Lucy was at the park one evening just on dusk. She spied the Pleasant family there.
The parents seemed a loving couple.
Lucy felt a tear in her eye. Her own parents had been affectionate like that. It had embarrassed her so and yet when she looked at the Pleasants, it just seemed sort of nice. She would have given anything to have her parents back again, hugging like that. She wished she could take back all those silly comments that she used to make to them - the pretend barfing and the howls of disgust. If they could come back she would never do anything like that again.
Sadly, though, she knew they were gone forever and it was all too late now to make it up to them.
Her glance wandered to their daughters.
She liked Angela. She was a good friend but Lilith was another matter. She was always mean and sharp tongued and she especially didn't like Lucy.
Someone said it was because Lucy hadn't invited Lilith to her party, but someone else said it was because Lilith saw her laughing with her boyfriend, Nicolo, and thought that Lucy was trying to steal him for herself.
That was silly because Lucy only liked Nicolo as a friend. He made her laugh but she didn't fancy him.
Lucy sat by the lake and idly tossed some stones into the murky water. She listened to the plop as each one hit the surface. She watched the ripples expanding in ever widening circles. It was soothing.
Behind her, she heard the Pleasants leaving. They called to their daughters that it was getting late. Lucy did not look around. She continued throwing the stones. She should get home soon herself. She didn't want to break curfew.
Suddenly there was a shove in her back. She turned around and Lilith was standing behind her, eyes glinting and her mouth curled down. Her parents and sister had left and so had everyone else. There was just the two of them left at the park.
Lucy leapt to her feet just as Lilith charged at her.
Whatever was bothering Lilith was about to be resolved one way or the other.
