Mon Amour

Chapter 3: A Whole New World Revealed

Chapter 3: A Whole New World Revealed

AnnaLee was more confused now than she ever was. After reading through some of the research her grandfather collected, she learned a lot more about these werewolves.

AnnaLee knew, however, that there was more knowledge to be gained.

She read of packs and of the moon goddess. She knew of old folk legends as well. But to AnnaLee, the most interesting part of this new world were mates.

It was a strange concept to think of a mate, who was bound to you for life and has the ability to love you in the deepest of ways. It was an idea that AnnaLee couldn't quite get her head around.

Three nights before, while in her grandfather's study, after reading most of the information, her mother had become worried. She came to knock on the door to make sure her daughter was ok. AnnaLee jumped and hid the journal before bidding her mother entry.

She was just lucky she read most of it in time.

Although AnnaLee wanted to dig deeper into these mysteries, she broke away her thoughts. She had to get out of bed and get dressed. It was nearly 12 o'clock when she woke up. AnnaLee assumed her mother allowed her the extra sleep on purpose. It was a caring thing to do and AnnaLee appreciated her mother's tries.

The downfall was that now she had only an hour to collect herself before her grandfather's funeral.

AnnaLee thought it best to jump in the shower before the funeral, as she hadn't had the chance last evening.

The warm water was relaxing and AnnaLee was thankful for the comfort it offered on this horrid day.

She stepped out and wrapped herself in a warm fluffy towel.

AnnaLee came out of the bathroom and tiptoed back to her bedroom to get dressed. At that moment, she noticed her door was open when she knew she had left it closed.

With a little fright in her belly, AnnaLee peered behind the door and into her room. Nothing was out of place except for the black dress she assumed her mother came to put on her bed.

AnnaLee pushed the door open and walked into the room to look at the dress.

She giggled at herself for her earlier actions. AnnaLee supposed that all this werewolf talk had her quite on edge.

Nevertheless, AnnaLee's eyes explored the dress. It was quite lovely with lace at the sleeves. On any normal day AnnaLee would have loved the dress and thanked her mother, appreciating her kindness, but today was not normal.

With one swift motion AnnaLee folded the dress and put it away.

It was black. Surely she could do better for her grandpa than black. Everyone would be wearing black. Black didn't mean anything except someone's passing. She wanted too wear something with meaning behind it.

Walking over to her closet, AnnaLee strugled to find something funeral appropriate. She had never had someone so close to her die before.

Something pink caught AnnaLee's eye in the back of the closet. She tugged at it until it fell off the hanger and into her hand.

It was a light pink dress with royal blue designs. She remembered it from the last time she saw her grandfather.

AnnaLee had managed to sneek away from campus on the old man's birthday. She spent the day with him and the two had a blast. Now AnnaLee remembered he had even complimented the dress and told her how grown up she had become.

That was over 2 months ago. She couldn't tell that he was sick.

Pushing that aside she dropped her towel and tugged the dress over her head. It still fit of course.

AnnaLee grabbed a pair of blue heels from her closet to wear. They were of modest height. For the young woman could not walk in anything higher.

AnnaLee let her brown hair hang down straight and decided on natural makeup.

When all ready to go, AnnaLee found her mother, and they were on their way.

The ride to the funeral home was long, silent, and uneventful.

Finally, AnnaLee and Marilyn had arrived at their destination.

She noticed that there were already many people waiting. AnnaLee's mother came around the side of the car to escort her daughter to the chapel.

AnnaLee really didn't want to be here and do this. It made everything seem final. She knew she had no other choice though, as she looked around at everyone with wide eyes.

Suddenly her mother, Marilyn, came to stand in front of her daughter.

"AnnaLee, look at me dear. Go sit down in the chapel. Have a few minutes with him. I'll deal with everyone out here."

"Are you sure, mother?"

Marilyn nodded with a warm smile on her face. AnnaLee turned around to head into the chapel, but turned again to face her mother.

"Dad?"

Marilyn gave her daughter a forlorn frown. She knew how much it meant to AnnaLee that her father be present.

"Honey, he called and told me he received your messages, but he still wont be able to make it."

AnnaLee hid her broken heart. She had prepared herself for that answer but it still displeased her.

"Very well."

Marilyn saw her daughter's crushed expression and was about to comfort her, but AnnaLee rushed into the chapel where her grandfather lay.

Entering the room, AnnaLee's eyes wander everywhere. It was a lovely place. It was very serene.

Then her eyes fixed on the casket in the front of the room.

This was her moment. With her body trembling, AnnaLee slowly made her way to her grandfather. She didn't know if she was ready for this.

Fear and anxiety felt as though they were taking turns ripping through her guts.

She closed her eyes and kept walking until she felt the side of the coffin at her finger tips.

She slowly opened her eyes and a sob tore through her. Her grandpa lay in the casket with pale skin, eyes closed. No, this wasn't him. This didn't look like him at all.

This body didn't hold his warm smile or his kind green eyes. The eyes she shared with him. This wasnt him.

She didn't know what she had expected, but this was not it. AnnaLee couldn't take this anymore. She felt as though the walls would close in on her at any moment.

She grabbed her grandfather's coat from the chair she had set it in earlier and ran out the back door of the chapel. The cool air hit her skin, as she made a bee line for the woods ahead.