Andi Leigh Writes

 Chapter 50 Carolyn (September 2023) ... The letters took Carolyn a few days to read. Looking through the cursive handwriting reminded her that her eyes weren't as good as they used to be. She thought about blaming it on her glasses but she knew that that wasn't the case. Even so, she took her time and read through each and every letter, laughing at the jokes and remembering the things she and Nancy wrote about sixty-five years ago. She sniffed the pages as she held them and could smell the slightest familiar scent of room C7. Mostly, she smelled must and was grateful that the letters were still in readable condition. They were perfectly protected in the old shoebox that took most of the wear and tear. The letters, although fragile, showed their resilience. Carolyn got up from the kitchen table and made herself a cup of tea. She placed loose-leaf herbs into a strainer ball and dropped it into a kettle that sat on the stove. Soon the kitchen smelled of soothing herbs when the wa...

 Chapter 49 Lane (September 2023) ... Lane knocked on the front door of Carolyn and Nancy's house but after a few minutes, there was no answer. Lane looked at Ophelia who shrugged and rang the doorbell. "Maybe she didn't hear the knock," Ophelia said. "She is in her eighties after all." "That's true," Lane replied. "She's probably wondering who the hell would be at the door." The two friends heard movement on the other side and then a quiet voice. "Just a minute!" the voice called out. "I'll be right there!" After the shuffling sound had stopped, the front door unlocked and creaked open. An old woman stuck her head out to look at her visitors. "Oh, hello," the woman said. "What can I do for you?" "Hello," Lane said, "Is there a Carolyn Moore or a Nancy Adler here?" The woman looked surprised. "Well, yes, I'm Carolyn." "I'm Lane and this is my fr...

 Chapter 48 Nancy (December 2018) ... After waking and barely being able to turn her head to check the time, she noticed that she was feeling weak that morning and couldn't get out of bed. Nancy was a bit surprised as she was able to get out of bed the day before without any help from Carolyn. It started toward the end of summer; Nancy would need more and more assistance with doing her daily activities. This morning was different from her previously energized day though and she tried to get out of bed to no avail. Nancy felt stiff all over and felt as though she could sink down into the bed and vanish. Carolyn wasn't next to her in bed so Nancy figured she must be down in the kitchen making breakfast. Nancy took a deep breath in, noting the cold in the room as she looked at the electric fireplace heater in the corner by the door. It wasn't turned on. "Carolyn?" Nancy called out. There was no response and she sighed. She shifted slightly to get more comfortable and...

 Chapter 47 Carolyn (July 2018) ... The fireplace was not lit but Carolyn sat in front of it anyway, imagining the captive flames and embers brightening the room. It was a warm evening in July and she was thankful that it wasn't too hot; blazing temperatures were never good for her and as she got older, the intense summer heat would cause her more and more fatigue. She wore a comfortable knit cardigan in her air conditioned home as she sat in her rocking chair while reading a new book that her sister Shirley had mailed to her. Carolyn would have to stop every now and then to adjust her glasses. They kept slipping down her nose. She looked over at the rocking chair beside her and noticed that Nancy had fallen asleep while working on a crochet project. Even though her arthritis made it a tad difficult, Nancy didn't quit her love of crochet. She made all sorts of items; hats, scarves, mittens, stuffed animals, and she donated many if these items to people and children in need. Car...

 Chapter 46 Lane (September 2023) ... There was something different in the air and Lane noticed this as they sat in the passenger's seat of Ophelia's car. She drove at a steady speed and they had the windows rolled down to enjoy the warm breeze. Lane felt a shift while looking up at the sky and clouds; they felt good, like things were finally changing for the better. The fight with Atlas was over and Lane felt the freest they've felt in a long time. The truth was out and Lane could finally put their mind at ease, knowing that Atlas would be serving time in the future. Court dates were set and Lane shook the thoughts of facing him in court from their mind. They just wanted to enjoy the moment, to enjoy the drive they were on with their best friend, and to enjoy the weather which Lane knew was also shifting. Summer was coming to an end and fall was beginning. It was Lane's favorite season. They leaned back in their seat and closed their eyes to relax while they felt the b...

 Chapter 45 Nancy (March 1958) ... She stared at the top of the fire escape from the bottom of the alleyway. Nancy had made it back to the hotel after spending the day at Roger's apartment, getting a room ready with his boyfriend’s help, and she was ready to climb up to the window to ask Carolyn to leave with her. She had the paper bag of money her brother gave her stuffed into her coat and her breath was visible, letting her know that she needed to get out of the cold even if it was for a short while. Nancy hopped up onto garbage cans and jumped to reach the hanging ladder that felt icy to the touch. She imagined her warm hands sticking to the frozen metal and visualized injuring herself by tearing the skin of her palms and falling back to the ground. Luckily that didn't happen and she pulled herself up with all of her strength. When she finally got herself on the fire escape, she needed a moment to catch her breath. The cold air burned her throat and lungs. Nancy climbed the ...

