"Miss, can I help you?"

Lizzie's eyes snapped upward to the woman's face. She stared at her for a moment, surprised that she was being addressed before she gave a quick shake of her head. Not only to jog her mind back into proper working order but also as an answer to the shop keeper's question. The words found her lips a moment later. "No, no I'm fine." A smile was offered and as an after thought an added, "Thank you." The shop keeper gave a nod and mirrored the smile. "I'll be around if you need any help." And with that the woman scuffled off leaving Lizzie alone once again.

The blonde's attention turned back to the shelves she had previously been staring at which boasted a large array of candles. Lizzie had never really been a fan of candles, it didn't seem like a good idea to her when the places she inhabited usually contained crates of highly flammable paint cans. But she was in awe of all the different varieties that were before her. Wax candles and soy candles. Some were tall and thin with intricate designs etched into them. Others short and fat and were made of only one vibrant color. Each was handmade and looked to have had a lot of love and effort put into it. The artist could appreciate that.

Another candle was lifted and brought it to her nose so she could inhale the scent. What was that? Grape? Lavender? No, lilacs. She smelled it once more before setting it back down. She had to admit that it smelled wonderful, but it wasn't what she was looking for. It seemed like she had been all over the market place sniffing candles for hours, but she knew what she wanted and was hoping someone would have it. Sure, she could have asked the keeper for help when she offered, but she was set on finding it on her own. More candles were carefully picked up so she could breathe them in. Strawberry, cotton, apple, sea breeze, pumpkin. She wondered if it was possible for her nose to fall off from the overload of scents.

She began debating if giving up would have been such a bad thing. Maybe she could just come back with Kazzy? Kazkaz was a dedicated shopper through and through and wouldn't bat a lash at the idea of searching the town for one candle. Before she could roll the idea over in too much detail something caught her eye. One long arm reached up towards the top shelf to withdraw her find. It was a thick glass jar capped with a similar lid that she removed. The wax inside was colored warm honey brown. She took a breath to clear her palette before the jar was lift to her nose for a deep inhale. The aroma of oatmeal cinnamon cookies infested her nostrils while a proud smile stretched across her lips. It was perfect.

A path was cut to the shop keeper, almost as if she were afraid someone would come up and try to snatch it from her if she didn't have a receipt in hand to prove it was hers now. The woman couldn't help but chuckle at the blonde's enthusiasm while she handed over the correct amount of coins. "You must really love candles, Miss!" A jovial tone to the woman's voice. Lizzie gave a sheepish smile as she took the brown paper bag containing her purchase. "It's not for me. It's a gift for someone. Their room kind of smells and I just figured they deserved a little something for putting up with me." The shop keeper nodded in understanding even if she did think the phrasing Lizzie used was a bit off. "Well, I'm sure whoever it is for they will enjoy it, Miss." A beaming smile stretched ear to ear on Lizzie's face as she offered one last nod to the woman. With that she turned and moved out of the shop to the streets of the market place.

She was high. Yeah, that was it and a logical explanation. It wouldn't have been the first time she got a buzz after working on a piece. Wait, she didn't work on anything today. Did she drink? No! It was the afternoon. She wasn't that bad. The candles! The fumes from the candles did her in. She had sniffed one too many key lime pie candles and now she was freaking out. "Calm down, Lizzie," she thought silently to herself. "Take a deep breath. Stop tripping and pull yourself together."

Following her own advice she closed her eyes tightly and inhaled deeply trying to clear away the unimaginable figure that was closing in on her. Slow and steady breaths. In through the nose. Out of the mouth. "Steady, girl," she continued to soothe herself in her head. "It's alright. You're okay now." And for a moment she really believed it. It didn't last long.

"Lindsey!"

The voice came again and Lizzie's eyes shot open to find the woman standing near her. She was a bit taller than Lizzie and a long white sun dress clung delicately to her slight curves. Skin kissed with a faint tan that complimented the dirty blonde hair which hung in loose curls around her shoulders. Those eyes. Blue eyes in such a deep shade you would swear that you could splash around in them on a warm summer's day to escape the heat. Lizzie knew those eyes. They were her eyes. Lizzie swallowed hard and took a step away from her pressing her back to the glass of the shop window. The only thing she could do was stare at the woman in shock, but it was paid no mind. The woman was too busy tending to the child at Lizzie's side.

She leaned down and scooped the girl up into her arms, sitting her against her hip. The woman held her tightly even as she scolded. "Lindsey, you can't go wandering off like that. I turned around and you were gone! Do you know how sad I got?" The girl bowed her head, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout. The mother stroked a few blonde locks from the girl's face before kissing her forehead as she continued in a calmer tone. "I was just worried, Lindsey. I don't know what I would do if I lost you." The girl nodded her head in understanding and seemed to brighten a bit at the words. A touching scene between Mother and Daughter reunited.

And Lizzie stood beside them. Her features were contorted into confused horror. Her jaw hanging open, all the while her head shaking softly. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run. She wanted to cry. She wanted to hit. All of that and more! But she couldn't do anything. She was stuck. Frozen.

The woman noted Lizzie now. She gazed at her cautiously, obviously confused why this teen was watching her and her Daughter so intently. Rather than find out the answer she looked back to the child in her arms and cooed, "Why don't we go get us cookies then we can find a nice spot to eat them? How does that sound, Lindsey?" The child nodded quickly with an excited clap of her hands. The woman turned to walk along the path in search of cookies for herself and her Daughter. More laughter could be heard from the pair as the Mother joked while tickling the little girl's stomach. "Little Lindsey Lizard! My little Gecko!"

And that did it. Tears were burning in Lizzie's eyes now. She was finally able to get a word out now. "No." It started softly before it was repeated. Louder and choked with a sob. "No!" She moved quickly after the pair trying desperately to keep up through the mob of people. She didn't have time to say excuse me or sorry. She just needed to get to them. To find out what was going on. To find out if this was real. She saw the Mother's back as she passed easily through the crowd that seemed to close in on her just to make this more difficult. What were they doing!? She had to get to her! But she fell more and more behind. She had to keep her in sight. Where was she? Is that her? No. NO. NO!

Her panicked pace slowed and she came to a stop in the middle of everyone. She couldn't see her anymore. She would never catch up. She would never find her. Shoppers passed by her, glaring since she thought it was such a good idea to stop right in the middle of such busy foot traffic. But Lizzie didn't care. Still clutching the brown bag with her purchase in it tightly against her body, she stood in silence staring ahead at the last place she had seen the woman. She felt like she was watching that spot forever. Just hoping she would come back.

She never did.

For the second time in Lizzie's life her Mother had turned her back and walked away from her never to be seen again.