we looked at each other for a frozen second , then i tried to move away , but his hand closed over my wrist . she looked at me with a blank expression and red cheeks . twelve years old and hiding from whoever had killed her mother . at least this silly sign gave her hope . i smiled and closed my crystal blue eyes . beth 's parents had died in an auto accident only a few days later . i turned around a full circle but only to find her running from far in my direction . 