 Chapter 44 Carolyn (March 1958) ... As Carolyn remained in bed for the entire day, she thought about how this may have been the first weekday she's had off in almost a year. Of course there were never classes on the weekends; they were mostly filled with studying and the occasional trip to the day room and library. Having a weekday off felt different, almost like an accomplishment. None of the other girls were able to enjoy the silence of their rooms during the day. They were all trapped, enjoying their classes. Carolyn chuckled at the thought. Her stomach knotted when her mind wandered to Nancy. She felt anxieties rise and hoped, prayed, that Nancy actually did have a plan and would quickly come back. What if the so-called plan failed and Nancy didn't return? Would that mean Nancy would simply get sent back to the school to finish? Carolyn thought that her family would be rich enough and have enough power to get that approved by the mistress. Or will Nancy get admitted to the...

 Chapter 43 Lane (August 2023) ... Lane recognized the sharp, glimmering knife that Atlas gripped in his hand. It was a butcher knife that was part of a set that Altas had bought Lane for Christmas one year. Lane recognized the design along the side of the stainless steel blade. Ophelia pulled Lane back away from Atlas after she had already dialed 911. Lane knew that she was on the phone with an operator but couldn't hear what was being said. All Lane could hear and see was Atlas. Their vision went slightly blurry and they felt dizziness take over. Lane's heart rate rose and their body stiffened significantly. "You thought you could get away from me?" he said to Lane. "Atlas," Lane said slowly as they continued to back away, "you can stop this right now. You can do the right thing." Atlas laughed. "Oh I will do the right thing. I am stopping it, Lane." "Why are you doing this?" "Because you hurt me!" Atlas screamed. ...

 Chapter 42 Nancy (March 1958) ... Tommy listened to Nancy explain her relationship with Carolyn and while worried of his reaction, he remained totally calm to her surprise and his face did not change expression much. He listened intently, not speaking until she was finished with her confession. "Well?" Nancy asked nervously when her brother remained silent. "You're in love?" Nancy nodded. Tommy puffed on his cigarette. The ashes fell on his clothes but he didn't seem to notice. "Father and Mother would never accept this," Tommy said. "I don't care what they think," Nancy replied. "I need to know what you think." "Are you really in love? You were with Lonnie for a while. Didn't you love Lonnie? This seems to be happening too soon." Nancy sighed lightly. "I did love Lonnie. I truly did but my love for Carolyn is so much more, Tommy. She loves me too, so much! This is different." Tommy let out a small s...

Do you ever get a lurking feeling? Like the moon might fall From the precious sky above And crash upon your head? A feeling of disaster When everything is still. And stillness seems to act Threateningly so. When it should serve as a comfort. Nothing is happening But the feeling is there at the forefront Of untamable thoughts. And instead it's fueled by the stillness, Urging the downfall of the moon And the destruction of Everything you know and have known. But the night remains still.

 Chapter 41 Carolyn (March 1958) ... She couldn't sleep even though she was exhausted from the long day. Carolyn sat up in bed, with a book in her lap, and her eyelids were heavy. But even so, she couldn't sleep when she tried so she would attempt to read her book again but the words would jumble on the page. Carolyn couldn't concentrate on the written story she held in her arms. All she could think about was Nancy and how the person she loved had up and left her stranded at Bradley Diamond's Finishing School for Rising Young Women within the walls of the Sequoia Bay Hotel. Carolyn thought about it and she felt that she should be angry. She felt she had every right to be angry. How could Nancy just leave her? But Carolyn didn't feel anger. Instead, she felt lonely and her tears told her that she deeply missed the young woman who left the night before through the window and down the fire escape. Carolyn wondered if Nancy would ever come back. She confronted Roger ear...

I enjoy hiking in the woods, On gravel trails, On forest paths through mountains. And the people that hike on by Stay in their own world, Forging their own adventure. The lake waters ripple At the shore, pressed by cooling winds. And swaying trees block out the sky But sunlight peeks through To greet the cold woodsy soils. I enjoy hiking in the woods. The forest is home, My imagination is my partner in silence. The uphill hikes teach me lessons, Each rock tells me stories. I know more about myself When I reach the top Or finish the trail. And I won't hesitate to go And do it all over again.

Chapter 40 Lane (August 2023) ... "Do you want to play a board game?" Ophelia asked as she rummaged through Lane's game collection. They started collecting board games when they started high school and when Lane moved in with Atlas, he threw out Lane's collection without telling them. After moving into the apartment, Lane was able to start building their collection from scratch. Sure, what do you wanna play?" Lane replied. They watched Ophelia dig through their bedroom closet, kneeling on the floor and looking for the perfect game to start game night with. After the break-in, Ophelia insisted that she should stay over to ensure Lane wasn't alone. She feared that Atlas would return and manage to get into the apartment again. They both feared that Atlas would do something drastic and Ophelia didn't want Lane to face it alone. Ophelia had finally grabbed a box from the closet and showed it to Lane. She smiled, "How about Ludo?" "I like Ludo,...

