Some readers may find the content of this chapter disturbing. Read at your own risk.

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The Butterfly Effect

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Chapter Two: Bright Lights

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"Please tell me she hasn’t inherited her father’s illness."

"It may help monitor her memory. See if she remembers anything new the next day. When the test results come back in a couple of days we’ll take it from there."

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Ashley sits at the kitchen table eating as she makes her very first journal entry. She isn’t sure why she’s being forced to do this but she does it anyway.

‘Today mommy is taking me to play with Spencer and Glen. I will meet their father and see what a real dad is like.’

In the background Christine speaks into the phone’s receiver. "Great, see you soon." She hangs the reciever back on the hook, exit’s the kitchen to grab her purse, and in the few seconds it takes her to come back her world falls.

"Ashley, what’re you doing with that knife?"

It takes her a moment. The confusion has gotten the best of her.

She drops the butcher knife, and then she’s back. Back to the reality where its all starting to fall out of place. Where nothing is making any sense anymore.

"What happened?" The child asks in confusion. In fear. Her breathing is heavy as she stares down at the knife laying next to her feet.

"Honey, what were you doing with that knife?" She questions, placing her hands on her daughters shoulders.

"I don’t remember." And there it is. She can’t do anything. Can’t scream, punish, or correct the young girl. She knows. Knows that this is only the beginning of it all. This is just one microscopic piece of it all. But for now its fine, for now she can hug her child and tell herself that this is going to be the worst of it. For Christine now is all that matters.