The Dark Sire Issue 10 (Winter 2021) | Page 25

that something felt terribly wrong too . Still , she shrugged it off and decided to ponder on it for another story draft .
Once everything was packed , Mary and Robert dressed in their bright beach attire and loaded the supplies by the front door . “ Let ’ s make sure we have everything .” He adjusted his glasses and examined the bags .
“ Clothes , food , emergency kit … I believe everything is packed ,” Mary said . Robert offered to take the heavier bags while Mary and Nancy carried their purses and the lunch . Once her parents were seated , Nancy slid into the back of the sedan and watched her neighborhood through the pane of glass .
She let out a small sigh as she examined each perfect , cookie-cutter household . Each dwelling had the same shingled roof , one car in the garage , and young children playing in the yard . Teenage girls locked arms as they strolled down the streets , excited about shopping or dreamy boys . This was how Nancy normally examined the world around her ; always taking in the sites of teenage life , but never participating , afraid that her intellect and quiet manner would scare away those she got close to .
The sedan bumped over a small bridge that connected Summerville to another neighboring island , where people young and old enjoyed the warm sunshine and cool ocean as it gently lapped at the shore . Through the cracked window , she smelled the char of hot dogs from a nearby shake shack . Nancy watched with slight envy as a group of boys admired pretty girls with curves in their petite swimsuits . She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned away .
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