Echo of a Bird's Cry

THE VICTIM EDEN October 17

Emily and Angel have been with me for two weeks. It was easy to slip into our roles with one another. Comfortability and love are strong and resilient within our relationships. The years apart didn't change that. All we did was tap into our flow of love. It was like putting puzzle pieces together. It took a lot of thinking, a little moving, and a little shifting but we eventually connected. We found our way to each other again. I love spending time with them. I enjoy sharing my space with them. I love reconnecting with them and learning who they've grown to be. But what I don't enjoy is how the people of Ravenwood are treating them. This small town has not been welcoming. It seems like everyone hates them for one reason or another. They get hateful stares and notes telling them to leave. The people of this town actually believe the Marilyn curse is real. The people of this town believe my family's presence here will result in a homicide. They believe my family will bring chaos and havoc. There is no curse. My family may not be the best but they're my family.

Emily returns from her hike in the forest with Sandy. She had a panic attack her first time hiking and now she's conquered hiking every day by herself with Sandy. I'm proud of her. "Alex and Danny are outside."

Alex is John's cousin. I met him when I was fifteen. That's when I went to live with John and his family for the summer. My father and mother thought it was a good idea for me to experience what it was like living with a black family. My parents didn't want me to miss out on anything, even with the things they couldn't provide me, like living in a black household. My parents sent me to live with the Belford family. Calvin and Christina are a part of my family's team. The Willmore family has a group of people to keep them sane, beautified, and uncomfortably rich. Our team consists of lawyers, physicians, accountants, nutritionists, personal trainers, makeup artists, hairstylists, wardrobe stylist, chefs, and more. We have a person for every want or need we desire. My family's team keep us afloat and functioning properly in the outside world. Calvin is a lawyer and his wife Christina is a physician. They're both a part of my family's team. They have two sons, John and Charles. Alex is Christina's nephew. We grew up together and remained close throughout the years. The Belfords became a part of my family.

There's obvious friction between Alex and Emily since the whole Angel situation. Alex hasn't forgave her for what happened. I pray that both of them get along while they're under my roof.

I throw open the front door and run to him.

He catches me in his strong arms. "How are you, ladybug?"

"I'm great, better because you're here." I hug Alex's husband Danny. "How's everything, Dan?"

"I can't complain."

Alex releases me and lifts plastic bags from the trunk of his car. "I bought fireball and pumpkins to carve."

I help Danny and Alex with their luggage and set them up in the guest bedroom that Emily was sleeping in. Emily and I will share a room while Alex and Danny are here. Angel volunteered to give Alex and Danny his room but Emily insisted on giving them her room. Emily and I will share my bed.

We're all in the kitchen soon, sitting at the table that's covered in newspapers. Alex and I sit pumpkins and shots of fireball on top of the table.

"There's nothing like a game of truth to get this party going," Alex says.

"What's truth?" Emily asks.

Alex picks out a knife and wedges it into his pumpkin. "It's like truth or dare without the dare. If you refuse to tell the truth, you take a shot."

"This should be entertaining," Angel says, cutting the top of his pumpkin open.

"This is a game, Alex," Danny says in a wary voice. "Don't get carried away. It's about having fun."