Free Living Forest by Travis Lyle Page A

strong love this man has for his family. I miss that.
    Along the ride home, Hollister ponders the meaning of life trying to find an explanation for why he’s still clinging to it. Hollister believes it’s because he still knows nothing about Amanda. The thought of her alive keeps him here. Confusingly, Hollister is still wrapped up in her lust, which she graciously blessed him with on the ship. Hollister’s beginning to see Amanda everywhere. Men, women, and even children transform to look like Amanda. As each individual would look back at Hollister, they’d transform from looking like Amanda back to who they really look like. Like an intoxicating drug, the sight of them transforming back to who they are makes Hollister nauseous. The feeling causes him to lie down in the back of the limo and sleep until they arrive at what was once William Peak’s mansion.
    Jimmy nudges my shoulder as he speaks,
    “Hollister wake up, you’re home. It’s time to go inside.”
    Waking up from a bad dream where trees are killing people, I scream loudly,
    “RUNNNNNN! They’re going to branch us to death.”
    I snap out of it. Realizing that I’m still kicking and screaming, I look down and see Jimmy holding his mouth. Saying in remorse,
    “I’m so sorry Jimmy. Did I kick you or something?”
    Laughing at me,
    “Oh… oh, oh,”
    Jimmy coughs,
    “No you didn’t kick me Mr. Wolf. All I have to say, you’re full of surprises. Now don’t tell me you’re scared of trees too. Ha, ha, ha,”
    I speak in a tired, but sad tone,
    “Ugh, no, it’s just a dream. Even my dreams are trying to kill me Jimmy.”
    Jimmy quickly sucks in his now light giggles,
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings Mr. Wolf.”
    Still speaking in a sad tone,
    “You didn’t Jimmy. It just feels like even God is against me right now. Everyone I’ve ever cared for is either dead or doesn’t exist.”
    Jimmy now speaks remorsefully,
    “Oh no… I had no idea. I didn’t mean anything bad by what I said Mr. Wolf.”
    Sadness left my voice to let exhaustion take over,
    “I’ve been getting this a lot lately Jimmy. Its okay, I’m not upset. I’d like just one day in my life where I can be a child. I don’t know what it’s like. Well… I do, but even she was taken away from me. I’m sorry Jimmy, I’d like to talk more, but I’m really tired now.”
    Annie is at the door waiting to greet me. She’s William’s butler or housekeeper. Annie’s duties are the same as a male butler. Really she’s better than a male butler because she adds a little extra care to her duties. I’m not going to say that all male butlers lack the motherly care that Annie shows, but this is something that doesn’t come naturally to a male as it does for females. Not all families need that type of care. This is something I think William missed as well. I believe he intentionally hired a female butler for that reason.
    Annie speaks softly and caringly to me,
    “Awe hun, come here and give me a hug.”
    Her voice has the southern twain though her complexion is dark like mine or that of an islander. Still speaking sadly,
    “Annie, I’m not sure if I can handle this. I’m all alone now.”
    Her motherly tone, expressions, and actions is exactly what I need right now. Annie speaks firmly as if trying to pull me together,
    “Hollister never let me hear that again. You’re not alone child as long as I am here. Now come inside and let me get you fed.”
    Graciously saying while holding my stomach,
    “Thank you Annie, I’m starved.”
    Walking to the kitchen, the first available chair becomes my life sucking seat. Not because of fake vampire stuff, it’s because I want to sit here until I die. Yeah, I’m sure someone out there would say,
    “You’re better than that.”
    How many of them have nothing left to care for? I know I have money, but what’s it really worth if you have no one truly special to share it with. I can’t marry myself. Sure I can adopt