The sun was bright and warm on the back of James' neck. He had been standing there for at least an hour. He was as still as the stone he stared at. This was a grueling task he loathed and loved. Before his brother died, James had promised to stop by at least once a year. They both had a good laugh when the cracked lips made the broken bodies last request. Stopping by seemed so casual and well, normal. Something they hadn't shared in years. Something the cancer took from them.

James looked around and wrapped his arms around himself. Despite the warm day, there was a chill that was settling permanently into his chest. Before he could stop it, his body shook with a heart wrenching sob. It bubbled from his belly and roared out his mouth. Desperately he tried to stop it but it just continued and was soon kept company from the bitter tears that streamed down his face.

His heart broke all over again - a pain he had dismissed since the day they put Jeremy in the ground. He swore that when the last flower faded, so would the pain and the memories. He had done everything just as he planned. He packed up the pictures and locked away the memories. Except for this one day a year, Jeremy never existed. Or so he thought.

The more he remembered, the more he wept. The memories washed over him and crashed into him bearing into his chest and echoing among the granite. James fell to his knees and his face fell to his hands.

"I'm sorry Jeremy. I'm so sorry..."





After some grunts of pain and determination, Annie was secured into the passenger seat of Sarah's car.

"I just have to dash into the post office and send off half of my paycheck then we are going to take care of that nest you call hair."

Annie responded with an eye roll that was almost seizure inducing.

"I am so glad you are grateful for my honest opinion, Annie. You sure can dish it, but damn if you can't take it." Sarah ended her good natured ribbing with a wink.

Annie shifted trying to get comfortable and finally found a position leaning against the window staring at the world as it flew by. In order to try and avoid the major construction, Sarah had taken Stewart Road. As they wound around Annie gasped.

"Sarah! Pull over! Pull over!"

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Sarah slowed down and pulled past the iron gate. Before she put the car in drive, Annie was pulling at her door and swearing as pain shot up her leg.

"Hand me my crutches."

"What? Have you lost your mind?"

"Hand my my fucking crutches, Sarah."

Sarah slipped out of the car with her usual grace and came around the back and stopped in her tracks. She knew that truck. She knew that man or at least she thought she did. She squinted and craned to see across the graveyard.

"Sarah! Crutches! Please!" Annie was pleading now.

Annie awkwardly maneuvered across the uneven ground. She bit her lip to stop from crying out at the pain, almost tasting the metallic crimson. Not once did she take her eyes of the slumped figure.


As she neared him she froze. She wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to know. She just stood and stared. Daring the form to move. Daring him to breathe. A silent prayer passed her lips. She begged and prayed, stared and hoped. She could feel the burn rising in her throat.

"Please" she whispered. "Please God, no. Please."

Annie layed there, fuming that Becky would do this to her. Didn't she know that she wasn't interested in James? This would be the third time this week that Becky had arranged for James to be her watch dog all day. Annie had always hated it when Becky tried playing Yenta. In her anger, Annie scratched at Moose's ears even harder, sending his foot into an involuntary spasm and causing a rapid thump-thump-thump of his hind leg on the floor.

"You're momma sure is difficult. Isn't she Moose? But God love her, I'd be quite a mess if it weren't for that woman. You too, boy. Why you would still be imprisoned in that mean old man's shed if she hadn't insisted on paying for your mangy ass. I guess we are both damn lucky then. Aren't we boy? Annie paused and chuckled at herself. "It has barely been a week and I am already talking to myself."

With a sigh, Annie closed her eyes and slowly drifted to sleep on the coat tails of the few happy memories she had.




"Hey Becky, it's James."

"What's up? Why aren't you at the house? I thought you were going to sit with Annie today?"

"I... I can't. Something came up. I'm really sorry Becky, but Sarah is taking my place today."

"Okay, as long as someone is there. God knows what that woman will try to do on her own if no one stops her."

"Yeah."

"Are you okay, James?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Look, I gotta go. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Alright, talk to you tomorrow."

Becky hung up the phone and stared at it for a moment. "What in the hell has gotten into that boy now?" Becky wondered to no one in particular. With a shrug, she pushed herself away from the desk and picked up a file. She had work to do and enough problems of her own. She certainly didn't need to go borrowing any trouble.



A light tap on the door woke Annie. She opened her eyes only to be blinded by the sun glaring through the open curtains. She reached down for Moose, but only felt empty space where his head usually was.

