"How can so many painful memories exist in such a peaceful place?" That was what I wondered as I cast my fishing line back into the sparkling clear waters of Lake Norfork. The Arkansas countryside used to seem so beautiful to me in the summer, with its chirping crickets, its rolling hills covered in wild flowers, and its clear summer sky. Now, because of what had happened almost twenty years ago, this once peaceful land had become a dark and sinister kingdom of misery, ruled by the still painful memories of my daughter Rose.
Rose was a quiet girl. She was shy and had few friends. Most of her time was spent at the lake. She would often swim, or fish, or go boating in the small rowboat that she had built herself.
One morning, the day after her twelfth birthday, Rose left the house as usual. She didn't return until late that night. When she walked in the door, her face was pale and her skin was like ice. She was soaking wet. Obviously she had been swimming. I took her up to her room and wrapped her in a blanket. Rose was asleep before I could say goodnight.
Sometime around one in the morning, I was awakened by a loud crash downstairs. I quickly ran down only to find the front door wide open and a small oak endtable overturned as if someone had tripped on it. I went back upstairs to check on Rose, but when I reached her room, she was gone. I spent the rest of the night wandering the woods, calling Rose's name, and hoping that she would be safe. Finally, after hours of searching, I gave up and went home. It was almost noon when Rose returned. She was even paler than before, and again she was soaking wet. Her skin now had a strange texture, almost scaly. I took her upstairs and called a doctor. He just told me to keep her in bed. I stayed in her room that night.
Around one A.M., Rose got out of bed and began to walk, almost as if she were in a trance. Her deep blue eyes seemed to see nothing as she half walked, half floated down the stairs. I followed her, staying a few steps behind and out of sight. I followed her all the way to the lake.
Rose didn't stop at the shore. Instead, she continued to walk forward until she was completely immersed in the water. I ran into the water and dove under. Just before I reached her, a strange, glowing entity appeared from the deepest part of the lake. It imprisoned me as two figures swam towards Rose and pulled her deeper into the lake. I watched as Rose's long, flowing, blond hair disappeared into the darkness. Then I felt myself floating upward, and everything went black.
When I awoke, I was on the shore. At first, I couldn't remember what happened, or why I was lying in the wet sand, covered in seaweed. After a few seconds, my head cleared and I remembered everything. I realized that I would never see Rose again and walked home fighting back tears.
That was the last time I saw Rose. I have since moved to Illinois. I don't know what happened to Rose after that night, but I come back every summer because I know that Rose is still alive somewhere below the rippling surface of Lake Norfork.
