Kayleigh
Kayleigh looked down at the casket that contained her mother. It wasn’t something that she could comprehend. Her mommy wouldn’t be there anymore. The young girl snuck a peak at the people that were there for the funeral. There weren’t many; most of the townspeople viewed them as outcasts. She had heard the whispering that they had always gotten whenever they went into town. Kayleigh knew that her mother had not been welcomed in the village.
She looked up at the man that was supposedly her father. He wasn’t around much and she didn’t know him well. But she supposed that she would have to learn since he was all she had left. She watched as dirt was thrown over into the grave and cried silent tears for her mother. She was going to miss her so much.
Her father beckoned her to follow. Quietly she got in step behind him and followed him to the cabin in the woods. She had never known any other home and they had no neighbors for miles around. She loved the little cabin that she had shared with her mother. Flowers and vines had grown all around, encompassing the little abode. They went inside the cabin and her father shut the door.
“Kayleigh,” her father looked at her. “I expect you to carry on as you did before. You can cook and you can clean. I will make sure that you have enough food here and clothing to properly fit you. But I will not tolerate any misbehavior or insolence from you. Do you understand?”
Kayleigh nodded her head. She couldn’t make any words come out of her mouth. She just wanted to curl up in bed with the doll her mom had made her.
“Good,” he said. Then he turned and left out the front door.
Kayleigh couldn’t believe that he had left her all alone. She was only ten and not accustomed to being by herself. She quietly made her way through the empty cabin and curled up into a ball in the corner of her bed. She cried until she could cry no more and then she fell asleep.
When she awoke, the sun was shining high in the sky. She got up and knew that she needed to eat. After her breakfast, she did the dishes and washed her face. She knew that she needed to find something to do with her time. She went outside as her and her mother had always done. She remembered her mother’s words, “You are very special little girl. You hold all the power right here,” she would say as she touched Kayleigh on the heart.
Kaleigh spent the day simply being with nature. She looked at squirrels that would come up to her. She tossed rocks in the river as fish swam her way. And she listened as the birds came around her and chirped to her. She felt more at peace with her mother’s passing.
That night, her father came home. “Here’s some money. Use it to buy whatever you need here.” He threw a few bills on the table and left again. Kayleigh made herself something to eat as she looked at the money. She had never seen so many bills before. But she looked forward to her trip into town.
The next day she got up and dressed with care. As she went outside she saw all the animals frolicking around the woods. None of them were scared of her and they continued to do what they were doing. As Kayleigh walked down the path, she saw that there were a couple of rabbits that seemed to be following her. She paid them no mind, knowing that they could roam wherever they wanted.
As she got closer to the village it seemed as if she were being followed, but Kayleigh saw nothing when she looked around. The village approached and she entered it quietly. As she passed the villagers, she saw them whispering to each other as she passed by. She knew that they considered her different but paid them no mind. She just knew that she wanted to get in and out of the general store as fast as she could.
Kayleigh wandered the aisles in search of the things that she would need for herself. She knew that she needed milk, bread, flour and butter, but she didn’t know what else, so she spent longer lingering over things than she should have. Finally she took her purchases to the front. The store owner peered at her over his glasses as he tallied up her total. He seemed surprised that she was able to pay for it by herself. Kayl;eigh gathered her things and walked outside.
She headed for the woods and back to her cabin noticing a group of boys up ahead. She so hoped that she could past them without incident. But it wasn’t to be. The biggest boy stopped her. “What are you doing here in town you little freak?” He knocked the groceries out of her hand, and the boys began pushing her around. She was pushed to the ground.
Kayleigh tried not to cry as she went to stand herself up. But she was pushed down to the ground again. Quietly she felt a rage take over her body. She stood up and her hands began to cup themselves together. A light shone brightly from above her out stretched arms. She heard her mother’s voice, “Remember the power is within you.” Kayleigh turned her wrists and a shockwave went out from her like a clap of thunder. The boys were knocked back by the force.
Kayleigh looked around in amazement at what she had just done. All the animals from the forest came out and surrounded her, protecting her from anything. The boys got up and quickly ran away. Kayleigh gathered her supplies and made her way back to the cabin, with all of the animals still surrounding her. She went inside and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw her mother’s reflection looking back at her.
“Kayleigh, I told you that you were special. The power of nature is within you. You are descended from Mother Nature herself. You will never fear for your safety. You have the power to control.”
Her mother disappeared, and Kayleigh felt a breeze go through her body. She looked down at her hands, and felt a peace. A peace knowing that she would never be alone; she always had nature.
