Ann had planned a hike around town to look at the sights right after breakfast, so she was dressed for walking. She accompanied Guardian as they strode south to the edge of town and the half mile beyond to the hemlock grove. As they walked, at first they talked.

“So, what should I call you?” Ann asked.

“You may address me as ‘Guardian’.”

“You mean, like, your name is Guardian?”

“Yes, like that.”

“What a unique name. Do you have any other name?”

“I’m sure I must have had a different name once, but I can remember no other name.”

Ann was astonished. “How old are you?” She clapped her hands over her mouth. “How rude of me. I am so sorry.”

Guardian laughed. “Older than dirt.”

Ann smiled. She felt so relaxed, so at ease with Guardian.

They walked in silence until they came to the grove.

“There is no path to the inside,” Guardian said, “but the trees will let you through.”

Of course,” Ann smiled. She followed Guardian and noticed the trees seemed to sigh and rustle as they touched the first branch. Then the branches kind of pulled aside just enough for them to pass.

I wonder how they do that? Ann looked closely all around as they moved through the trees, but she could find no clue to explain the behavior of the trees.

Inside she stopped and looked around the clearing. “It’s so open and airy. Oh, look.” She pointed to the east side. “A cabin. Is that where you live?”

“That is my home. I will show it to you later. Come. Come see the real Remembering Rock. Unlike the one in the museum, this one you can touch.”

“Did you know I went to the museum?”

“I guessed.”

In moments they were beside the rock.

“My goodness,” Ann said. “The people look so real. Not like a sculpture. It looks like two people got stuck in a rock.”

“According to legend that’s pretty much what happened.”

“It’s just a story, though. Nothing like that could really happen.”

Guardian just smiled.

“Well, I should probably enjoy the full experience.” Ann walked around the stone, look at each side. “I’ve heard it makes a difference which side I sit on, right?”

“That’s what some people say, but I wouldn’t worry about it. Just choose the spot that appeals most to you.”

“Should I go through some kind of ritual or something?”

“If you feel moved to do so.”

“I think I should recite something. Is there any poetry or music connected with the legends?”

“Indeed there is. You could recite this poem, if you like.” Guardian took a scrap of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Ann.

Ann read it silently. Oh, it’s perfect.” As she began to read her voice grew softer and more intense. She instinctively raised her free hand into the air toward the end.

Wing of yang and wing of yin

Loose the memories within;

Find the room shut deep inside;

Use the key to open wide.

Pain forgotten, let it go;

I can do it if I know.

Tell me what I need to hear;

My salvation will appear.

The paper slipped from her left hand, and her right hand dropped slowly back to her side. As if mesmerized, she tipped her head back, eyes closed and twirled around one, two, three times. She reached for the rock and walked around it twice, trailing her fingers along the surface. On the third circumambulation she stopped on the north face and sank into place over the body of the woman.

Before she closed her eyes, she glanced at Guardian with a smile and a wink. “How was that?”

Guardian threw her a thumbs-up gesture. Ann closed her eyes.

She was so excited she could hardly breathe. Her first date. Her parents had always said she couldn’t date until she was fifteen. But her birthday was in another month, so they made an exception for the sophomore formal. Ted said his father would be driving since, of course he—Ted—didn’t have his license yet.

She ran down the stairs. “Mom, how do I look?”

“You look wonderful, Dear.” Her mother brushed her hand lightly over Ann’s hair. “Don’t forget your jacket. It sometimes gets quite chilly at night this time of year.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Ann looked at the clock. “He’ll be here in five minutes. Oh, I’m so nervous.”

“You’ll be fine,” her mother said.

She turned toward her father. “Daddy, how do I look?”

“Like your mother said, you look wonderful. And remember to tell that boy to get you home right after the dance.”

“Oh, daddy. I’m sure his father will take care of that.”

She looked at the clock again. “Still three minutes. I can’t stand the suspense.”

“Let’s play a hand of cribbage.” Her mother pulled a deck of cards from the desk drawer. “That will take much longer than three minutes, so he’ll be here before we get done and you’ll forget about being nervous.”

Okay, but I won’t have my mind on the game, I’m sure.”

They played. Before Ann knew it, the hand was over. Her mother won.

