*I am working on trying to expand my short story "Lily" to a full length novel, this is a piece of it that came to me, maybe the prologue*


I was sitting in the dingy town bar sucking on a warm flat beer and dragging on a cigarette for God only knows what reason, when they came in. What they were doing in that bar, I'm not sure, looking for me maybe. Maybe not. Looking for a way to spread their craziness I'm sure. They came right over to me, and sat down, one on each side. Bud on the left, Celeste on the right.
"We have to talk to you." Celeste whispers urgently while Bud looks on anxiously. I know this game. They do it with everyone, have been doing it for as long as I can remember.
"I don't want to hear it!" I snap at them, not feeling remorseful about my tone or shortness with them in the least.
"Please James, you need to hear it." Bud is now imploring me to listen, same old routine. How many times must we go around and around with this?
"What more could you possibly tell me that I haven't heard a hundred other times?" My gaze levelled at Bud. He turns his eyes downwards and mumbles under his breath.
"Maybe you should hear it a hundred and one times then." Petulance.
Celeste lays a comforting hand on Bud's arm causing her to lean into me, I shift uncomfortably, I don't care for people invading my space. "It's about Lily."
"I knew it!" I bolt to my feet and start to make a beeline for the door, I have had enough of this. As my hand reaches for the doornob though, I am pulled up short, Bud has a hold of the collar of my shirt. He turns me around and puts his nose right up against mine and there is a fire in his eyes I have rarely seen, I cannot look away, though I fervently wish to.
"She is coming out tomorrow, and she asked us to make sure you were there." Bud states vehemently. I do not enjoy his sour breath.
I struggle out of his grasp, turn and walk out without saying a word. They let me.

Forever I have heard about Lily. She is a myth, a legend her "parents" made up in their desperation, maybe sadness, at not actually ever being able to conceive children. It was always Lily this and Lily that, you would think she walked on water the way Bud and Celeste talked about her, but then again, it is easy to fantasize about the perfect child, and that is exactly what they created in their madness. They would always talk about how wonderful she was, and how she could teach all of us so much. Every parent says that about their children. Hell, even my parents said that about me... once. I will admit though, that I am intrigued by this surprising twist of events. I decide that I will go, though I don't really believe that this figment will honestly turn out to be real, I figure it should be good for a laugh. I don't get many of those.

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