Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can see the dappled sunlight dancing in my memories from a day long ago.

She appeared out of nowhere like a dream and faded like one, but the magical day we had together is perfectly seared in my memory, never to be forgotten. Her hair of gold was so different from anything I’d ever seen. There was dimension to her light brown eyes flecked with green. All I’d ever known were black eyes and black hair, so you could imagine how taken I was with her.

Kayla didn’t have many friends in primary school, but the way people talked about her, you’d think she was one of the most popular girls in her class. She wasn’t.

It starts with something in the air. There is no chill, but you feel it in your bones. At first you go about your life, shrugging off that naggy feeling as one of those days. Then the screaming starts, first they are sporadic, you barely even notice.