Where Did The Time Go?

Where Did The Time Go? Introduction

*From Anna's point of view*

Hello how may I help you, Miss?" The lady at the counter asks me.
I look around the store. Painting hung on wall, some on shelves. They were beautiful. I look at the lady. Her grey hair was up in a bun and she wore a black T-shirt along with some light brown jeans.
"Um... I was wondering how much this painting was?" I ask her holding up the painting of an Evergreen Tree. I loved Evergreen Trees. They were beautiful... The way they looked, smelled, even the way the blew in the wind. They were just the best thing ever to me.

"Miss?" Questioned the lady.
"Yes? Sorry," I must have been daydreaming again. I add inside my head.
"That painting is seven-hundred dollars." She spoke and then grabbed the painting from me. "And unless you have that money, don't touch it!" She stared at me and an icy cold chill went down my arms.
"Okay, sorry." I whisper, walking out of the Painting Shop.

My family was poor and I definitely didn't have seven-hundred dollars. I loved that painting though. I wish I could afford it. All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped and looked behind me.

"Sorry," Colten paused. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's fine, Colten." I say with sadness in my voice.
"Hey, listen. About the other day..." His voice trailed off.
"What about it? There is nothing to talk about!" I snapped at him.
"Look I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I-"
"Sorry?" I cut him off. "Sorry isn't going to do anything, Colten. You cheated on me. We're done."
He nodded and began to walk away.
Yesterday's events played in my mind. Colten had been cheating on me with some girl named Stacey. No way did I want him back. Ever. I take that off of my mind and continue my journey to my house.

Once I arrive at home I sit down and think. What am I going to do with my life? I have been out of school for two years now. I have a child and no job. I don't even have a car! I wished so much that something good would finally happen. Then the doorbell to my apartment rang. I got up to answer it.
I opened the door to see my three year old son and my ex-boyfriends brother.

"Thank you for picking him up today. " I say, letting them inside.
"No problem, just like every other day." He smiles.
"Accept I'm no longer with your brother." I say.
Normally Colten and his brother, Drake, would pick up my three year old son, Luke up from his preschool. But Colten and I broke up yesterday, so I knew he wouldn't do it. Thank Heaven for Drake, who was much kinder than Colten.

"That doesn't matter," Drake says. "So how are you?" He questions.
"I'm fine I guess." I say, picking Luke up and giving him a big hug.
"Well, I have to go. I'll see you after I pick Luke up tomorrow." He says
"You are still going to pick him up?" I ask, a smile glowing up my face.
"Of course," he smiles.

Without even thinking, I hug him. I have no idea why. Maybe because he was so caring and kind or because I needed a hug at that moment. After a few seconds he hugs back. A few moments later we parted and left.
I spent the rest of my day talking to my little Luke about his preschool and his friends.

A few moths pass, and the strangest thing happened. Drake asked me out. Like, on a date. I guess I should have seen that coming. I told him I would think about it. The doorbell rings and I know that it is Drake and little Luke.
I get up and open the door. Luke has a smile on his face and runs into the house and plops on the couch. Drake comes in as well, a little less excited expression on his face.

"Well someone had a good day!" I exclaim to Drake. "Thank you,"
"For what?" He questions me.
"Everything. And... Yes."
"Yes what?"
"I will go out with you." I state plainly.
Drake nods, I think he is at a loss for words. But that's okay, I understand. Then he runs out to his car and comes back with something.
"Here," He says handing it to me and leaving. It was the Evergreen Tree painting. I remember Luke's thoughtful gaze at it. I decided to put it in his room.

Later on that Summer Drake and I get married. And I get a job as a preschool teacher at Luke's school. Luke was happy, very happy.

*Drakes point of view*

a few years past by from the time Anna and I got married. Luke was three then. Now he was fourteen years of age, and had a younger sister as well. Her name was Bailey. Anna and I had her the Summer we got married. She was now eleven years old, and looked so much like her mother. Just two years ago Anna died in a car wreck. The children and I grieved, but there was nothing we could do.
Luke hadn't been himself since then. He began to wear all-black clothing, and he stopped talking as much as he used to. Bailey didn't change much. Except one thing did change about Bailey. Her smile. Her blond hair and bubbly smiling face changed the day their mother past, and it hasn't been the same since.
I tried to talk to them. But I was busy. I had to keep up my job, other wise we might lose the house. So I have Colten, my brother, watch the kids. He seems to get along fine with them. And the kids never complain.
The Summer I marred Anna we moved into a better house. After Anna had past away, I insisted we move again, and Bailey had not argued, but Luke did. He wanted to stay. So we did.
With the constant memory of Anna living with us.