She was always told who she would marry. She grew up knowing the exact age she would be when the marriage would take place. But then one day she saw someone she hadn’t ever seen before walking into the village. He was beautiful with bright blue eyes and dark wavy hair. She desperately wanted him to get to know her. She craved his attention. Soon enough the traveler and her became close friends. Soon he would leave, and she wanted to be with him. She told him. He couldn’t take her with him, but told her if she stayed awhile longer he would come back for her. She didn’t know how long it might take him. But she would wait.

Nellie brought a nutcracker with her. A small wooden one that was painted by her grandmother years before she was born. It was small enough to fit in her pocket if she wanted to. Whenever she looked at it she felt so peaceful and happy thinking of things that had once been and will be again. How she’ll eventually make it out of this game alive.

Crisp fall air, Hot apple cider, Trail horse rider, People who care,

dark and creeping, totally ending, like a blindness in a fog with nowhere to go but straight ahead, yet your viewpoint is not ended, just changed, a new direction has taken place, where you are now you will soon not be, where you yearn for you may achieve.