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His smile vanished, his expression serious. "I may not know why, but I do know she despises water, and I'm guessing it's because of this place. I suppose this is where everything began?"

Ixora swallowed hard and nodded.

She glanced around, taking in the familiar breeze and the sights that stirred memories. She, too, had painful recollections associated with this place, as it was where it all started.

This place had not only taken away their beloved mother, but it had also stolen Cherry away from her.

"Spring Lake," she paused sadly, "That's what this place is called. We used to come here every weekend for picnics with our family."

"This place was our favorite in the world. Mama and Papa loved bringing us here, and Cherry and I loved choosing this spot for our next picnic. It was always quiet, with few people around. The peace and serenity were addictive. This place holds so many memories for us, both good and bad," she spoke, gazing out through the unmoving vehicle's window.

"Both goo