Page 1 of Knight
Prologue
Gwen age 4
Knight age 8
Gwen
“What’s wrong, Gwenie?” Knight asked me as he walked into my house like it was his. Like he always did because it pretty much was. He was here just as much as he was at his own, if not more.
I’d been crying. Again. Now that summer was over, Knight had to go to school during the day. I wasn’t quite there yet and I hated it. I wanted to hang out with him all day, but instead, I had to hang out by myself. It didn’t help that I hated all my toys and felt bored half the time.
Mom kept telling me that it will only be for a year because this time next year, I would be in school and it wouldn’t be so bad. She told me that I’d make friends my own age and get to play with them almost every day. But that didn’t help me right then. And besides, I didn’t want to make new friends. I had Knight, my best friend, I didn’t need anyone other than him.
“Nothing,” I said, sniffing as I tried to hide the fact that I was crying.
“I brought you something,” he said as he plopped down on the couch beside me.
He held his hand out in front of my face and resting on his palm was an ice cream sandwich. I wasted no time snatching it up and ripping the paper off.
“Thanks,” I mumbled around the huge mouthful I’d taken. I was sure I had chocolate in my teeth, but right then I didn’t care. And I knew Knight wouldn’t make fun of me. He was always nice that way.
That wasn’t to say that he didn’t pick on me. He did, all the time, but he knew better than to do it when I was crying.
“Better?” he asked as he tossed his arm around my shoulders and gave me a playful shake.
“Yes,” I replied with a huge smile on my face.
He was the best. He had always been in my life and I just knew we would be friends forever.
Gwen age 7
Knight age 11
Knight
“She’s really gone, Knight,” Gwen said as she wiped away the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
“I know, Gwenie, I know. I’m sorry.” I tried to soothe her by rubbing my hand up and down her back but I almost got the feeling like she didn’t even realize that I was there.
Three days ago, we lost her mother. Mindy was the best mom, I often wished she was mine. Though, she did always treat me like I was hers. She made up for the empty space I had in my heart from where my own mother had walked away from me. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was more than I ever could have asked for.
But then she was sick, and not long after that, she was gone. Gwen was a mess and I hated that I couldn’t do anything to help her. I knew the pain of losing her mom wasn’t something I could cure with a simple hug or a sweet treat. I had a feeling it wasn’t something I could fix at all. That hurt me more than anything ever had.
“I don’t want to live a life without her, Knight,” she whispered. Her eyes were focused out the window but I knew she wasn’t actually looking at anything.
There was nothing I could say to that because I knew a little of how she felt.
Mindy was gone and all the warmth that she radiated was too.
There would be no more fresh baked cookies ready for us when we came home from school.
Thanksgiving would never have her famous spiced turkey ever again.
No more homemade strawberry preserves.
No more special Christmas hugs that smelled of vanilla and cinnamon.
No more…
