One evening she had fallen asleep on the music room couch, as she often did, when she was woken by raised voices. The music room was situated across the hall from her father’s study, and from there she could hear the argument that had broken out between her father and her brother.

“What am I supposed to do? I’m half way through my studies” Lucas’ raised voice said.

“You will stay here, finish your studies and keep me apprised of my business interests” her father stated in his typical tone that left no room for argument.

It was quiet for several moments before a subdued Lucas replied “and Eliza?”

Thomas stated “ she will come with me.”

Several more moments followed before she heard Lucas begin to walk towards the door to leave. On his way out he said “don’t you think she’s lost enough?” Not waiting for a response he closed the door behind him and marched up the stairs.

Five days later Eliza and her father said goodbye to Lucas and headed west. They were moving to Colorado. According to her father he needed to oversee his mining operations there, but Eliza knew he just couldn’t bare to be in their beautiful New York townhouse without her mother. However, she felt like leaving home was loosing the last bit of her mother she was struggling so hard to hold on to.

The years that followed were very different than the life she’d been accustom to. Strolls through Central Park were traded for horse rides through open land. Music was replaced by art. Eliza always had her sketch book with her to draw the beauty of the landscapes in this new place. It wasn’t a bad life or a bad place to live, just a lonely one.