So this is still the same story and you can read it all so far by going back to Beginnings, but what do you think of this title: Because, Love…

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She finally moved to plug in the phone and head into her bedroom to shower and let the day bring whatever it would. Dressed and with a hot cup of coffee, Marlee pushed the little toggle switch to turn on her desk lamp, opened her laptop and began to sort through the day’s work. The sun wouldn’t be up for another hour at least, if it even decided to show its face in this steely gray cold.

Checking to see how much work had been submitted over night by her middle and high school students, she decided she had time to work on her story. Setting the lap top aside, Marlee opened the soft sided journal and reread the last part she’d written:

Olivia went to college because, well, that’s just what you do, she supposed. It seemed to be expected so she went. She kept quietly to herself, got close to no one, and studied English. It was a nice quiet routine and one that she could conceal herself in very well.

But her college required a semester’s study abroad. This was to build “a more well-rounded” student, whatever that meant. Olivia went off to Scotland. She was placed with a local family and enjoyed their bustle all around her.

When spring came, they took her into the Highlands to see some of the country. Walking down a forested path, she found herself alone in the quiet as the family trounced on ahead of her. There was something different here, she felt some kind of alive in these woods.

Marlee continued to detail Olivia’s experience in those Highland woods, when she realized

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that dawn had come and the fog outside the window where her desk sat was beginning to dissipate. It cast a moon-like glow onto the pages. Stretching, she knew that would have to be enough for now and she set about fixing a bit of breakfast. Toast and an egg for her dad, and some of that instant gingerbread oatmeal for herself.