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| "Brian, you have mail," Jackie said handing him a small envelope. He ripped it open and read its contents:
Brian,
I can't tell you why, but I have to leave. I hope I can see you again sometime. I cant tell you where I'm going either, but when things are better between my
mom and dad and me I'll come back and see you again. You are my bestest friend and will be always. I'll miss you. I'm giving you the star picture too because I know you like
it and I'll be waiting to see it on a tape in the store. I hope my mom will let me call you sometime. Well, she's yelling at me to hurry up so this is all. Bye.
Lilly
He flipped it over and saw the picture he had seen a few days before. "So that's why she wasnt at school today."
"What do you mean?" Jackie asked. He handed her the paper. "Strong words coming from an eight year old," she said silently.
"Do you know where she is, mom?"
"No I dont, honey. That's weird. I'm sorry."
That was the last time he heard from her. Everyday afterschool hed come home and ask, 'Did Lilly call?'
The same answer was, 'Sorry, no calls.'
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"Where are we going mommy?"
"We're going to Wisconsin. That's where were going to live from now on. You can never go back to Lexington. You can never talk to Brian again, I'm sorry. I can't call
him. I know you wanted too. And you cant be Lillian either anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"We both have to change our name, then your dad cant get us. He can't hurt us anymore. It's going to be hard to get used to, but we have to do it. Think of it this way, now you can be any name you want."
"Brian."
"What?"
"I just want to go play with Brian. I miss him already."
"I know. Heck, I even miss him. But we can't go back. Think about what you want for your name."
"You just chose for me."
"Ok, how about Roberta."
"No! Not that! Something normal!"
Her mom just laughed at the thought that Lilly took her seriously. "How about Natalie. Natalie Marie."
"Ok, I like that one. Can I choose for you?"
"What do you think I should be called?"
"How about Roberta!" They both laughed. "No, I like, ummm, Ashley Jean."
"Ok, I kinda like that one too. What should our last names be?"
"I don't know. You wanted to do this, you think of it all!" Ashley, as she was now called, looked over and glanced at her daughter.
"What's that supposed to mean, Lilly?"
"It's Natalie and I miss home."
"You're just homesick for your friends, you're gonna have to get over it. I have. I had to leave stuff behind too you know."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Natalie Johnson."
"Johnson?"
"It's really popular, no one will really wonder about us."
"Oh, ok. But mommy?"
"Yes, Natalie?"
"What happens if daddy finds us?"
"I don't know. He's not going to find us, that's what. And if anyone asks, your dad died in a car accident."
"Ok."
"We moved here because I got transferred here, but then I got laid-off, okay?"
"Okay."
"Can you remember that?"
"Yep." Natalie rested her head against the window and fell asleep. She missed home, but she was too scared to want to return.
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