I must see Annalise. Alone, please," I told him.

"Yes of course. She's just over there." I went over to the parlor, where she was reading.

"Annalise?" I said, trying to get her attention.

"Liesel! Oh, I missed you so much! Come, give me a hug." I could tell she was overjoyed to see me. As I put my arms around her, I felt forgiveness rushing into my body. All that mattered was that she was here; now.

"Can you tell me about Father?" I asked, swallowing good and hard. Annalise paused, then turned away.

"I guess you deserve to know," she said, her smile melancholy, "he-he ran off several years ago after a fight with Mother and I. It was my fault, really, I pushed him too far, siding with Mother and all. And then he must have gotten lost and froze to death." Tears dripped down her cheeks, and I felt them pouring down mine.

"All these years..." My heart suddenly felt heavy. Heavy with Father's enraged death, Annalise's absence, the absence of words. Then, out of nowhere, I told her about everything. About Mr. Hathway, Meredith's story, and how I felt.

"Liesel, you just need to write again. It may take a while to perfect it, but I know you'll get it. When you get home, I want you to write. Okay? Go to Mr. Hathway when you feel ready."

"Okay, I will." I smiled. What would I do without Annalise?