The Lake

It happened ten years ago. But I will always remember the night that I died. It's funny now, that I am actually involved in the business of living. And ironically I am currently living the life of my dreams, and more. But each time I view myself in the mirror, I can still note the changes that only I am able to see. I still feel the differences in my body, present from the night of my death. My body responds to the commands of my brain a little faster than they used to. I wonder if that's what the expression means of "faking it to make it". The only person I have never been able to fool is my mother. After the night it happened I would often catch looks of her denoting that something was not quite right with me.

My mother, my little sister Pearl, and my Aunt Celia were always close. My father left home not long after the birth of my sister. It was then that Aunt Celia moved in. She was full of life, and taught me a lot of what I know, from how to tie die shirts, to making candles, blowing large bubbles with my gum, to even changing my oil, or a tire on my car. She had traveled extensively before coming to live with us. And she was always full of fun and adventure. I always told her she should write stories. But she shrugged it off, and said that "who would be interested in her stories anyway". Her bohemian leanings were the perfect contrast to my mother's more domestic personality.

We lived in the town of Gilmore. It was surrounded by forest on it's western side. On one side of the forest, was Lake Minerva. In summertime, it was a popular vacation spot. In the winter months, it had a more mysterious air to it. Of course, it only had scant visitation at this time.

As I said, Aunt Celia and had always been close. But that changed the summer of before I entered High School. She began a book club here in town, a couple of years prior. And she had one of her meetings one night. I often waited up for her to come home. This way, we could hang out and talk about her meetings. There was a newcomer named Gill, she was interested in. And I wanted details, as it were. I lay on the couch waiting for her return. It was 11 pm, then, 12 am, then sometime after that, I fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept for. But I heard the key turn in the lock. And it was her. It was 3 am. What had taken her so long to get home, unless she was hitting it off with her new love interest. I sat up as she entered. "Auntie" I called. She looked at me, with no expression. Her clothing and hair appeared to be wet. "Im tired Lenie, she said. I will see you in the morning." She turned as though she had difficulty walking, and closed the door to her room.

I got up the next morning. Aunt Celia still wasn't awake yet. This was not usual for her. Around noontime, I was at her bedroom door with soup and half a sandwich. This was the cure she and my mother believed in for whatever ailed one. I knocked gently on the door. "come in", was her barely audible reply. I entered. "Auntie, I brought you some food". I set the tray on the bed table next to her. She looked different today. Maybe she was more under the weather than I thought. This was not like her. Her skin had a pallor I had not seen before. Next to this, her red hair and green eyes appeared more vibrant than they already were. And instead of her hastily thrown together signature ponytail, her hair lay fanned out on the pillow. She looked at me for a long while before she spoke again. Then she gently took my hand. "Thank you for lunch Lenie. Sorry I'm not feeling myself today. Will come out later". Her voice still had the gravelly sound that it had, the night before. I hugged her. She felt cold to the touch. I was genuinely worried about her, as I left the bedroom.

The days that followed, were still unusual for Aunt Celia. She rose from her bed. But she still didn't seem to be the same. Even snuggling with Pearl on the couch or doing the spontaneous things she did with me, she didn't do anymore. Was she mad at us. Had we done something to displease her? Had she rethought her idea to live with us. Was she missing the adventures she used to have. Another thing she was doing differently these days, was more time spent on her computer. After a few months of this, She put a package in the mail. She acted mysteriously about this all the while. A few weeks later, she made the announcement that the book she was writing had been published. And she proudly showed her first check for royalties. It was doing that well so far. After that, she took us all to dinner to the fanciest restaurant in town. We could order whatever we wanted on the menu. She apologized profusely for having been making herself so scarce around the house. But she promised to do better by us. One book led to another. And this one was just as successful. To make up for her distance toward us, she spoiled Pearl and I like she always wanted to, she said. She even took us all to New York with her, to one of her book signings. But with all of this newfound fame and change of lifestyle in our household, Aunt Celia was still not the same.

