Willow and Rosie show up with smiles at six. We sit around the circular table, Sawyer to my right and Willow to my left. Willow sneakily hands me a book under the table. It has a blue cover and is called "Codes and Ciphers"... I quickly decide that its my new favorite book. Rosie hands me a king sized candy bar. I'm happier than I've been in a while.

My mom and dad pass around homemade Thai food, my favorite. As I'm heaping rice and pad thai onto my plate, something weird happens. Rosie's face spasms slightly, and a weird dark glint overtakes her usually warm brown eyes. I blink and its gone. I must be hallucinating.

The rest of the night passes quickly, full of funny college stories from Rosie and jokes from Sawyer (that I translate of course). My dad brings out chocolate cupcakes and I blow out my candles. Ten this year. I make a wish.

Soon its over and the plates are cleared. Willow heads home, and Rosie waves goodnight. Sawyer gives me a knowing look before climbing back over the fence to his house.

I run upstairs with my new book and candy bar. And plop down on my bed, turning on my lamp in the process. I'm halfway though chapter two when my dad comes in to turn off the light. "Goodnight sweetheart, Happy Birthday" he says, "Why it was only years ago that we were driving home from the hospital, and look at you now. Ten years old!" he shakes his head smiling and closes the door.  

...8:34...

...8:59...

...9:55...

10:00, am I going to really do this?

Yes, yes I am. I quietly pad over the my window, pulling on a sweatshirt. And as silently as I can turn the lock on the window. I slide it open, and climb out into the night.

Now before you yell at me for being stupid, you have to understand that there is a tree outside of my window, calm down, there's no need to have a stoke.

I climb over the fence into the Oliver's yard and slip through the gap in the fence... into the shadows of the forest.

That's when it jumps out at me.