Silent tears dripped down her soft, smooth cheeks. She kicked a stone that had the misfortune of crossing her path, and watched as the person in front of her jumped out of the way, frightened. She would have said sorry, but it wouldn't have mattered. No one listened to her anyway.

“Maria, do you think anyone will listen,” she thought to herself. “Of course they won't, stupid.”

After what seemed like an eternity she came to her house. She didn't even look up as she walked through the door. It seemed as though she was paying less and less attention to what she was doing now a days. “Mom!” she called. No answer, of course. She was probably upstairs, doing anything besides acknowledging her daughter. She didn't know what she did to deserve this. She hadn't spoken to Maria in days, only cried. Maria didn't even know why she was crying.

She threw her books down on the couch and ran out the door. She didn't want to just sit alone in that big, empty house. She glanced up for a moment and saw the closest thing she had to a friend walking towards her. She stopped, “Hey, Matt.” He didn't even glance her way, but he seemed upset about something. Whether he was angry or sad, she couldn't tell.

“What did you expect?” she asked herself. Everyone was ignoring her. She continued on her destination-less pilgrimage. Somehow, after what seemed like forever, she ended up at the cemetery. A burial service had just begun, and a tent had been set up to keep out the rain. Funny, she hadn't even felt it start. She moved closer to the service. There was only one woman there, face downcast solemn. She couldn't tell if it was someone she knew. As she got closer she could see the tombstone set at the head of the grave.

Maria Bowers


Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a scream. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. No one had listened, and now... no one could.