2021

Once there was a family. They were very poor but they were very happy. They lived in a tiny cottage near a riverbank. The father worked in a mill but he always made time to see his two children. They had a baby daughter, Annie, and a son, Jack. Jack loved his baby sister with all his heart. Even though he was only three, he promised never to let anything happen to her. But, just next door, there lived Lilith Trembles. A couple of kids used to say that her name was Trembles because you would tremble if you saw her. Though those kids mysteriously disappeared. She had long black hair and pale skin day. Lilith had the most beautiful garden anyone had ever seen.

One day the father got fired from the mill. He couldn’t go home empty handed he decided. He was going to have to find some food. Then he remembered his neighbor’s garden. He decided to go get some vegetables for them to eat. He snuck into the garden to get some food. But Lilith spotted him. She went out on her porch and caught him red-handed. He begged her to let him take the food. “Please,” he pleaded, “I’ve been fired. We don’t have any money for food. Please let me take some of your vegetables.” “You may take them,” Lilith said, “But in exchange for them I will take your daughter.” “No! Please!” he cried. “My mind is made up. Leave or it won’t just be your daughter I take,” she replied. He scurried away quickly, hoping it was just a threat. He decided to tell his wife in private, about this affair. When he went home to tell her she sobbed, “No! Why did you do such a thing!” “I couldn’t let us starve. I didn’t know this was going to happen,” he confessed, “I promise I won’t let her take Annie.” Outside the door, Jack could hear everything. He ran to Annie’s room where she was sleeping. He looked at her and started crying. “I promise,” he said between sobs, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

It was quite windy that night. There was an eerie feeling in the air. They moved Annie’s crib into the parents room so they could protect her. It was around 2 am. Her parents were trying to stay awake but fell asleep. Lilith broke in through the window. “CRASH!” Jack jerked up in his bed. He heard Lilith creeping around. He was so scared. He ran to his mother and father. “Momma! Papa!” he screamed. Lilith caught him and started to say some indecipherable words, which caused him to fall asleep. By the time his parents were awake, Lilith was gone. Jack couldn’t recall anything of the event. Lilith had cast a spell on him, making him forget the night ever happened. The mother was so distraught that she committed suicide. The father locked himself in a room and never came out. Jack’s father died when he was around fifteen. He grew up mostly alone, learning how to do things for himself.

Lilith took the child to a small cottage in the woods. There she raised her, telling her that the world was a very dangerous place filled with drunkenness, hatred, and worst of all, homosexuals. She had a young maid come live with her when Annie was about ten. The maid was two years older than Annie and named Diana. They played together. They laughed together. They cried together. The pair became close friends. When Annie was around 15, she started to feel a connection between her and Diana. “No,” she thought, “Homosexuals are awful evil people. Surely I can’t be one of them.

For Annie’s eighteenth birthday, Lilith went out to get her present. It was located far from the cottage. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Lilith asked Annie. “Don’t worry Mother,” Annie replied, “I have Diana. If anything happens, Diana will be there for me.” “I’ll see you in five days, love.” Lilith said. And she left.

Diana always knew she loved Annie in a special way. But for Annie, well she wasn’t so sure. She was confused. Sometimes she would have dreams where she was kissing Diana. But then she would wake up. She mostly kept her dreams to herself. Her mother wouldn’t like it if she was having dreams about kissing girls.

“Annie,” she was awakened from a daydream. She was in a strange house. There was a little boy on the ground, crying. The mother and father were crying too. Then there was her mother, looking like an evil witch. She had these dreams often.“Annie? Annie!” Diana yelled. “Huh?” Annie asked. Then Annie realized how nice Diana looked in the lighting. “Lunch is ready,” Diana mumbled. Annie sat down to a lunch of leftover chicken from last night’s dinner. It was an awkward lunch situation. No one was talking. “Um, Diana,” Annie finally spoke. “Yes?” This is the time, Annie thought, Mom’s gone. I can finally tell her. “This is good chicken,” Annie replied. Dang it Annie! She thought to herself, I had so many questions! Tomorrow I’ll do it.

The next day, she told herself, I’m going to do it! There’s only four days left. I need to tell her. “Diana?” Annie said. “Yes?” Annie took in a deep breath. “Is it ok to be homosexual?” she asked quickly. Diana paused. “What?” she finally asked. “Oh, never mind,” Annie said disappointedly. “No, it’s ok,” Diana assured her, “But, why do you ask?” “Just wondering,” Annie said. There was a long pause. “What does it feel like to be in love?” Annie asked. “Okay, what is going on?” Diana demanded. “Nothing! Just please tell me!” Annie begged. “Are you in love?” Diana asked. Annie paused. She sighed. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Well it’s ok to be gay,” Diana told her, “But do you think you’re in love with a girl?” “I think,” Annie started, “No never mind.” “What?” Diana asked. “I think I’m in love with you,” she said softly.

“Wait-,” Diana was startled, “You are?” “I don’t know!” Annie cried. There was a long pause again. “Well to be honest,” Diana said, “I’m in love with you.” Annie was stunned. Did she hear what she just thought she heard? “What?” Annie asked. “Yeah. I love you Annie,” Diana admitted. “You’re gay?” Annie asked. All of this was so hard to process. “Yes. But please don’t tell your mom!” Diana pleaded, “I don’t want to get fired.” “No I won’t tell her,” Annie swore, “because, I love you too.” Then Annie leaned in for a kiss. Diana was surprised, but she was happy. When they kissed, it felt like everything was okay. Annie always thought her prince would come. Not necessarily her princess. “If my mom finds out she’ll kill both of us!” Annie cried. “Then let’s make the most of these last few days,” Diana said.

The next day, Jack was taking a walk in the woods. He was twenty-one now. Soon he found he was lost. He came across a little cottage. He was very hungry so he decided to stop in and see if they would cater to him. When he knocked on the door, a girl introduced herself as Diana. “I’m lost and very hungry. Please just give me some food and I’ll be on my way,” Jack told her. “Of course. Come in,” Diana responded. She put down three bowls of soup on the table. “Annie! Dinner!” she called. Annie. Where had Jack heard that name before. A young girl came to sit at the table. She stopped in her tracks. “Diana? Can I speak to you?” Annie asked. Diana took her to the bedroom. “Who is that?” Annie asked. “His name is Jack. He’s lost so he’ll be staying for dinner.” Diana assured her. “He looks familiar to me,” Annie said, “I feel like I know him.” “Huh. That’s weird,” Diana said, “Come on let’s go eat.” Annie and Diana sat down at the table. “My name is Annie,” Annie said to Jack. “Oh, my name’s Jack,” Jack responded. “I know,” she replied. That name. Jack knew he had heard it before. And her face. It was so familiar. It was almost like… “Annie?” Jack asked, “Is it really you?” “What?” “Oh my god, it is!” Jack exclaimed, “Remember me? I’m your big brother!”