bel

oak tree behind old man Winter's shed. He'd died a coup

a light glow, illuminating enough of my surroundings.

t shake t

r how many reassuring words I had receiv

a blessing, even Michael, going as far

e told me he was glad one of his offsprin

ointment and that he was living his life in New York City, but I knew i

grounds for

nodding obediently like the good girl they all thought I was

stop me from making my way through

s clea

hatter all over again. For years, all I l

oved most. Mor

n exactly two months since we'd last spoke

ological advancements of the outside world, even g

contact with him. Since he was in New York City, which seemed to be a go

in The Colony but Father Lucas was to have one, but o

d. One that provided free access to the intern

had spent numerous nights out here, scrolling through a wo

across the greatest

d itself

videos, we'd spent hours surfing through Googl

films, and illustrations, all depi

of criminal villains taking over towns and cities, whi

tudents were given a position in a social hierarchy. Where the ones on the top would

id he know? Had he explored the entire world and

learing and move towards the wooden bench. Our benc

ellular device in my boot after climbing out of my bedroom window, and it hadn't

f rustling leaves. Slowly turning my head, I breathe agai

rets. The clearing was now her s

d you a seat." She greets, taking

been faking too many of those late

he knew how much I wanted to go to New Yor

much, and I'd finally been able to suppress th

Father Lucas want? Don't tell me he actuall

y pocket and pulling out the gold foil. "He gave me this." I open my

Her confused voice asks as

-dom," I repeat Fat

ose up. "Looks oddly similar to the spice packets that come in th

f hand wipes, the ones you get after

ne. "How are you supposed to use it if

ctl

to her how Father Lucas told me not to open i

he suddenly asks, her eyes widening in c

ude, scolding myself for

ces as I use the small finger

rd and tapping on a video labeled h

does the banana come into play?" I speak aloud as I ti

ves us puzzled with more questions. And so we spend the

phallus!?"

lla screams, her face scrunching up in

condoms and what we now knew to be sex

ions on how to apply a condom, but the

led it por

we couldn't stop our curiosity as we scrolled th

female." Ella adds watching in horror as the girl lets out sc

e you and Joshua done anything like that?" I ask hes

frowned upon to publicly display things like that. We didn't do

iden in shock. "Well?

the screen of my phone. "We'd heard from some of his friends down at The Compound that there