I grew up, and made my way through high school. I had good friends. And I had plans in the fall, to enter Columbia University. But until then, I had summer to look forward to before I left. I even had a job at Charley's the local diner. Charley and his wife both told me they weren't going to know what to do without me, when I left for college. They even surprised me with a generous check, for my high school graduation. "They couldn't be prouder of me, if I were one of their own", Dottie told me with a hug. I was helping close the diner for the night, and walking to my car. My mind was so on my present happiness and plans for the upcoming week, as I fumbled with the keys to unlock it. Before I could react, a hand was across my mouth. And before I could process that, I felt something in my ribs. A smooth sounding voice said in my ear, "Open the door, as you were planning too. He even had a pleasant scent, unlike most kidnappers I would have thought. "I'm moving over to the passenger side, but I still have my gun on you. So please don't try anything foolish." I drove per his direction. It wasn't long before I realized we were going to the lake. This felt strange to me, as I was not here a few nights ago celebrating graduation with my friends. The only difference tonight, was the silence of the lake. As we exited the car, I looked about for something in which I could defend myself. No such luck. My second best bet might be to reason with my kidnapper. There were no attacks in the area recently, I knew of. The guy who had me, didn't even look like a local. And working at the diner, gave me an idea of who was who in town. He was slightly taller than me, with pale skin, black hair, and bright blue eyes. Again, he did not fit the type who would have to get women alone at gunpoint. But what did I know. Maybe it was only a matter of reasoning with him. I had heard stories of others who had gotten away from their attackers this way. This would be a test of law school being a good choice for me, if I could get out of this spot. I began speaking. "You seem like a good person. You don't have to do this. If you let me go, I promise I won't say anything. I am also a good listener, if there is anything you need to talk about. " It sounded wooden to my own ears. But hopefully it would do the trick. He spoke. "Look, its not about that. And I already feel the same about you," he said. If anything, it's because of the goodness that I sense in you, that I need you for this. Its not really me who needs this, but its the lake that does. But she does reward well, those who honor her wishes." Okay, I thought. He's not rational enough to have this type of conversation with. At the same time though, I felt drawn to him. He led me to the edge of the lake, to a small boat he had there. He indicated for me to get in. He produced a coil of rope under the seat opposite me. He tied my legs. He got in, and rowed us toward the middle of the lake. The moon shone on its surface. The whole thing felt surreal to me still. I still had hopes of getting out of this, although I wasn't sure how. He stopped in the middle of the lake. He then produced a cloth, and small bottle. He spoke again while he did poured the liquid on the cloth. "This should help make this more painless. When it's all done, you may even thank me." Not sure how this could be, I struggled as he put the cloth to my nose. The acrid smell on it, made my head swim with nausea. My head went into blackness.

I awoke to being under water. I tried to move to the surface. But my legs wouldn't move. I realized they were probably still tied. As my lungs filled with water, I untied the rope around my ankles. As I shook the last of it from my foot, I pushed myself to the surface. I swam to the shore. I don't know how long I laid there. I pushed myself up, and looked around for my attacker. I didn't want to take any chances that he could still be here. Satisfied that he wasn't, I stood. Walking to my car was a bit of a process. I felt so weighed down from the water I had been in. Relieved to find my car still there, I got in. As I drove home, I found it interesting that he had not tied me as tight as I thought he would. Even stranger, he seemed to have no enjoyment in what he did to me. This for sure did not fit any serial killer profile, I had heard of. It wasn't long before I turned on my street. As I arrived at my house, I could see that every light was on in the living room.

As I entered the house, my mother and aunt were on me in a minute. Both had questions for me all at once. "You don't know how close we came to calling the police", yelled my mother. And this type of speech was rare for her. Aunt Celia held up her hand. "Look, the important thing, is Lenie is home safe and sound. Let her change out of these wet clothes. And she can tell us what happened." I cleared my throat to speak. But all I could feel was seemed like mud in my vocal cords. As I spoke, the familiar gravelly sound issued forth. My aunt went more pale than what was normal for her now. She spoke up. "Susie. You go on to bed. I will help Lenie out of her wet clothes. " I think she realized what had happened to me.

Upstairs in my room, my aunt helped me off with my wet clothes. She was quiet while she helped me. When I was finally in bed, in my most comfortable pajamas, she spoke. "I know what happened to you. She cleared her throat. "I know, because the same thing happened to me four years ago. That night you waited up for me. But first of all, who took you to the lake? " I described my kidnapper to her, and asked what hers looked like. "Mine was a young man, not the same as yours. He had sandy blonde hair, and appeared to be having car trouble when I spotted him. And before I knew what was happening, he had me in his clutches. And for the life of me, I am still not even sure how it happened. The first few days of " .She cleared her throat. "being dead" ? I asked. She nodded. "yes". And that is why I avoided you guys those first few days. I didn't want you to know. And I wasn't sure what to do. But after a few days, I had learned to work with my new physical limitations, along with a new look and change of appetite. But on the other hand, story ideas came to me like I couldn't believe. My dream of writing as opposed to only talking about books, was realized. I dealt with the guilt of having to keep distance of you guys, by giving you the world, as much as I could. And Gill , well you know he and I hit it off. He was a wonderful man. I could have loved him. I did feel myself falling for him. But being a dead woman, I wasn't sure about being able to give him any children. And I couldn't very well explain to him why. And I didn't feel right asking him to give that up for me. " She patted my leg. "Try and get some rest. I will take care of things for the next few days. You will feel strange for a while. " Rest. And eat small amounts at a time. Your appetite will be limited from here on out. At least, I've been able to keep my weight down all these years, since this happened to me. She hugged me. "It will be all right. You will see. At least we have each other through this."

Now, I have graduated Columbia Law School with honors. I even had offers from three prestigious legal firms after graduation. I chose a firm in New York. I am currently an associate, and love my work. I also have the advantage of not being too far from home. This is important, due to my ties with the lake. I have my duties there every so often to keep alive, as well as enjoy the charmed lifestyle I have. My kidnapper all those years ago was right. The lake does give back in return for our sacrifices. My mom and auntie don't oppose of my visits when I'm in town either.

It is night. I'm parked outside of the library. I see a bespectacled young man walking to his car. I get out, and saunter over to him, with my most charming smile. He looks up momentarily confused, then smiles back.......