“Rules.” Sera thought as she wrote in her journal. “Some rules are meant to be broken. Some should never be broken, ever.” She muttered as she wrote. Tears were welling up in the corners of her eyes as she wrote. What Seth did was inexcusable, it was unforgivable. He broke one of the most important unspoken rule in any relationship, he broke her trust with what he did. Sera would never be able to forgive him. Never be able to trust him. Just the thought of what he did made her blood boil. It doesn’t matter how much he apologizes, it doesn’t matter how sorry he is or how much he says he regrets his actions, he broke the rules. Sera continued to write even as Emma heavily knocked on her bedroom door. “Another person who thinks the rules don’t apply to them.” Sera thought as she continued to write. She knew it would be a long night. She knew she’d have to see him again tomorrow at school. She hated the unwanted anticipation of it, but she had no say in the matter. All she could do is push through and hope for the best.

Today’s mental image: A young man in his mid 20s, blonde hair, bright blue eyes, wearing a dark blue pair of shorts, a light grey t-shirt, and tennis grey tennis shoes walking through a park in late spring with his 4 year old daughter, dark red hair and eyes like blue ice, wearing denim jeans, a red jacket with white shoes. The flowers are blooming, the trees are growing back their leaves, there is a gentle breeze bringing an ever so slight chill to an otherwise warm day. In the distance, an old iron truss bridge can be seen spanning the Black River. The birds are singing, squirrels are running about, even a few deer can be seen eating near the tree line at the edge of the park. The sound of other kids playing in the park mostly drowns out the drone of the saw at the lumber mill across the river.

“Even if it was a mistake, even if he just got caught up in the heat of the moment, I can’t forgive him.” Sera muttered as she leaned against the railing of the iron truss bridge at the edge of town. “What he did was unforgivable, he betrayed me.” The evening wind blew through Sera’s dark red hair, tears streaming down from her icy blue eyes. Ever since her father left them over a decade ago, Sera had issues getting close to men, but Seth was different, or so she thought. He was the first guy she allowed within her soul since her dad died, but he betrayed her, he nearly violated her! Sera pulled her jacket up around her, trying to shield herself from the bitter October cold. It was mere minutes before she turned sixteen, in six short hours it would be eleven years to the minute that she witnessed her dad put a gun to his head and pull the trigger. Eleven years of anger, sadness, frustration, misery. Her therapist complimented her on being so resilient despite all she’s been through, telling her how strong she has been through everything. She believed it, until Seth did what he did. Sera looked once more over the river, watching the light of the nearly full moon dance over the gentle waves of the river, before heading back home, back to her mom, Marc, and Emma. Back to the dysfunction that unwittingly directs her path. One day she’ll be free of it all.