Year 2017
Pine Ridge, North Carolina
“Do you regret coming here to Pine Ridge?”
Tatum spoke in a steady tone that was tinged with both wonder and a bit of worry. His beautiful honey brown eyes were fixed on Atlas when he posed the question, as though he was trying to see how she would respond. Nothing in his words suggested insincerity or ridicule, since he did wonder if she wanted to be here or if she regretted being here. It was his sincere desire to find out if she regretted traveling to Pine Ridge.
That simple question, from Atlas’ point of view, reverberated like a melancholy tune in the back of her head and ringing in her ears. “Do you regret coming here to Pine Ridge?” Her mind ringing again in her ear. A wave of reflection and introspection was generated by the words as they r
