The woman sighed as she turned away from the window. It had been so long
since she had been back to this town, to this house. So long since she had
last seen her friends and family. The tall woman ran a hand over the oak
furniture of the parlor. It all seemed so odd now, that everything had
remained the same after all these years. Sadness filled her brown eyes as she
remembered that not everything was the same.
    Her high heels clicked on the parlor floor as she headed toward the stairs.
Walking down the hall, she paused at a door at the very end. The door was
shut, as it had remained so for that long period of time. She paused, resting
a hand on the doorknob, and finally turned it.
    Stepping into that room was almost as if she were stepping back into the
past. Hardly anything had been touched. Posters of her past favorite rock
bands and idols were still hung around the room. The bed with the dark pink
comforter was neatly made. Her vanity still held her various hair clips and
accessories. Her nightstand was filled with photographs and magazines. The
woman smiled as she reached down to pick up a photograph. Oh, how clearly she
remembered the day it was taken, the four of them sitting on the bed, frozen
smiles on their faces as they waited for the camera to go off.
    Yes, she thought, putting the photograph back in its original position, it
had been too long.
    "Miss Quartermaine?"
The woman whirled around, a smile broadening her face. "Reginald!" She
extended her arms and embraced the older man. "Are you still working here?"
She inquired.
Reginald shook his head. "No, ma'am, not since a few years ago when, well,
you know. I heard around town that you were coming back for the funeral."
The sadness in her eyes appeared again, replacing the glow which used to bring
smiles to others.
"Yes, well, I'm back for good now."
"Are your bags downstairs?" The butler offered, "I'll gladly get them for
you."
    She shook her head and with a wave of her hand said, "no, no, that's alright.
I'll be staying at the hotel tonight."
    Reginald regarded her with an expression of confusion, but quickly shook it
off. The woman smiled. "It's really nice to see you again, Reginald, but I
should be going."
    He stepped aside and watched her pass. A moment later, he heard the front
door close with a soft click.


    She stepped out of the limo, wrapping her long black coat around her body.
The wind was unusually cold for spring, and it swept through her long brown
hair. She walked across the grass and paused next to an oak tree, watching as
the men prepared for the afternoon's funeral service. Tears clouded her eyes
as she watched them arrange the flowers.
    "So it finally beat you." She said quietly. "You knew that it was dangerous.
Everyone around warned you. And they finally won, they finally killed you."
She shook her head in deep regret. "Oh, Jason." she muttered, "why didn't you
listen?"

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