A Wandering Melody

By Jennifer A. Yakimenko

Arianna lost her parents and her sight all in the course of one nighther life would never be the same. Leaving everything they once knew behind, Arianna, the middle child, and her sisters, Lara and Olivia, must move in with their aunt and uncle. There Arianna learns to live again. With her curiosity guiding her, Arianna meets new people, becomes more daring, but stumbles upon dogs, branches, and love. Without the ability to see, shes able to rely on her other senses, especially her hearing.

She heard it faintly, almost like a glimmer of light. The sweetness of it filled her ears, and this time, she wasnt going to let it go. Listening intently and allowing the music to guide her steps, Arianna set out into the unknown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532039805

Jennifer A. Yakimenko

Jennifer A. Yakimenko is an artist and holds a degree in Fine Arts. This is her first take on writing. About six years ago this story came to her and she wouldnt let it go. It started off as a childrens story and turned into the book youre holding in your hands now. She has a passion for Christ and uses her talents to praise the Lord. Jennifer and her husband are happily married and are expecting their first child in June 2018.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The evening was quiet and calm, the household was asleep and the smell of smoke made it’s way down the hall, filling each room with its presence. The father of the household woke with a start, realizing the danger; he sprang into action and woke up his wife. Quickly, they got up and ran to check on their girls. The mother first went to check on the youngest, little Olivia, who was only seven years old. She wrapped Olivia up in blankets and rushed out the back door. The father rushed to check on Lara, who was thirteen, the oldest of the three. Scooping her up and hurried to the back door where he saw his wife. She hastily took Lara with open arms as he dashed back for Arianna, their middle child, who was eleven years old.

By the time he had reached Arianna’s room, it was already consumed in flames. Charging towards the door, the father braced himself and broke it down. Finding his little girl in the corner of the room, covering her eyes with her hands, screaming in terror. He quickly scooped her up into his arms and bolted towards the hallway that leads to the backdoor, when a burst of flames rose up, completely blocking the back entrance. Agony built inside him. With every second passing the heat and smoke were surrounding him but he had to find a way out. He had to save his little girl. Oh God help me! he said helplessly and that very moment he heard his wife yelling from the front entrance. He maneuvered through the burning building and headed towards her voice. With only a few feet away he managed to pass the sobbing child to his wife when the ceiling began to crumble. Hearing the sound, he leapt towards his wife and child to get them out of harm’s way but it was too late.

Arianna crawled away from the heat surrounding her. Trembling in sheer panic and pain she screamed, for her eyes were in such pain. In the distance she heard a shriek of terror, turning to look she couldn’t see anything; everything was a blur and only becoming darker. The last thing she heard was the house collapsing and Lara crying out Mama! Papa!

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The girls were sent to live with their only living relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Newberry. Mrs. Newberry, their mother’s only sister, felt it was her duty to take these girls in. They had met once when they were very young, all to say, the Newberry’s took little interest in being part of the girls’ lives. Up to this point the extent of their relationship was the annual birthday and Christmas gift. Their aunt and uncle didn’t have children of their own, nor did they particularly like or want children but these girls were family and they were determined to try.

Upon arrival, their aunt and uncle prepared rooms for each of the girls and did their best to try and cheer the girls up by entertaining them but nothing really seemed to bring them out of their grief. Mr. and Mrs. Newberry weren’t sure how to communicate with children, especially ones mourning the loss of their parents. Providing the girls with the necessities of life the Newberry’s resumed their normal routine, giving the girls time to grieve, hoping with time their relationship would blossom.

For the girls, life became adrift and disoriented. Everything they had known was suddenly gone. Since the accident, the girls were left scarred emotionally, mentally, and for one of them physically. Each girl handled her own grief differently. Lara put on a mask of bravery. Yet, when she was alone, tears would threaten to show at the thought of her parents but keeping up with the brave appearance she wouldn’t allow herself to cry. Her nightmares, however, she could neither control nor hide. For Olivia she didn’t know how to handle her emotions, crying herself to sleep most nights. She expressed her grief with silence. It would be months before she’d speak to her aunt and uncle. Arianna struggled with the flashes of memories replaying in her mind. Knowing she would always have that constant, unforgiving reminder, that the flames which took her parents, also took her sight engulfing her in an never ending darkness.

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Within a few years, the girls were settled in their new home. Lara keeping up with the latest fashion, she mesmerized those who passed by with her smile and captivating forest green eyes. Olivia with a wild imagination searched for fairies or lost treasure in the Newberry’s grand gardens. Adrianna, sadly, was left behind most of the time because of her condition. She didn’t want to be pitied or be a bother so she willingly stayed behind and took each day at her own pace.

As the years carried on the girls became young ladies. Lara was becoming increasingly aware of her beauty and the attention it drew. Olivia still kept to the outdoors, keeping track of the gardens and befriending the animals passing through, and Arianna discovered that through the loss of her sight, her other senses heighten and she was able to live and enjoy life once again.

Now with an older sister who thought very highly of herself, and a little