My fingers clutched the jar tightly. Lenna's ashes are inside and I still don't want to let go of it. "Lenna, I'm so sorry for not being there for you. If you just told me in your letters that you are being abused, then I,"

My breathing turned uneven and I can hear myself gasping for air. I opened my mouth to continue my last words to Lenna. "I would have helped you escape."

I hugged the container for the last time before laying her ashes on the pit.

I kissed the tip of my fingers and touched the jar. "May you rest in peace, Lenna."

My hands clenched some dirt and placed them at the hole. Even if there was a shovel nearby, I didn't use it. I continued digging on dirt and placing it on the jar, closing the hole.

It took me an hour before fully closing the hole. After 5 days, I'll get married. To think that the guy I will see for the first time is the same guy who killed Lenna makes my blood boil.

I stood up from the ground. It is not fair. She died at the hands of the man she married. Her mother doesn't care about her. And me... She left me without saying goodbye...

We haven't even seen the fountain...together...just the two of us...

Our dreams...

Our hopes for a good future...

Our happiness...

Life itself...

Is gone...

Forever...

I closed my fists, my teeth chattering, my eyes squeezed shut. Never have I felt this kind of agony in my life. I have always felt contented with the life I had...

I shook my head fiercely, calming myself. I stopped and took a deep breath and smiled. If she's here, I bet she'll tell me to smile. Smile even if it's too much. 

I returned back to my room and packed my things. 5 more days before my marriage. 

I kneeled down beside my bed and pulled out my treasure box where Lenna's letters are compiled in it. I gave it a tight hug before going outside my house and placed it on a pit near Lenna's ashes. 

I decided to bury her letters along with her. It is not safe to bring these things along with me. I don't know if this will drive my future husband mad or what , but it is better to be safe. 

--

I sat at the cold ground. There are still flakes of snow left on the soil. I breathed it the fresh air of our garden. I'll miss my morning and evening walks here. I'll miss the smell of old dusty books piled at the library. I think I might even miss stroking the wall for directions.

"So, my life finally ends here. Nothing to look forward to. My future... I don't even care...

I took a few more steps. The wind blew softly, trying to dry my wet cheeks. I smiled, seeing its efforts. 

"Rachel..."

My body froze. The tone of its voice is familiar. My body turned, finding where that voice came from. 

"Rachel..."

Another one!

I finally grasped who is the owner of that voice. The person I least expected. The person who I thought was lost forever.

"Lenna? Is that you?" My voice rang with eagerness to know if she is not dead, but alive. I ran to the direction that my body tells me to go - to the voice of Lenna. 

"This way, Rachel. And be quiet or your mom might hear us."

I nodded in agreement. I don't care about anything else but finding Lenna. 

I followed its voice. My breathing turned uneven and my body hurts from too much running. I don't know where I am heading, but I trust Lenna. She wouldn't bring me to a place that isn't safe for the two of us.

"Lenna!" My voice is weak from exhaustion and my body shivering from the cold. 

"Faster, Rachel! We're almost there!, she cried out. Her voice carried a hint of nervousness. I suddenly felt weird. What's there to be worried about?

The ground was different here. I can't feel any soil. It was cold and hard as stone. There were some noises everywhere, noises that I never heard before.

"Lenna! Please stop. I'm tired.", my voice shaking. I gasped quickly for air, sitting down.

Silence...

I quickly shifted my head side to side, looking for Lenna's voice.

" Lenna?", I started.

Nothing...

No response...

My heart beated faster as I realized something.

Lenna isn't really here. It's just my... Imagination...

I stood up as soon as possible, finding the place where I once was. But all of my efforts are in vain.

I am lost...

Nothing around here is familiar to me. I started to panic, my walking turned into running.

I unexpectedly stumbled. I bumped into something. My head started to hurt. I held my head, supporting my weight.

"Ouch... Hey! Watch where your going! Can't you see that I'm looking for something?!"

A person!

I felt a lump at my throat, my body froze.

"Sorry...", I said, I held my head down, hiding my face from an unknown person.

" What took you so long? Did you find someone to kidnap?" Footsteps approaching us was heard.

"Sorry. Someone bumped into me. I failed to get him!" He was pissed off.

"Run Rachel! Run!" Lenna shrieked.

I can't. My body was numb from fear. I can't even feel my feet!

"Look at this girl. Did she just came out from the hospital? She got some clothing wrapped around her eyes."

The other man agreed." I guess so."

"Let's take her with us! We can get tons of money from her."

"Nnoo!!", I screamed.

I finally had the strength to stand up and run, but they quickly catched me. They covered my mouth with a wet cloth. I struggled, pushing some unknown human beings away from me, burying my fingernails at their flesh.

I felt dizzy and sleepy. My body fell at the hands of some strangers.

I heard Lenna's voice before fainting completely.