PROLOUG
AUGUST 16, THREE YEARS EARLIER: ZOE
Many tragic days dragged since mother died. 'Heart attack'. Doctors informed, after hours I spent anxiously burning a trail on the hospital hallway. Breaking down into mindless sobs here and there, I was a worried mess. My faith broke the laws of logic and tears untamed, some days it was useless that when the day came she was the furthest thing from surprised. She was dead before the doctors could announce the abnormalities in her death and she left leaving more questions than answers.
Although she is crumbled in the sombre mist of my grief, I did notice the warm hand as well as a strong healthy body shadow my grief offering comforting words of assurance. Bernard Coal, my father never left my side in fact staying together though the hardest time of our lives probably made a difference in how we handled her passing. Dad vowed to protect me and his promise brought solace to the fiery storm in my mind. It has still been many unforgettable days after he passing but today the depression wasn't allowed to consume and manifest my life anymore.
Breakfast in hand I padded into my father's bedroom, pushing the door open with my side I entered the large somewhat dark room. I entered with a silent smile in the unwavering darkness. She was trying to move as gently as to not wake her dad from sleep until she sets the delicious breakfast she prepared. Leaving a tray of cinnamon flavored oatmeal, bagel with whipped butter and low- fat cream. She then went to dragging the curtains open to destroy the looming darkness in the atmosphere, waiting for him to get up and see her effort sure it will make his day. Her dad is proud and is impressed of over even the little things she does, this would top everything since she stopped functioning as a normal human being. I turned to face dad's peaceful form and I smiles moving closer so he can drink his vitamins that also controlled his fibre intake. I lightly touched his still unmoving chest, shaking his impossibly still chest and when she realised that he was not breathing she panicked.
"Dad wake up! Daddy get up! Daddy please... Don't leave me too…Daddy get up, please!"
I completely broke down… I Sobbed, screamed as the numbing pain rocked my senses to nightmares. Memories ticked as time slowly forgot to move on.
***
"My dear granddaughter everything in nature has energy. Living breathing things have elements another term for powerful pulsing energy."
Nena said one beautiful spring on our family picnics. Enjoying each other's company, Nena and I slipped away giggling. We left mom and dad alone together as we made our way to an empty space. The flowers bloomed perfectly, the grass green and the trees branched out as if holding hands. Nena took the only flower that looked to be brittle and so close to death, she cupped it in her lively hands. I followed her, she did not even touch the flower this time and she smiles at me. She honestly never had to do much to capture my attention.
"You can absorb energy from any living organisms and learn to use it."
Her hand rose as she took a tad of life source from the perfectly lively flower and snapped her fingers, the flower slowly rose colour back on each petal. Magic.
"Now listen, you don't need a lot of energy. As you can see, I took enough to allow it to bloom like the other flowers in the meadow."
I remember myself kneeling thinking it was magic, my eyes wide and giggled at the surrealism.
"Nena. Where exactly does energy come from?"
She began laughing, her laugh contagious as it infected me in belly giggles.
"Well pumpkin, do you know what your name means?"
She asked and I shook my head, no. And wondered of its significance in their current conversation.
"Life. Your name means life and there is life all around you."
She knelt next to me. Holding my hand my eyes burned to new eyes, colours pulsed giving an idea to a new world of possibilities.
"Energy can come from flowers, grass even insects."
She began pointing around the space, as my eyes widened in awe at the beauty.
"Trees, butterflies and even bees."
She created drifting images, entranced I tried to grab the butterfly as it popped like a bubble before it disappeared to a new. Then she stretched her arms wide.
"And our largest source of energy comes from the sun."
She said as we danced around, eventually we joined my parents. The memory just fluttered back to consciousness as joy brought me to reality.
***
"Zoey!"
I turned to see one of my best friends charging to give me a mighty hug we are all in our final year of high school.
"Girl how have you been! Taylors is a miserable rack without you."
Jordan Marks, future prom queen, she is a beautiful brunette, with large brown eyes and thick eyebrows. Her tall, slender frame allowed envy to sneak up on me when I am most insecure but she never made me feel bad that why I loved her. She can be and hand out with whoever she wants but for some reason she hangs out with Tay and I. Every girl at school wanted to be her and every guy wishes they had her classic high school drama.
"Hey Jay. Figured after a month confined at home it made sense, I venture out to finish school and wait for the next adventure."