“Hello?” I answered the front door letting in a burst of bone chilling fresh air and found myself face to face with a bright face complete with a smiling pair of amber colored eyes and long brown glossy hair in a side braid.
“You must be Natalie!” the girl smiled, her full lips glossed and bright pink like her nose from the chilly August air. ” I’m Sarah, Ally’s friend!”
“Oh, yeah, I’ve heard about a Sarah!” I said squeezing up against the maroon colored front door and gesturing a friendly hand motioning for her to come in.

I am forever broken and forever repaired.

Forever loved and forever hated.

Forever sinning and forever forgiven.

Forever mistook and forever understood,

Forever smiling and forever frowning.

Forever noticed and forever ignored.

Forever happy and forever sad.

Forever stormy and forever sunny.

Forever alive and forever dead.

Chapter the Fifteenth

Three colors on a scrap of canvas fluttering in the wind
Can only represent the smallest part
Of a native love so deeply buried inside
Even the most cynical heart, causing
A brief smile, a sudden cheer, as colored stars
Scatter across the sky above staring eyes
Waving three colors on a scrap of canvas.
Proud lineage of the storm-tossed refuse
So long called by a shining beacon in a bustling harbor
Now stand in high places, if only in thought
Looking down on the world below them

I stand and stare
but you don't see me at all
can't you see me,
I'm right here, before you
Don't you see into my eyes,
seeing the love?

Don't do this to me any longer,
I can't take it,
My heart is breaking.
What is it gunna take for
you to see me?

I see you smile my way,
one time my heart woulda jumped
but now I don't care.
You waited too long,
now you can't have me.

Thirteen years later.

That night the watch was doubled, for the Persians would undoubtedly be there soon. No man slept that night. The watchmen stood at all the ends of the pass like stones with moonlight gleaming on their armor and helmets.