"Leah I need to go home" Ethan's voice came from behind her, seventeen year old Leah
Lewis-Hall turned around to face him, "But you are home" she protested, "No this is
your home" he said, Leah's heart felt like it was breaking she knew deep down that he
was Amish and that she was English, it would have never worked out, "I'll drive you
home in the morning" she sputtered through tears. At Twelve Am Leah roused Ethan,
"Come on lets go."
It was five am when they pulled up to the farmhouse the sky was a pale pink, lights in the
window showed the house was rising, Leah stepped out of the car and leaned against the
hood, "Oh My Leah I miss you already"
"You'll get over it she squeezed her eyes shut the pain hurt, "your fling is over you'll be
Baptized and within a few years marry an Amish girl"
"You weren't part of my fling Leah you were part of my life" he said fiercely, "your part
of my life I love you and I'll never forget you, until angels close my eyes"
"Go, Go home" Leah said through tears
Leah watched Ethan climbed over the split railed fence and to his heritage, world, family
and life out of her's forever.
Leah Lewis-Hall woke with a start, her face was covered in a thick layer of sweat, that
was the tenth time she had dreamed she went back two years, back to Ethan, her beloved
Ethan who was claimed by his Amish heritage two years ago, since then Leah had never
really been the same, she dressed differently, no longer did she wear shorts or tank tops,
she wore long skirts that brushed the floor and long neck length plain tops, her used to be
shoulder length hair had been traded over the years to dark waist length hair. Her points
of views changed too, she attended church every Sunday, never missed a service kept a
bible by her bed and read it frequently, meaning every night. Neil's words to her, ' I am
not afraid to die Leah. I know where I am going from here.' made more sense to her now,
she believed with all her heart that there was something bigger then the biggest out there,
and a Heaven and Hell Lucifer and God, Angels. But no matter how much she believed
her mother always disagreed, Leah was tired of fighting with her mother and tired of
being 'of the world' she wanted something more a community build on love and faith,
Amish, she had tasted what an Amish farm is like three summers ago when she had
visited Ethan and Charity and the Longacre family, she had seen an Amish funeral when
little Rebekah died in an accident, Leah remembered Rebekah as a smiling little girl
who's family showed her miracles can happen, when she was diagnosed with osteo
sarcoma, bone cancer, two years ago, Dr. Thomas told her she was still looking good he
just wanted to see her one last time in August, if she was still holding up then she was
pronounced cured. Leah's Mother Roberta Dutton had not exactly lived up to a mothering
roll the past two years, it was more of a roommate type thing, they rarely spoke anymore,
Leah realized that they were now living separate lives, as the days past they drifted apart,
with Leah more and more plain and her mother with expensive things. Leah still resided
in Knightstown with her mother in the farm house Neil her fifth step father had bought
and renovated. Leah loved Neil he was a good man and a good father it was a tragic
thing for her when he past on in April, Easter Sunday, it was a very sad ending to her
almost first real family, then within a few weeks Ethan left and her heart was crushed.
Leah went outside to the garden she was growing on the side of the house she used her
skirts as a basket as she picked the carrots and lettuce for her dinner tonight, another
difference wedging between Leah and her mother was cooking, Leah never ate take out,
instead she cooked, finding things that didn't require anything fancy she'd cook
breakfast, lunch and dinner for herself, After breakfast she'd do her chores dusting and
sweeping, she'd also go out and fix anything that needed mending, sewing and knitting
she did in her spare time if there was any.
The sky was fading a glowing pink as cabbage and carrot soup was cooking, Leah took a
bowel and drew some soup in a bowel, sat and prayed then sipped without a sound, Leah
expected her mother to walk in the door, but she never did, Leah sighed washing her dish
and settled in for the night making sure all the doors were locked and the house was
clean, then she settled down to read from the bible, then closed her eyes slipping into a
peaceful sleep.
"Leah." A man with graying hair and a familiar voice spoke, "Neil" she instantly
recognized the man, "what are you doing here?" Neil sat down, "No Leah my question is
what are YOU doing here?, you love Ethan your as plain as can be, you can get out of
the house now, you need and you want to go to Nappanee to live among the Amish it's
not a want anymore it's a longing, you are a strong girl but the years have changed you"
Leah pondered Neil strange as it seemed made perfect sense it wasn't she wanted to live
among the Amish she had to, "Sugar I know you aren't very satisfied with the life your
living now instead of living with it change it pack up and leave, and remember I always
loved you and your mother good luck with your decision Leah, but also Don't wait until
Angles close your eyes to find what you want out of life.
Leah woke breathing heavy; she ran her high-necked nightgown, flowing as her braided
hair hit her back as she ran, "Mother?" she called, "In here" a voice came, Leah followed
the voice running into the living room to where her mother sat in a chair, "Mother Neil's
angel came to me in a dream, and told me that I should go back to Nappanee to live with
the Amish" Leah's mother jumped up, "Did he also tell you that you are crazy Leah" she
said disbelieving almost every word Leah said, Leah sighed, " My life has to begin
someplace, and it is not here, I love Ethan" Leah said, "Now I am going to Nappanee
where I don't have to live like a cadged bird, where moving isn't a fear I have to have
and I can only marry once and I have a family-"
" you shouldn't go chasing a boy who you can never see again once he was gone and
Leah Lewis-Hall I am your family and it's not my fault the marriages in the past haven't
worked!" her mother snarled, "We haven't been family like for two and a half years I
need more support then that, I need Ethan and a Family " Leah said turning, "I am sorry
mother but I am going to write to Charity and then I am gone with in the month"
"Fine but don't come back home once you are gone!" he mother said slamming the front
door, Leah quickly ran to her room to write Charity.