Lila - Chapter One

Chapter one: Lila

Lila walked over to the pond. She sighed, and sat down at the base of an old oak tree. It was fall, yet the oak's leaves had not dropped yet. She moved to a crisis-cross position so she was comfortable. Other kids in Lila's school had not liked crisis-cross, but she had found it very comfortable, and relaxing.
"Don't go," A voice whispered.
Lila whipped around, her aurburn curls flying.

"Oh, Sadie, you scared the heck out of me!" Lila said, putting a trembling hand on her pounding heart.
"You don't have to go, you know," Sadie whispered, climbing into Lila's lap. "You can stay here. With me. And Daddy."
"I do have to go, honey," Lila said, resting her chin in Sadie's mass of curls, very much like her own.

"Why?" Sadie said, but her voice was still low. "Why do you have to go and leave Daddy and me?"
"Mommy wants me to, Sadie," Said Lila, though she was wondering the same thing.
"Why can't you stay here and I go with Mommy?" Sadie said, her voice rising only a little higher than before.
"Why?" Asked Lila, a little surprised.
"Because-because--" It seemed like Sadie couldn't bring herself to say it. "Never mind, Lila. I'll tell you later."
"Okay," Lila said, and Sadie jumped off her lap and hurried away.