Chapter 17

Dr. Zed led the way while Vera followed. It was getting darker, but they walked on. He pried off grown grasses from their path and kicked soft tree trumps with easily uprooted roots. He said nothing to Vera while they walked on. Vera said nothing to him too. They just walked on. Chirping birds sang to their steps. Vera remembered Johnny. She'd known him for just a few months, yet it felt like they've been friends for a long time. She remembered the hug and the longing look in his eyes the day her mother interrupted them and felt something lurking in her stomach.

Now, she stared away from the bushes and looked forward to the hill. From afar, it had a foggy shadow cast over it. It looked like a white net draped across the hill, but on a closer look, there was nothing there at all. The hill reminded her of Sarah. She'd still not called back despite all her attempts to get across to her and make things right again. It'd been