Prologue
Celeste’s POV:
“Celeste... Celeste, Cel...” the whispering voice dropped out of audible range. Everything came crashing back into focus, the noise of the traffic rumbling by. My sister and cousins running as fast as they could to catch one another in the game we were playing. The trees, grass and sky came back from the sudden white warmth that just surrounded me. I tried to see who it was, but nobody was there. It did not sound like my aunt or my mother. Perhaps it was the neighbor?
“Tag, you’re it, Celeste,” my cousin James squealed in victory. “Celeste, you are too slow. You are too easy to catch, unlike Leanne.” Leanne is my older sister. Unlike me, Leanne was fast and lean, but small for her age. She’s shorter than me by 3 inches and I’m 3 years younger. She has short, chocolate brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Her skin was darker than mine, but still lighter compared to the rest of our family.
I was tall for my age, blessed with long black hair, bright green eyes, and very pale skin. Although I am tall, I am chunky compared to my sister and relatives. My grandmother tells me I’m not chubby. I just have to grow into my skin. I don’t think I ever will; my sister is a track star and me, I am picked last for every team.
James ran off laughing as he caught up with Leanne and my other cousins. “No fair,” I yelled. “Someone called my name. I will find out who it was.” My aunt peered out of the window at what was going on. She wore a look of concern.
As I entered the kitchen, my mom and aunt were enjoying a cup of coffee, chatting in hushed voices. They took notice of my presence. Instantly they became quiet, as if they didn’t want me to hear what they were talking about. Oh well, they are talking about adult things; I thought to myself.
“Mom? Aunty? Did you guys call me a minute ago? Someone called me,” I said as I plopped down in the chair next to my mom. “No, sweetheart, we did not,” they replied in unison while exchanging a glance I didn’t quite get. “But mom, someone called my name. Then James slapped me on my back. Aunty, you looked out the window at me,” I recalled. “We did not call you. Are you certain someone said something? You know how you always end up in LALA land.” My mom scolded me as she picked me up and pushed me to the door. “Go out and play your game. No coming in because they have tagged you. Now go.”
