A ten-year-old Amanda wandering around the sights and sounds of a carnival. Trying to take it all in as such an event was much larger than the backroads of isolated territory from whence she grew up. She could not imagine this many people assembled in one place. It was made more disturbing by the fact none of them seemed familiar. Short for her age, she wandered unnoticed among the crowds and began to feel the first stirrings of fear. The loud talk, the screaming children, the long lines of procession, along with the myriads of odors created a miasma that she wanted to flee. The laughter and the faux expressions of joy on the faces of people, took on the maroon tones of a nightmare. She could imagine underneath the laughter, were horrid screams about to erupt.

and I told myself -- as I've told myself before -- that the body shuts down then the pain gets too bad, that consciousness is temporary, that this will pass. But just like always, I didn't slip away. I was left on the shore with the waves washing over me, unable to drown.

He trailed his eyes down over her beautiful breasts then told her, __ou__e going to keep your mouth shut and I__ going togive you that Orgasm you asked for._ He thought for a moment she was going to tell him to get lost, but instead she leaned her head back against the wall and pushed her hips out toward him.

Mom used to tell me not to worry when people didn't get me. People throw rocks at things that shine - from the mixed up files of Tilly Adam's journal

He paused leaning over to lay his lips on hers, __t__ time to feel again. Let me save you from yourself. You were drowning when I found you, but I__ not letting you go, not without a fight._ He kissed her sweetly and moved back standing up and over her. Lena looked up at his out stretched hand.__ake my hand Lena._ He offered and she knew he meant it in a way that went far beyond offering to help her stand.

I believe in fate and I believe you were supposed to walk into my life, so Mason could walk into yours.