Erase & Rewind - Prologue
Prologue
When Connor Thompson was 8 years old he had known Mary Adkins was the girl he would marry one day. She was the first friend he made when his family moved into their new home. When the anxiety of starting all over again had been difficult for a boy who didn't like change, she had been the one to help him start afresh. The pair had hit it off immediately; all it took was a radiant smile, some kind words, and their friendship had been born. While all the other boys thought girls had cooties, Connor was happy to spend his time with a girl even when said girl wanted to play tea party games with her cuddly toys.
Mary Adkins was a sweet girl who was the apple of her parents' eyes; she was two years younger than Connor and as innocent as a newborn baby. She was his best friend and growing up Connor had made it his duty to always look out for her, to make sure that smile never left her face. He was the one who was there to protect her from the school bullies, he was the one who would throw the spiders out the window when she called him round-spiders that she refused to kill-and he was the one whose shoulder she would cry upon.
Each time Connor looked into her eyes he could see his future staring back at him, and with each passing year that feeling grew stronger and stronger. Their story was set, and it might have been a beautiful fairytale in the making if I'd never entered their lives.
Being the kind-natured person she was, Mary was the first person to welcome me into the neighbourhood; a tentative friendship was formed and here a new story began. Unlike Connor, Mary liked change, she revelled in new experiences, and I was the breath of fresh air she lapped up with a vengeance. She took everything I had to offer, and I offered it all.
I showed her everything I knew. I taught her to break curfew, I taught her to smoke, I taught her to steal, and I taught her to lie. I introduced her to my world, and in the process destroyed Connor's.
Little Mary was no more.