On Luna Time

by Amber Crawley

  “I don’t know, but that wasn’t me,” I whispered back to Wren, attempting to push him toward the door.

  As we inched toward the exit, the door began to squeak in unison with the sound of soft footsteps. I squeezed Wren tighter and turned slowly. A drenched girl stood in the doorway, looking around at all of the stunned faces in the room, landing on mine and staying put. I was staring at the mirror image of myself - Annie, Annabella, Gina and John’s daughter, my twin.

  Her blue eyes met mine growing wider in disbelief. “Vanessa?”

  “Annabella?” I whispered back.

  The room was silent as we moved closer to one another.

  “Did you just jump?” I asked, looking down at her wet clothes and knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it from her.

  She nodded. “Did you?”

  I nodded. “How is this possible?”

  “How is any of it possible?” she asked, taking a deep breath.

  A small curious grin grew on each of our lips as we stared across at each other. She was taller, but only by a half inch or so. I was thinner, but not by much. Gina may not have been there, but the next best thing was.

  “Vanessa? Where am I?” Wren asked, fear flooding his tone. “Annabella? What’s going on?” Her parents asked at the same time.

  As if in a horror movie, the door slammed shut making us all jump backward. Wren bolted in front of me, putting himself between me and the door. Shane pushed past us all to whip it back open, but nothing was there but the dark of night.

  “What’s out there?” May asked Shane, grabbing hold of Annabella’s arm.

  Annabella gasped. “Look.”

  Taped on the door was a pink envelope in the same shade as the one in my backpack.

  “Oh my God,” I said.

  Shane took the envelope off the door, staring between it and our eager eyes. Annabella walked over to her father and took the envelope from him. It was sealed shut with a sticker of a butterfly and on the front in Gina’s unique bubble writing read: A & V.

  My chest pounded as I started at our initials scrawled across the pink paper. We pushed ourselves into the night air. Side by side we ran toward the patch of woods that stood parallel to the set of houses on Luna Road. The wind whipped through our dark, damp curls seeping into our ears heavy, and loud as if a storm were brewing. Shane and May shouted, Annabella. Wren shouted, Vanessa. We were oblivious to the noise.

  “Do you think she’s here?” I asked Annabella, straining my eyes as I stared into the dark.

  “Yes.”

  One word, that was all it took for me to believe it was true. I turned my attention to her, my sister, meeting my blue eyes to hers. Gina was there, and together we would stop at nothing to find her.

  To be continued…

  Acknowledgments

  n

  Thanks to Griffin, Sadie, and Tessa for bringing me unexplainable joy and happiness everyday just by being you. I hope that if this time in our lives has taught you anything you’ve learned to chase your dreams, no matter how outlandish they may be. When you find the dream you want to chase I’ll be there to cheer you on every step of the way. I love you more than words.

  Thanks to Jeremy, my amazing husband and best friend, who endured endless late nights and long days of occupying our three little ones so I could follow my dream. I am so thankful to have you by my side through all of life’s obstacles and wins. I love you so much.

  Thanks to the women who shaped me. Together, individually, and all at once you have shaped me into the woman I am today. This book is for you.

  For Aunt Sam. Thank you for helping me learn to see the beauty in life’s everyday moments, and for always making me feel like the most special guest.

  For Bibbie. Thank you for showing me that creativity can be found anywhere, and for the many shell seeking walks we’ve spent together gathering sharks teeth in our palms.

  For Gram. Thank you for always making me feel at home, and for always being willing to tell me the stories of your past. I will never tire of hearing them.

  For Melissa. Thank you for lending me your sense of spontaneity and leaving it with me to use from time to time. The adventures we took are memories that will eternally inspire me.

  For Mom. Thank you for giving me the ability to tell stories, and for your never wavering belief that I could do anything if I tried.

  Thanks to my beta readers and critique partner; Ami, Bridie, Cole, Rebecca, and Shawna.

  Thanks to Kim Chance for her editing skills that moved my novel to where it is today. You opened my eyes and helped me find the heart of the story.

  Last, but not least, thank you to my followers. You’ve motivated me with your kind words and made the dream of sharing my story with the world stand strong.