Chapter 1



He sat nervous at his desk. Nervous for reasons unbeknownst to the world. Reasons unknown to himself. The day started like any other. Well, other than it was the first day after the fact. The first day after he found out.



--



The snow gathered in his long hair. He chuckled to himself; thinking how the trees looked so picture perfect. The world in black and white. The stillness seemed surreal. The hum of his '79 Mercury Comet dropped to silence as he pulled the key from the ignition. The slam of the door shook the car's frame and a few icicles dropped from the bumper. David slowly walked to back of his car. The crunch of the snow under his feet reminded him of something he couldn't recall. Something so familiar.



The trunk creaked as he pulled it open. He pulled the body out slowly and carefully. Miriam, he though, I wasn't ready. I knew you loved me, but I had to be sure.



David closed the trunk and began to pull Miriam's lifeless body through the snow. David had walked this path time and time again through the years. He even brought Miriam a few times. The serenity; the calmness of nature. It all helped him reflect.



This isn't the first time he's had to bury a girlfriend along this path. It seemed like every single one was buried here. Jesse was put to rest in the shade of those three evergreens. About two hundred yards to the east is the pond that he dropped Jennifer into. An entire night was spent burning away the remains of Emily in an abandoned barn beside the river. It was a graveyard of miserable burdens. A collection of past mistakes. An entire world of darkness. And here was David, staggering though it again.



When he reached a fork in the path, he leaned against a tree to rest. He pulled Miriam up; her back to his chest. I told you not to get close to me, Miriam. I told you not to fit yourself into my world. Now look what I've done. The grinding of his teeth...

Chapter 1



He sat nervous at his desk. Nervous for reasons unbeknownst to the world. Reasons unknown to himself. The day started like any other. Well, other than it was the first day after the fact. The first day after he found out.



--



The snow gathered in his long hair. He chuckled to himself; thinking how the trees looked so picture perfect. The world in black and white. The stillness seemed surreal. The hum of his '79 Mercury Comet dropped to silence as he pulled the key from the ignition. The slam of the door shook the car's frame and a few icicles dropped from the bumper. David slowly walked to back of his car. The crunch of the snow under his feet reminded him of something he couldn't recall. Something so familiar.



The trunk creaked as he pulled it open. He pulled the body out slowly and carefully. Miriam, he though, I wasn't ready. I knew you loved me, but I had to be sure.



David closed the trunk and began to pull Miriam's lifeless body through the snow. David had walked this path time and time again through the years. He even brought Miriam a few times. The serenity; the calmness of nature. It all helped him reflect.



This isn't the first time he's had to bury a girlfriend along this path. It seemed like every single one was buried here. Jesse was put to rest in the shade of those three evergreens. About two hundred yards to the east is the pond that he dropped Jennifer into. An entire night was spent burning away the remains of Emily in an abandoned barn beside the river. It was a graveyard of miserable burdens. A collection of past mistakes. An entire world of darkness. And here was David, staggering though it again.



When he reached a fork in the path, he leaned against a tree to rest. He pulled Miriam up; her back to his chest. I told you not to get close to me, Miriam. I told you not to fit yourself into my world. Now look what I've done. The grinding of his teeth pulled his concentration away from his thoughts. David took a deep breath and continued on into the freezing forest.