I watch my kids head off to school with Martha, smiling as they go. They don't know that on their next first day of school, I can take them. I'm almost done with the college and with luck, I'll find a good job, and everything will be as beautiful as it been for the last 11 years.

Today I don't have any classes, but I still have homework. An eleven page essay, due a week from now, on the freedom of the press. I am intrigued by the subject and have done enough research to start today. But as I place my hands on the keyboard, my eyes look towards. My diary. I've been keeping it since I was old enough to write, even if it wasn't too good at first. I sigh, knowing I won't be able to have peace until I read through all the entries of September 1rst. I smiled at the childish self I used to be. I remember the year we all lost the people we used to be. And I remembered the year where I killed some of them.

Sickened, I shut the diary, and begin working on my essay. I manage to get about a quarter of the way through, when I hear a car pull up. They're home.

I make a quick snack, pate, and open the door.

"Hey! How was your day?"

"Great mom!" Janis exclaims with enthusiasm. "Karen and I made friends with a girl named Gretchen and another girl named Regina."

"Lovely Janis," I say, filing those names for later when I ask Heather to find who they are. "What about you Damien?"

"Oh the usual. Everyone ignored me and I sat in the back of class all day."

"I'm sorry Damien. I was like that for a lot of highschool. Things will get better after you graduate school." I stand by this philosophy. By the end of highschool, my life took an upward turn. I had no toxic people in my life and my best friends live really close and are always there for me, nothing has gone wrong in years.

"I guess."

"Okay, you can go hang out in your rooms or wherever, just try to keep it down, I need to finish this essay. Martha and Heather will be visiting tonight." They both say variations of the word yes, and walk upstairs without another word. "Heather?" I call.

"Yes Veronica? What is it?"

"Who are Gretchen and Regina?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because Janis loves you. And I know you go with her to school invisibly." Heather does a dramatic eye roll and sighs.

"Fine. Gretchen is Heather Duke's kid, she looks more like her father though. And Regina is my Aunt's daughter, she's a little aggressive. Now can I go?"

"Yes," I sigh, "thanks Heather."

"Always a pleasure," she retorts, "Ronica." With that she disappears, probably to go upstairs to Janis. I worry for both of them. I don't want Janis like Heather and I don't want Damien miserable because of reasons I don't know. But hopefully everything will work out.