I can now look at the petals, The pinks and yellows, And know that winter takes rest. Spring is dancing In the spinning sun, And the deep greens paint The branches that long For their cover and protection. Daylight lasting A bit longer each day. I am alive in the winds. I don't wish for this to end As we cherish the petals. Sweet-smelling breezes Take us home. Winter can continue to sleep.

 Chapter 39 Nancy (March 1958) ... With her hair neatly fastened under her cap, Nancy looked around the train station, trying to see if anyone noticed that she was a young woman dressed in men's clothing. No one seemed to notice, in fact, no one paid Nancy any mind. She bought her ticket with her crumpled pocket money and the clerk didn't seem to notice either, although she suspected that the woman, who was too tired that morning, didn't care that there was a strange woman disguised as a man. It wasn't her business. Nancy felt invisible in the early morning crowd that stood on the platform waiting for their transportation and only the chill in the air acknowledged her. She pulled her coat tightly around herself and fastened the buttons she wasn't able to fasten before climbing down the fire escape and vanishing into the night. She was thankful for the coat though she wished she had more layers to keep the chill away. "Damn you, Roger," Nancy pouted. "...

 Chapter 38 Carolyn (March 1958) ... Nancy's bed was empty the next morning. When Carolyn woke up, she turned to check if Nancy was awake and expected to see her still sound asleep with the covers over her head. Usually Carolyn was always the first one to wake and be up and about in the room, but she was pleasantly surprised to see that Nancy's bed was already made. "Nan?" she called out. There was no answer. Carolyn yawned and rubbed her eyes before getting out of bed and fixing her sheets. She thought that maybe Nancy had gone into the bathroom to take a shower but she quickly noticed that the door was wide open and the light was turned off. No sign of her there. "Nancy?" Carolyn said as she spun around. Nancy wasn't in the room. Carolyn crossed her arms and noticed a draft flowing through the room and investigated the window. It wasn't completely shut all the way; just slightly cracked, allowing the cold March air to seep into the room that alread...

 Chapter 37 Lane (August 2023) ... One evening while they were working, Lane had some friendly visitors at Declan's Coffeehouse. It had been ages since Lane had seen Addison, Dylan, and Reese. When they came in and saw Lane's smiling face behind the counter, they waved and quickly hopped in line. It wasn't busy in the coffeehouse that night and Lane was relieved to know that their friends didn't seem to hate them after how things were left. The last time Lane texted Addy was a couple of years ago when they were supposed to go out but Atlas refused to let Lane leave the house. Lane smiled when it was their friends turn in line. "Hi Addy," Lane said. "Lane," Addison smiled. "How are you?" Lane sighed. "I'm actually doing very well, thank you for asking." "Ophelia told us about what's been happening. With Atlas," Dylan said. "We're so proud of you!" "We've been telling everybody the truth,...

 Chapter 36 Nancy (March 1958) ... The sound of her girlfriend breathing was the only faint sound in the room as Nancy lay awake in her bed. Carolyn was fast asleep but Nancy was unable to get comfortable. Her eyes felt heavy but her racing mind betrayed her exhaustion. The day felt like a typical day; starting with boring old classes, meeting Roger in the lobby and making up funny stories about the hotel patrons as they walked by, reading a new book with Carolyn, finishing homework, relaxing with some of the other girls in the day room, and then finally returning to room C7 to go to sleep for the night. When Nancy got back to the room, Carolyn was still awake at that point. "How are the girls?" Carolyn asked from her desk as Nancy walked through the door. "They're all fine," Nancy replied. They were discussing movies and music they liked." "Oh, that sounds fun." Carolyn was half-focused on the textbook she had on the desk in front of her. She yaw...

 Chapter 35 Carolyn (March 1958) ... Carolyn fumbled through her papers and books from class, looking for something she had misplaced. She could feel her face turning hot and sweat began to bead along her forehead. She quickly turned the pages of her notebooks and textbooks, hoping to find the missing letter acting as a bookmark. She did not find it within those pages and she did not find it hiding among the other belongings that she carried with her in class. She looked around her desk and quickly scanned the rest of the classroom before leaving behind everyone else. The missing letter was nowhere in sight; not on the classroom floor, not on her desk, not with her belongings, and definitely not with Nancy since Nancy wrote the letter and handed it to Carolyn that morning. Carolyn felt her heart beating faster as she tried her best not to panic. "Where the hell is that letter?" she whispered to herself as she retraced her steps in her head. Nancy had given her the letter in t...