Just don’t cry,” she told herself. It was pointless. Her quick blinks couldn’t stop the tears. Peyton looked up at the willow tree branches and squeezed her eyes closed. She kept them shut as she tried to compose herself. After she walked back into the house, she ran into her room and sat on her bed, unable to stop the sobs that escaped. The moment she heard the sound of the trucks reversing, she stilled. When she couldn’t hear the engines driving away, Peyton got off her bed and walked out of the house. Unsure of where she was going, she continued to take steps until she reached the lake path. She could either turn right and go up the hill to town or continue to her parents’ hotel. Going into town wasn’t an option as the tourists and locals would fill the streets. And her mother would know something had happened the moment that she saw Peyton. To her left, the bench under the willows caught her eye. She sat on it and looked out onto the lake. It was still early. No one would be by the lake for a while.
