You know that feeling of seeing the light at the end of a dark and seemingly endless tunnel, well angels and I found our end of the tunnel, or maybe we went into a brighter tunnel. Either way we found our way out, and I lived to not only set the souls of the forest free, to be at peace. I lived to tell my story, and it’s only just begun.

“Mommy, is that really how you met daddy? And aunt Angels? And those creatures?” questioned my daughter,

“Of course, would mommy ever lie to you Dorothy.”

“No, mommy never lies to Dorothy,” she started giggling, “mommy’s so brave, in that dark creepy forest, facing all that danger, Dorothy could never be as brave as mommy” I giggled along with my daughter.

“Of course you could be brave princess, you can be anything you want.” I sighed softly, “alright princess, time for bed”

“Aw, but Dorothy want’s another story from mommy.” she fussed,

“Tomorrow is a big day princess, you start your very first day of public schooling.” I felt so proud of my baby girl. She might have been homeschooled most of her life, but she was brave enough to attend the fifth grade in an actual school.

“Will it make mommy happy if Dorothy goes to sleep?” I nodded softly, “Okay mommy, Dorothy will go to sleep”

“Goodnight my forest flower, I love you for infinity” I kissed her forehead and smiled.

“Goodnight mommy, I love you mommy” and with that I switched on dorothys’ nightlight and turned off her bedroom light, leaving the door slightly ajar to let light in if needed. Just as I was about to turn off the light in the living room, I got a call on the phone,

“Oh, yes I understand. Of course, yes, of course I’ll be there by tomorrow morning. Yes, I’ll drop her off at their house and head your way. Of course hunny, alright. I’ll see you soon, I love you. ” I hung up the phone after finishing my conversation with my husband,

“Mommy?” I jumped slightly,

“Yes princess?” I responded quietly

“Is everything alright mommy? Did Dorothy do something to upset you?” She looked disappointed in herself, gods I don’t know how I got blessed with such an amazing daughter, so sweet and selfless, caring and self disciplined, she reminds me so much of her father.

“No princess, you didn’t do anything wrong” I paused and looked at Dorothy smiling softly, “why don’t we go get you packed and ready to stay with nana and papa for a few weeks?”

“Okay, mommy!” Dorothy beamed, racing off to get her backpack and suitcase

“Oh gods,” I whispered, “what am I going to do?”

The drive to my parents house was quiet, the soft pitter patter of raindrops hitting the windshield of the truck and dorothys’ soft snores were all to be heard in the silence. I quickly dropped dorothy off at her grandparents house and began on my way to meet with my husband, the rain grew more powerful the wind seemed to fight against my truck, and in a flash of lightning I swerved away from an albino deer in the middle of the road and colliding with an suv. my vision went black, the darkness seeming all too familiar, I could hear voices before everything went blank. My last thoughts were of my husband and my precious daughter.