"Come on in. Doors open." Annie steeled her face so James would not be able to tell that she really was uncomfortable. That would only lead to the awkwardness that ensued when he tried to adjust her pillow and ended up grazing her cheek, causing Annie to gasp in pain. James had recoiled like she was some grotesque monster and his face fell an impossible shade of red.

"Well look who's awake. Sarah gracefully made her way across the room and easily stepped over the crutches that lay in her path.

Annie's heart sank and it showed on her face.

"Wasn't really expecting me today, were you?"

"well, I, um... Annie stammered. "No, not really."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are definitely stuck with me today. But hell, at least I can cook. Made you a fancy grilled cheese sandwich. I didn't wake you up for breakfast since you looked like you were actually getting some sleep."

Annie cursed Becky in her mind for telling others she wasn't sleeping at night. And here she thought she was hiding her nightmares well.

"Thanks" was all Annie could manage.

"Look Annie, I know you don't like imposing on other people, but we all love you and just want to see you get back on your feet. Besides, today the day you are getting that rats nest you call hair washed." A warm smile spread across Sarah's face. "And I know just the place to go. But first, some lunch. Then we will master the art of getting you into a car. Enjoy the sandwich. I'll be back in a few and we'll head out."

Sarah walked out of the room and again managed to ease through the obstacle course that was sprawled out in front of her without even a glance toward her feet.

Annie's eyes flew open, revealing the ugly snarl that bore down on her like a hawk after it's prey. She tried to scream but a large hand quickly stifled her cry. She could feel the clammy fingers digging into her cheek, pushing so hard her gums ached as they were caught between the hand and her teeth. She tried to move but found her limbs as heavy as tree stumps and even less useful. The face loomed closer and pair of dry cracked lips pressed against hers. The smell of whiskey and rot invaded her nose and stuck to the back of her throat. Annie stifled a gag. A dry hot voice whispered into her ear.

"I told you I would come for you. I told you you couldn't hide from me. Now look at you, stupid bitch. Just as useless now as you were then. The sad part is you wont enjoy this nearly as much as I will."

Hot tears ran down her cheeks, the only part of her that was able to flee. Her sobs were stopped by that massive hand that replaced the pungent breath and cracked lips. The grip on her throat grew tighter and panic shot through her core. She tried to scream, she tried to move, but she was glued to the sweat soaked mattress. Everything was getting dark and the laughter became muffled. Her lungs burned and her chest ached. Everything was closing in on her.


With a gasp, Annie woke but couldn't move. She was frozen where she lay. Moose began his well rehearsed routine and gently licked at her hand. Slowly she looked around the room and recognized the familiar tv screen. It had been a week since she was released from the hospital. With the help of Becky, Annie had filed all the appropriate paperwork with the sheriff and Trent was promptly found at the bar and arrested. It took some convincing, but Becky had also convinced James that Annie would be perfectly content living in her spare room until she could get back on her feet... literally. Of course she had let loose one of her famous laughs at her own joke sending even James into a fit of laughter.

Annie reached down and scratched Moose behind the ear, encouraging the whimper of delight that came from his throat. Even though Moose was Becky's dog, he had barely left Annie's side since the day Becky and James got her situated in the small room at the back of Becky's house. There were flowers everywhere, like a garden had thrown up all of it's roots and send the blossoms spinning into her room. She was still struck by the kindness of people she only knew as coworkers and aquiantences.

Annie adjusted her pillow and groaned at the pain that shot up her leg. She held her breath until the burning subsided and slowly exhaled. The sun was just starting to peek through the curtains telling her Becky would be in shortly to deliver the next round of medications before she left for work. At least then, she might be able to get some sleep. The nightmares only happened at night, when the house was quiet and it was just her and Moose to fend them off. There was something about the sunlight that even the memory of Trent couldn't compete with.

"Good morning Sunshine! Becky's voice announced her arrival as the door swung open. "I brought you something special today."

"And what would that be, besides your horrible cooking? I'm starting to think that you are in cahoots with Trent and he hired you to finish me off."

"Annie DePiere! Don't you even say that. Why if I had half a chance I would... well I would pull that man's testicals through his nose!"

Annie stared at Becky with wide eyes and instantly fell into a fit of giggles causeing both women laugh until tears ran down their faces. It was a natural and unstoppable reaction whenever Becky was trying to think of something horrible to say. She wasn't nearly as good at it as she used to be, but this whole situation had her coming back into it nicely.

"Besides, I'm not the one making breakfast this morning."

Before Annie could protest, Becky punctuated her statement with a wink, spun on her heel and quickly headed out the door.

"Have a good day! Becky sang out to Annie over her shoulder. "I'll be back some time after dinner."