Sunset valley –

France-

Egypt-

China-

Enjoy!

“She had a stare that stretched to infinity. She was, in that moment,
not my mother but something separate from me.”-Alice Sebold (The Lovely Bones)

I started that day just like any other. I went out for a jog across old mans river run.

But this time I heard something down near the water. So I went to investigate.

I found a baby boy laying wrapped in a blanket.
His diaper was over full and he looked ravished.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want to leave this baby laying out here.
But I was certainly not the right person to handle him.
If she ever found out…

I decided I would take a chance and bring him home and decide what to do with him there.

I just needed to think first.

I would call a babysitter then go out and consider my options.

On my way out I was wondering if I would be able and go to the bar without being
bothered when suddenly I felt as though someone was watching me.

But when I turned around…

no one was there.

I ignored my fear, I knew I was just jumpy, just afraid.
But I had to show that I was ahead and she couldn’t outwit me.

I jumped in my car and headed in town.

Smiths bar was one of the many building which dated back to the 1800′s
This was a small town in the middle of a desert back then, now Riverview
has been transformed mostly into farmland. But a bit of the old southern
architecture still remains.

Luckily the bar was slow tonight so not alot of people were there.
Just the regulars, myself included.

I started thinking about the baby boy. Like who left him there by the river?
Why didn’t I just call the police. Actually that was a dumb question.
I knew why I couldn’t have anything to do with the police.
Even if I made the tip anonymous they could still trace the call back to me.

Suddenly a bunch of boys from a Frat house from the local university entered the bar
and all peace was gone. I immediately jumped up and decided to head out for a walk.
Walks always calmed me down.

I quickly learned that a walk was not a good idea.
It was getting late and the sun was already down.
I was already jumpy enough as it is.

I went to the playground but that was stupid. The last thing I wanted to think
about was children.

As I was leaving I got the suspicion I was being watched again.

But once again when I turned around, no one.

I decided I should just head home before I go crazy.

But all the sudden I heard laughter…

from a child…

a girl…

“Ashley…”

“I won’t let you get away with it again Gina.”

“I will find a loophole… I will find my way back.”

Edited on 2-2-2010

-Amy Jo

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
-William Shakespeare

10 Months in the Future-

“I can’t believe how much I have changed. How much things have changed.” I said aloud to myself.
It was only 3 short weeks ago that all of my planning and devotion was about to pay off.

I thought back to how it all started, how I ended up in this dump…

I had been sitting at home watching the news one late evening.
I remember thinking about buying Him a guitar. I knew his mother
had been virtuoso so maybe he could learn.

I was thinking about doing something nice for him. It still angers me.

Anyway I was sitting there when I heard the door bust open.

My heart sped up, then stopped all together.

I knew in that instance I had been caught.

“Ma’am, PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK!”

They caught me, He found a way around me. He outwitted me.

Now I am stuck in this hell hole. The Riverview Institute of the Mentally Ill.

I am already sick of these four ugly white grey walls.
I can’t believe they put me in an insane asylum.

He will pay for what he has done.

I began planning. But as I went on I realized I was beginning to talk to myself more
than could possibly be healthy. I needed to get out of there. I needed out now.

Escaping wasn’t nearly the challenge I thought it would be.
Lucky for me I was sent to a low security institution.
It was located in an old warehouse.

All I had to do was wait for the front guard to go on break…

Then I made my escape. I knew what I was after, and I started towards it.

I made a run for it and just kept going. If I stopped I was afraid they’d realize I was
gone and be able to find me.

My heart was beating so fast. My adrenaline was pumping. I was ecstatic.

As I headed into town I was worried people would notice something was up.

I was being looked at funny. But I couldn’t let myself get worried. I had a mission
and I was going to complete it no matter what.

I could feel that I was close. Every step, every heartbeat, I was closer.

It was around the corner. I was so close.

I crossed the street instead of heading straight for it.
I stopped in front of the house where I knew he’d still be.
In front of my house.
I was ready. I knew I was. My body pulled forward, the house calling my name.
It would all to soon be over.

Stay safe those of you in the terrible snow weather, I’m driving right into the pit of it today!

-Amy Jo