The Forgotten Girl: Chapters 17–28

Daniel looked so fearful, so serious, Iris was taken aback.

“Oh yeah, man, my bad.” Jamal stumbled over his words. “I—uh—”
“I’ll see y’all tomorrow,” Daniel said again, not turning around when Derek chastised Jamal.

“Suga,” Daniel asked, stopping in front of the kitchen, careful not to obstruct Suga’s view of the TV.

“I-I don’t think you’re weird,” he said, his stomach churning with guilt.

We argued and she stormed away from my house—you know how dramatic you can become in a fight—and I sat there, stubborn in my feelings, and watched my best friend walk away for the last time.

The snow lost its appeal for me. I couldn’t play in it without thinking about Avery. I was afraid that the spirits of the snow would get me, too.

Daniel blanched; his bones chilled from the familiar words.

With every rule he broke, he saw the prospect of all three things leaving him.

A sheriff was leaning out of his car window as he drove slowly into the cul-de-sac, snowflakes sparkling in the beams of the headlights.

It took everything in him not to grimace at his own lie. It wasn’t a big lie, but he didn’t like to lie and wasn’t very good at it.

Daniel’s fear turned into determination as he marched through the woods along the beaten path that some kids would take to school.

He ran faster toward the pond, seeing Iris break the surface again, sputtering, coughing, trying to take another breath.

He flailed his arms and legs, not sure if he was bumping into Avery or Iris, but a moment later he was able to burst through the surface.

Iris shook her head, still shaking, unable to speak from the near drowning she’d just endured for who knows how long.

She shrieked out of frustration. He flinched. She was just trying to scare him, trying to make him run away without Iris.

Avery contorted her face in a snarl.

Daniel had a feeling that it wasn’t the storm picking up, but Avery conjuring up a wind to keep them from leaving.

“I miss you,” Daniel whispered. “I love you.”
The ball grew brighter, warmer, and Daniel knew the feeling was reciprocated.

He laughed, almost giddy with the thought that they were finally okay.

She heard her little sister’s voice amplified.

“I think there’s a way to stop Avery, but…” He looked grim.

As she sprinted into the hallway, she felt a draft come from Vashti’s room.

“Suga... This is your chance to finally make peace with Avery! To tell her your side of the story and let her know that you’re here!” Iris pleaded.

There was silence as Avery regarded Suga.

Iris sighed a long heavy sigh, releasing the anger she felt toward Avery. Trying to understand that though her tactics were reckless, and she was lost in her anger, guilt, and bitterness for being forgotten, she was trying to find her way out.

Iris had never known Daniel to hold a grudge for too long, but...
“I’m not over it.”

Although segregated cemeteries were already around before this, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 made it legal to bury people separately according to race. This became North Carolina law in 1947, as legislation enacted ‘Use of cemeteries for burial of dead, according to race.’

“We know that this isn’t the only abandoned and segregated cemetery in Easaw,” Daniel said, “but we hope that it starts a change—restoring these cemeteries and bringing them to your knowledge. We hope that our project serves as a way to never forget those who have paved the way before us, and encourages everyone to always strive to make a difference.”

“Isn’t the club for anyone who wants to join, at any time?” Iris said, not feeling as riled up as she normally would’ve. Her mom was right—you just couldn’t please everyone.

“My grandmother always told me the stories of my great-uncle Henry. When I found out about this cleanup, I knew there was a strong possibility he was buried there,” a woman holding a newborn baby said. “This has been monumental for our family.”