Prologue
Directed Recipient(s): Macoda Monroe/Kristina Monroe
Case #8675309
Subject: Abigail Monroe/case study/ocular sciences Patient #867
The case study that you entered is coming to a close. Recipient(s) and Subject are required to appear at Sector Headquarters in your Designated Living Territory. Log onto Sector Summons and enter the case number provided for times and dates. The Sectors thank you for your cooperation.
You picked me because I was a pretty flower. You were happy as long as I stayed a pretty flower. As long as I smiled and laughed and kept my petals fresh and vibrant with color. You promised me forever when you picked me from the bunch.
But you lied.
You didn’t like it when my leaves sometimes withered. You couldn’t handle it when my heart wilted.
And if my colors dulled a little, you paid me no mind.
But it was you that blocked me from the light, and starved my heart of love. You almost bled the color from my soul, and left my spirit trampled on the ground.
You were mistaken to think that I was just a delicate little flower. You were mistaken to think I would dwindle and fade without you.
As you can see…I’m a towering Evergreen.
I watched him bring you flowers. I witnessed silently through my bedroom window, looking down on you in the driveway. A crack had started in the glass. An omen to come?
You had a smile I hadn’t seen in so long. I hoped he could be the one to make your sad go away. Sad that’d devoured you since we were little.
And he did...for a while.
You seemed so happy on your wedding day. Your face shone brighter than a full moon on a clear night. And I was happy for you.
Your demons were gone…until they weren’t.
You went back to ground zero to chase the dragon. And you caught it by the tail.
Your Love could see your soul wither away, but he didn’t know why. I knew why…and it hurt to watch. Trying to save you was like punching a wall and expecting it not to hurt. Over, and over, and over, and over.
You danced for the dragon and sold the last bit of your soul.
He left you in the driveway, where he had given you the flowers. I watched from the window, and the crack in the glass had grown.
It finally broke—that window, the day they said you died.
As they lowered you in the hole Daddy spent all night digging, ‘cause he said as he wiped away his tears, “We bury our own”; I vowed not to cry. I vowed to be strong for them, I vowed to be stronger than you.
Because I’m the big sister now.