THE LONELY DESERT 

By Tessa Harvey

    Ariella, Shayla's friend swooped down the hill and  unknowingly flung out her darker hair and let it blow freely just as Shayla had done days earlier, almost in the same place. 
    Though she left on Shayla's trail, Ariella was determined also to enjoy her week's break from school. The children who lived some distance away had twittered like noisy sparrows as they filed boisterously onto their bus. It was holiday-time, but snow was threatening to close the high pass on the way home and they were leaving early, excited. Ariella laughed as she remembered. Here it was warm!
    Part of her wondered if Shayla might resent being followed like an errant child, but lately an unease had deepened. Few prayed to God, the God of the Bible in the person of Jesus Christ, but Ariella knew this feeling of unease was not something weird of psychic. It was God's  Presence in her life! Dylan Dufaye aka Duffer was in her thoughts also.
    She loved him more with each passing day, but though he was a very gifted carpenter and courageous volunteer firefighter, it was still not enough for this young woman. He seemed to lack commitment, enjoying a variety of feminine relationships.
    Commitment was essential, she felt. At that moment, Ariella glimpsed an abandoned car. She felt it was her friend's. She drew near. It was empty.

PART TWO - Soon

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