“Oh!” she said. “He isn’t here yet.” She looked at the clock again. “It’s fifteen minutes after eight. Where is he?”

“He’s probably running a little late. He’ll be here any minute,” her mother said. “We might as well start another hand.”

They played another complete hand. Her mother won again. The clock said twenty-eight minutes after eight.

“Where could he be?”

Her father looked up from the book he was reading. “Why don’t you call him?”

“Oh, Dad, I’m too embarrassed to call him!”

“Maybe something happened and he can’t make it and can’t call and his folks haven’t thought to call you. You can do that.”

“Well, okay.” Ann went to the phone and dialed.

A man answered. “Hello?”

“Hello. This is Ann Savidge. I was just wondering when Ted is coming.”

“Ann Savidge? Coming where?”

“Well, he said he would pick me up for the dance at eight o’clock. He said his dad would drive us. That’s you, right?”

“Yes, that’s me.” There was a short pause. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but he took Susan Fisher to the dance.”

“Oh…okay…thank you.” She could hardly speak.

She turned to her mother and managed to say, “He’s already at the dance. He took Susan Fisher,” before she started to cry.

Ann opened her eyes and looked straight up at the sky. Tears were flowing down the sides of her face and into her hair, getting into the tops of her ears. She turned her head and saw Guardian watching her solemnly.

“I haven’t thought about that for a long time,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to remember it.”

“I regret your pain. But there is another memory waiting.”

“Please. I’m afraid.”

“It will not last long, and I promise it will be worth it.”

Ann closed her eyes again.

It was a year and a half after Ted stood her up. He had explained how his family had pretty much promised the Fishers he would take Susan to the formal. He was too embarrassed, he said, to tell her. He apologized and said he was more mature now and made his own decisions. And he decided she was the girl for him. They had been going steady for a month. Tonight they were going to a movie.

“Baby, this’ll be a night we won’t forget,” Ted said. I’ve been wanting to see this movie for weeks.”

Ann smiled weakly. She wasn’t looking forward to the movie. It was one of those blood-and-guts martial arts superhero movies, long on action and short on plot. She usually felt sick to her stomach afterward, but they were Ted’s favorite, and she wanted to stay on his good side. They had been going steady for a month already, and she was very happy. Except for these stupid movies he liked so much.

The movie was as disgusting as she had expected, but it finally ended.

Back in the car, Ted said, “Let’s go down to the beach.”

“I don’t know, Ted.” She was worried he would start pushing her for sex again, and she just wasn’t ready for that.

“Come on, Baby. It’s such a nice night. There’ll probably be lots of other kids there.”

“Well, okay. For a little while.” If other people would be there, he wouldn’t try anything.

When they got to the beach, Ann could see only two other cars. She looked around.

“I don’t see anyone, Ted. I don’t think anyone else is here. Let’s go.”

“Okay, in a minute. Look at that moon. Isn’t it gorgeous?”

She looked up at the sky through the windshield. Ted slid over in the seat, slipped his arm around her and started kissing her neck.

“Ted—”

“Come on, Baby, give me a little sugar. Just a little.”

“A little,” she relented. It did feel nice.

In moments his hands were wandering.

“Ted, stop it.”

“Baby, don’t do this to me. I can’t stand it. You’ve been putting me off for weeks. I can’t wait anymore. If you really loved me, like you say you do, you wouldn’t keep pushing me away.”

She didn’t know what to say. She did love him.

“But I’m not ready for this,” she protested.

“Listen to me. Either you love me or you don’t. If you don’t, just say so. I won’t bother you anymore. If you do, prove it.” He was starting to sound angry.

“I do love you.” She started to cry. “It just doesn’t seem right that I should have to prove it like this.”

His voice softened. “I know you’re just afraid. Don’t be. I’ll teach you right. Just relax and you’ll be fine.”

“I don’t want to,” she whispered, but she was afraid to say it too loudly. She didn’t want him to stop loving her.

She opened her eyes and took a big breath. She was crying again. Or was it still? Had she even stopped crying at all?

“It was date rape,” she said. “But it was rape. He forced me, more with words than with physical strength, but it was rape.”

“Yes,” said Guardian.

Ann sat up. She felt drained.

Guardian turned toward her cabin. “Let’s go inside for a bit,” she said.