“Dibs not!” yelled Macy

“No I am not being it again! I refuse, I’m ALWAYS it” Tiana screamed in reply, just loud enough the sisters’ friends’ eardrums burst just a little bit.

“I just hate being by myself the whole time”. It came out almost a whimper.

“Ok T, how about we play a new game? So, when you find someone they become the finder, kinda like tiggy? And then they have to go find someone else and it’s the last person who hasn’t been found by anyone win?” Leslie said, forever the peace maker.

With everyone in agreement, the five friends wandered off into the house and surrounding land. The long agreed upon boundaries ran from the sisters’ house into the surrounding land- the creek behind the house providing the perfect natural boundary. Left alone with her eyes closed was little Tiana.

“6….7….8…”

“48….49….50”

She walked into a deathly quiet house, none of the signature giggles or breathing that usually accompanies the friends. This was serious business. Tiana stalked into the living room.

No one there.

She tiptoed into the downstairs bathroom.

No one there.

She stomped her way into the playroom, now angry at being by herself for so long- the game was no fun by yourself.

No one there.

Except.

A large dark shape caught the corner of Tiana’s eye, crouching just below the couch.

She turned and ran out of the room, tripping and sliding over floorboards. Heart racing and eyes starting to cry. Blinded. The sun catching something silver in the man’s hands. Knees weak and breathing fast and shallow. Too fast. Everything moving too fast.

“I guess I’m the finder now”.

At least Tiana wasn’t alone anymore.