We Faced a Goddess
Chapter One: A Beginning After an End

A week ago, life was great. A week ago, my boyfriend was still with me. A week ago, I got a car for my birthday. A week ago, my parents were alive. So much can change in a week. So much can change in a day…

The car ride to Aunt Paige’s house took forever. It was like a slow descent into madness that was accompanied by 80’s music. I would have slept but I couldn’t. A lot happened in such a short amount of time. Every time I closed my eyes I saw everything happen over and over. I had to stay awake.

“How are you holding up kiddo?” Aunt Paige asked while turning down the radio. I didn’t want to answer. Not because I wanted to be rude or anything, I just didn’t want to cry again.

“I’m fine,” I managed to squeak out. This was of course a lie. I literally just had the worst week of my life. I got into a car accident that killed both my parents. It was my fault... Well, the other driver ran a red light, but had I not wanted to drive that night they’d be here right now.

Images of this last week pounded in my head. My second hand little silver car dented and broken was a thought I tried to stay on so my mind wouldn’t go to what’s next, but of course, my mind moved on. I remembered seeing my mother next to me gasping for air. Her last words being that she loves me. The last I remember of my father was when I looked back before I closed my eyes. I don’t have any memory after that except getting out of the hospital. Michael heard that I’d have to move and he told me he couldn’t do a long-distance relationship. Tears started dripping down my face again.

The rest of the car ride was quiet and it was dark when we finally reached Aunt Paige’s house. We didn’t even bother unpacking my stuff. Aunt Paige showed me to my room and I crashed for the night. I wanted to sleep forever in the quiet darkness of my new room. However, my body wouldn’t let me do that.

I woke up in almost a panic. I figured it was just a bad dream that I couldn’t remember or rather I didn’t want to remember. It was only four in the morning, but I knew I wouldn’t go back to sleep. The silence was too strange to me. I had always been used to cars coming and going down the road next to our house. I flipped my light on and looked around the empty room. The walls were a light purple and the carpet was a soft pink that matched the bedding and curtains. There were two windows along the wall opposite the door and a desk sat in between them. It was a decent sized room and I had my own closet and bathroom.

I thought about showering before I realized all of my clothes were still out in the car and frankly I was too lazy to go get them. So I just stayed where I was.

I stayed in bed for a long time before I walked to the window to see the sun rise. I pulled back the curtain and opened the blinds to replace someone in the next house looking back at me. Startled, I screamed and stumbled backwards. I went back to the window a little embarrassed.

The neighbor waved at me and I waved back. She was really pretty in my opinion. She had beautiful white hair and a smile that just lit up the world… or maybe that was just the sun rising. She opened her window and I opened mine.

“Hi!” She called, “Sorry if I scared you! I guess you’re my neighbor now?”

“Yeah, I’m Bonnibelle,” I tried speaking loud enough so she could hear but I didn’t want to wake anyone.

“Cool! My name is Keres!” Her voice was like an angelic choir ringing in my ears.

“Keres!” A voice shouted from the darkness of her room. Keres whipped around inhumanly fast. “Who are you talking to?” A tall man with hair as dark as night stepped into the light. He was at least 40 and, despite his intimidating voice his appearance reminded me of a stuffed bear. He was soft with kind eyes. This had to have been Keres’ father.

“It’s the new neighbor,” Keres explained, “I was just saying hello.” Keres’ father closed her window and walked her away from it. I figured Aunt Paige had told him about me and he wanted to explain to Keres or maybe he thought she was bothering me or maybe he was just a rude prick who didn’t want his daughter talking to me. Whatever it was, I was kind of relieved that she was gone. Attractive people intimidate me and Keres was beautiful.