His arm wiped away the residue of time from the front window. Delight covered his face as he pressed his head against the glass. The old-school ice cream parlor was a haven for anyone dreaming of homemade deliciousness.

"Tanna, we came here every Saturday during the summers."

Tanna smirked as she joined him in looking at the past.

"They had the best sundaes with the most wonderful fresh whipped cream," Tanna said as she draped her arm around her brother. She squeezed his neck as she playfully rubbed his head with the knuckles of her free hand. "And I always snuck a taste of yours."

He pushed her away with a nudge of his elbow. "I know, but I pretended not to.” The glee faded from his eyes as his head dipped. "Those days are gone."

Quincy pressed his back against the glass and slumped to the ground. Tanna stretched her hand out.

"With any luck, we'll get those days back." She pulled him to his feet. "We're almost there."

They continued through the town, passing by abandoned vehicles and damaged buildings until they found themselves in front of the Washington Lake gated community. The guard shack, which always required identification for access, was empty, and vines conquered the walls that separated residents from outsiders. They passed the playground where children screamed for hours, but now it begged for the attention of summer days forgotten. Monument Field, where ultimate frisbee tournaments took place, became a resting place for the poor souls who stayed to fight.

Quincy rubbed his eyes as they moved between the unmarked graves. Sobbing soon followed.

"Don't think about it," Tanna said.

"If it were now, I could make a difference," Quincy said.

"No, you would be dead like the rest of them."

Tanna paused as they reached the end of the field.

"We can take the Alexandria or Cherry Blossom Path," Tanna said.

The fire in Tanna’s eyes reminded Quincy what their mission was about. Even though the eerie trail hit home the most, Quincy knew Tanna’s grit and fortitude would guide his fear. Quincy clenched his jaw and motioned toward Cherry Blossom Path.

"Returning here has taught me that I can't keep letting the past haunt me,” Quincy said.

They forged past the sign for Cherry Blossom Path and headed down the tree-shaded trail.