Little black Book

Over the past three months, Anna had very light periods compared to her heavy ones. In the fourth month, she began to notice clues. Her clues included: swollen breasts and a small belly.

The realization of a baby was short-lived. Her newly found hope was replaced by fear when she began to cramp. All hope was gone when she saw the gush of blood. Anna was hit with waves of guilt, shame, and bitterness. As the waves of emotions receded she was left with a repeating question. Why? Why she hadn't known sooner? Why had she been so foolish? Why did she lose the baby? She felt, as though, she was to blame.

Anna quickly settled into a dark sadness. For ten days, all she wanted to do was cry or sleep. Anna was physically and emotionally drained. She was giving up. She wanted all the negative emotions to stop. She wanted peace. She dug deep to find strength.

Anna crawled her way out of the mental chains that imprisoned her to the bed. She searched for peace and decided to go down to the ocean's edge. She sat on the sand, starring past the choppy water, and focused on the sunset. She began to cry, beg, and plead until everything went silent.

The rising tide startled her. Anna gathered herself and slowly stood up off the cold damp sand. As she stood, her attention was drawn to a bag that seemed to have washed up on the beach. Her curiosity got the best of her. She went over to the bag, reached down to pick up the bag, and, felt a tiny flat square shape. While exploring the continents of the bag, she found a little black notebook. She began to read.

Hello reader,

Hope this book finds you in a great time of need. I have laid out some details and if you follow properly you will find yourself with a great gift or an inheritance of twenty-thousand dollars. All you have to do is give yourself some time and listen closely. You can choose where this journey leads you but follow my instructions to find your treasure. Be warned! Tell no one and be patient.

Day one: Give yourself to someone in need.

Day two: Give yourself to show kindness towards a stranger.

Day three: Give yourself to show love toward a stranger.

Day four: Give yourself hope when you feel you have none to give.

Day five: Give yourself strength when you feel weak.

Day six: Give yourself peace.

Day seven: Give thanks!

If you have not found what you are looking for, please, feel free to start over.

Anna was quick to think someone was playing a joke on her. She was quick to think the quest was too good to be true. She looked up; expecting to find someone laughing but saw no one. As those thoughts faded, she began to envision all the things the twenty-thousand dollars would buy her. She was thrilled to count all the ways twenty-thousand dollars would make her happy. A smiled crept up on her face as she thought why wait to do seven days when she could do all steps in one day. She was determined and quickly went to work. She completed all steps but did not find the money.

Feeling as though made a mistake, Anna re-read the steps. She quickly went back to work. Following by days instead of steps she continues to seek but does not find the money. She continues to tell no one. Anna began to feel discouraged and remembers day four: Give yourself hope. Anna feels encouraged decided to push forward on her journey. Another seven days still can not find the hidden treasure.

Anna's journey leads her for another forty days. During this time, She realized she had indeed found a gift but did not find the money. She had received the gift of love. She had found herself while in great need. By giving herself, she no longer felt the need to search any further. Admitting her mistakes, Anna was quick to feel like a fool for searching for the wrong thing. Feelings of guilt and shame crept up on her. Feeling all kinds of ways, she disclosed the details of her quest. She told of her past and of her journey. She shared her hopes and disappointments. She explained she had been warned. She should have listened a little better and be more patient. She expresses how thankful and blessed she is.

Quickly the story began to spread. As news of her hope and disappointment began to travel; people she had helped came together to donate money. Twenty- thousand dollars was presented to Anna. She was met with a flood of emotions. One of those emotions was guilt. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Anna counted all her blessings. She doesn't want to lose her self by keeping all the money. She decides to keep half and share half.

As quickly as the story came to life it also began to fade. No one is quite sure what happened to the little black book. If the book is somewhere being read no one mentions it. The story remains; however, no one is quite sure what is true or false anymore.

Till next time....