As always Sarah stopped by the graveyard on her way home from school. It was the only time she got to be alone and feel safe. She walked towards the back of the graveyard, to where her favourite tombstone was. She sat here every day for half and hour to an hour. She would think about everything. Her thoughts mostly stayed on her sister, Erin.
Erin had been gone 7 months now, and it was still no easier for Sarah to cope with.
Sarah was dreading going home, as she did every day.
She began walking slowly towards her house, hoping her father was in a good mood today.
When she opened the door she heard her mother in the kitchen fixing drinks for herself and Sarah’s father.
Sarah walked quietly down the hall, but her father still heard her. He walked into the hall, staggering slightly, and grabbed hold of the back of Sarah’s shirt and tugged her back towards him.
“Where the fuck have you been?!” He wasn’t in a good mood.
“I was walking home,” Her reply was a little shakey, because she knew what was coming.
“You’re late!” He was yelling now. This was where things would start getting bad, she knew.
“I walked at the same pace as I do everyday and I always get home at this time.” She said it simply, she knew what she said would change nothing.
“Don’t you dare lie to me!!!” Here we go, Sarah thought to herself as her father yelled and raised his hand. He slapped her hard across the face and Sarah gasped at the force of the blow.
“Did you just laugh?!” He had mistaken her gasp for laughter.
“No dad!” She cried in dismay as he once again raised his hand. This blow was struck in the same place as the last, which made it all the more painful.
Five minutes and many slaps later, Sarah shut the door to her room behind her.
She sat on her bed and thought about how her father had begun the same way with Erin.
*Poor Erin. She was the eldest of three children. She would have been 20 this month, She was only 10 when it started, Paul was 8 and Sarah was 4. Her mother had always been a bit of an alcoholic, but she had taken good care of them.
Suddenly her father was released from prison, and that’s when things got bad for Erin.
Every night after work her father would come home, go to his room for an hour while their mum cooked them dinner. Once they had had dinner Sarah and Paul were put to bed by their mother because they were younger than Erin.
They would have been in bed just over 20 minutes when Erin would begin to scream and Sarah and Paul would hear thumping sounds, like someone being thrown against a wall. And then everything would just go quiet.
As Erin got older, the treatment became worse. She would show Sarah and Paul her giant bruises and cuts.
Finally when she was 19 it all ended for her. This was the only way Sarah could look at it.
One night 7 months earlier, Erin was beaten so badly she actually passed away.
She walked into Sarah and Paul’s room and collapsed on the floor. Paul and Sarah rushed to her. She was bruised and bloody. And she was struggling to breathe.
“Paul, get Saarh out of here as soon as you can ok? Dad will never touch you, Paul, you’re his boy. Sarah will be next… I love you guys…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes shut, and she was gone.*

They were called within 12 minutes of us leaving.

It was a Friday night. My best friend, Christina, was staying the night because her mother had a work-do. We decided to go bowling.
As we left we played my new Pink CD.
We had so much fun that night, we blasted Pink on the way home.
It was weird... As we got closer to my street we saw some red flashing lights... We drove into our street... And that's when we saw the firetruck.
"Maybe they're checking the watermains?" Stina said.
"Fuck I hope that's nextdoor," I said... Sadly it wasn't.
We looked at our house. The windows were black... Mum had parked across from the house.
"Wait here," We got told. So we waited while my parents talked to the firemen.
When my mum doubled over in tears I forgot their order and ran across the road screaming... I knew something had happened to my dog, she was the first thing I thought of. I was way too upset to cry I just screamed and screamed. They put in the paper "There was even one girl screaming..." That was me.
Mum ushered me back across the road, and a man came out and asked if my parents wanted him to watch Stina and I. We went to his house and he offered us coke and water, we took the offer. My dad stood and talked to him.
Yeah Chevy here," He pointed to one of his dogs, "And Max, were barking and I heard this explosion, then about two more."
Christina called her mum, but Delia didn't pick up, so she left a rushed message;
"Hey mum! Chris and Fi's house burnt down! Ok see ya tomorrow!!!" I wish I could have been that cheerful
My parents stayed talking to the firemen for a long time. It was right before Christmas.
After a while dad took Stina and I to my grandmothers house, we were to stay there that night. He dropped us there and came back to my house to see what they could save.
I tried to sleep... But I got only an hours worth. So I sat up with my grandmother all night and watched some cheesey movie flicks on sky movies.
My parents tunred up at my grandmothers in the wee hours of the morning, they looked a little surprised to see me still awake.
The firemen had managed to pull out the only present that had been under our tree. It was for me, and my parents gave it to me. It was a bratz board game.

The next night I stayed at Stina's and my parents had dinner there...
The house was rebuilt... And we're living in it now.
This night happened in December 2003.
I've avoided the memory for just over 3 and a half years.
But tonight the house nextdoor burnt down, and all of this flooded back to me.

In darkness you paint us, but we will not hide.
We're the light of the country in which you abide,
we're fearless and strong, the protectors of life
hidden in shadows, we conquer all strife.

We come from the Old Ones, our lineage secure.
We rise from the ashes, we always endure.
It's time you remembered that we were here first.
We healed your sik, yet suffered your worst.

From time immemorial we've woven our love
cunning folk, healers, benandanti- there's more.
We're black and we're white, we're brown and we're yellow.
We're women and children, and mighty fine fellows.

We're Her hidden children, the angels of light,
our task is to teach and to help set things right.
We conjure and cast, and whisper and pray
so you can enjoy your freedom each day.

We've long been your army, protecting your back
when you are in trouble, in secret we act.
The Mother is watching- She hasn't missed much.
She's gathered her magick and given the touch
to Witches and Pagans and Druids and such!

The times are a' changign and one thing is clear
the Lord and the Lady have now reappeared.
Two pillars, three points, four quarters extend
five is the number of magickal blend.
By moon and by sun, by earth and by stars
realize this day that the power is ours!

Pagan pride-
Live it, breath it, be it.