Cullen Breslin hit his adolescent years harder than most teenagers did. Cullen’s parents died a few months after his father relocated the family to Buffalo. Zachary, his older brother, had recently graduated college when the tragedy struck... Cullen never felt comfortable invading Zachary’s life. A new home, new school and new friends established Cullen as a quietly popular sixteen year old after his first year in Fullerton. There were rough edges particularly with some of his friends. Trouble was attracted to him no matter how much he wanted to avoid it. Then, one indiscretion would steal his innocence and lead him towards disaster.
Cindy Carroll began writing short stories and poetry while attending Springdale High School in Pennsylvania. Through the encouragement of an English teacher, Cindy continued to write primarily as a hobby. Raised two blocks from Rachel Carson’s Homestead (author of Silent Spring), influencing her love for writing and the environment, she pursued a major in Forestry at Northern Arizona University. She worked as a deputy posse man and forest firefighter in Arizona. Transferring to the University of Pittsburgh to complete a portion of her education, she enrolled in several English/writing courses, publishing two poetic works. Cindy became a paramedic and an aero medical dispatcher in Pittsburgh. She attended Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing and is now a registered nurse. Her experiences then and now as a single parent of three very different teenagers add to the background of her novels.
Alexis shoved Cullen away, knocking him onto the tracks. “God, I wish there was a train coming,” she said. “I will tell Julio. I will tell him everything, Cullen,” she said with a vengeance. “I will fucking tell everyone at Fullerton, including Darci,” she snarled with a gleam in her eyes and a twisted smirk on her face. “I never asked you for anything, Cullen. Now, you will pay for it.”
Cullen climbed onto his feet slowly. Alexis left Cullen by the railroad tracks just as the signal began to flash further down the line. He heard the train’s whistle blow and he laughed at the irony in his life.
“There is your fucking train, Alexis!” he shouted as his stomach twisted and he choked on his last words. Cullen stared at the light on the engine as the train approached him. He listened as the powerful diesel rumbled along the tracks. The blaring blast blew out its warning for Cullen to step down from his challenge. Cullen watched the train baring down upon him. He lost sight of the eminent danger as the train continued to approach him. Cullen stepped away subconsciously, screaming out her name though the roar of the train muffled his cry.
Suddenly, the rush of wind from beneath the steel wheels forced Cullen onto the ground. Cullen watched the box cars pass overhead as he laid beside the tracks hoping for the train to derail on top of him to end his torment. Cullen saw the small shadow competing for the dark train looming over him. She looked down at his face. Cullen was as white as a ghost staring at her with a hollow gaze.