Sanctity Read Online Free PDF Page A

perfect
clarity.  “I loved them, too,” he whispered “I couldn’t tell
you what happened but I knew if I let you, you would see.” 
His voice cracked with regret bringing on a new wave of emotions
from me.

Chapter 3
     
    “Oh,” I whispered through my tears.
 Suddenly I knew, knew everything. My lips trembled, “No,” I
screamed, “No, no, no!!” In a voice I didn’t know I was capable
of.  “It’s your fault!  You killed them, you killed
them!  I hate you,” I sobbed, “I hate you,” I tried to fight
myself free from his grip.  I tried to hit him and kick him
all the while screaming “I hate you, I hate you,” but Michael just
held me tighter.  After a moment my voice faltered, “I hate…”
and I fell limply against his shoulder knowing full well there was
no truth behind my words.
    “You should hate me,” he whispered. 
“Please hate me.”
    “I can’t,” I whimpered.
    “It’s too late isn’t it?  I have done
something unforgiveable to you,” he said.
    I thought that he was talking about my
parents but sensed that there was more to his meaning as well,
something I was just too overwhelmed to understand.  The
minutes ticked by and though it seemed our emotions had worn
themselves out we were still clinging to one another, neither
willing to break the peace that was descending on us.
    He was right, it was too late.  I
thought about everything that had happened and despite it all and
all the blame I could place on Michael, “I love you,” I whispered
against his shoulder. 
    “Oh,” he moaned and stroked my hair as he
held me, “I love you, too,” the words reluctantly escaped his
lips.
    Hearing him say it brought me back to the
day we met and how Michael and I became so important to one
another. 
    My mother had taken me back to school
shopping and I was worn out from standing near her and from trying
on clothes all day.  I was seven years old and just about to
start second grade. The mall was very crowded that day and I was
terribly uncomfortable being there with so many strange people
around.  I was curious, though, and couldn’t seem to keep my
gaze from wandering from one person to the next. 
    As my mother moved between the racks of
clothing I followed along behind her.  At one point we were
facing the main doorway to the store and I could see a wide
lobby-like area just beyond with a stonewalled fountain that had a
number of sturdy, metal benches encircling it.  By then just
about anything was more interesting to me than shopping so while my
mother flipped through the various outfits I kept my eye on the
fountain and watched the water as it sprouted up and crashed back
down into its pool. 
    I didn’t notice Michael sitting there at
first but as my mom moved away from the entrance I turned to follow
her and heard his voice calling my name.  At first I thought
it was my mother but when I looked up to ask her what she wanted
she began to move towards the next rack and started
sifting through the clothes that were hanging there.
    I decided that I must have been mistaken but
then I heard the voice again and I realized that it wasn’t a
woman’s voice and that I didn’t actually hear it out loud.  It
seemed like someone was whispering in my head and that they were
looking for me.  I felt a strange sensation when I heard it,
too, like an invisible thread had reached out and attached itself
to me.  I had an overwhelming urge to follow it knowing it
would lead me to whomever it was that wanted me.
    As I glanced around wondering where it could
have come from I noticed that my mom had moved to yet another rack
of clothing.  I stepped into the aisle and I was about to
follow her when I heard the voice a third time.  I turned and
instead of following my mother I walked toward the front doorway of
the store.  Just as I was about to step through the threshold
I saw Michael sitting on the fountain’s wall and when he saw me
looking at him he smiled.  I immediately