Page 1 of Lake
Prologue
Lake
My mother always used to say that I had a big heart.
I never really gave it much thought.
I was me and there wasn’t much about that I would change.
But if I thought about it, I would have said that she was right. I had a lot of space in there and though I held a lot of memories already, I knew there was room for more.
Memories of my fallen brothers.
Memories of family I would never see again.
Some believed death was the end, the final beat.
But as long as I kept those souls alive inside me, then were they really gone? If I didn’t forget, then would their souls be lost for eternity?
I supposed these were heavy questions to ask but this was what I thought of every single day. These were the things that plagued my mind, keeping me awake at night.
I couldn’t forget because I couldn’t let them go.
With that said, my heart wasn’t just for the departed. It was for the ones that were still here, too. The ones that showed me that life was as great as I allowed it to be.
I wasn’t one of those people that were desperately seeking love and attention but I also knew better than to turn it away when it smiled at me. Because those that usually looked my way with kindness in their hearts were the kind of souls that understood me.
And isn’t that what we all really want?
To know that we aren’t alone.
To feel like we are perfect the way we are— broken pieces, weird quirks, strange ways of thinking, and all.
To go out with a smile on your face and a bright warmth in your heart.
I know I did.
