A year later…
"Taylor! It's time to wake up."
Taylor jolted awake his eyes snapping open.
He got up as a yawn escaped him.
"Did I wake up late again?"
Sunlight stream through the window, blinding his sight.
"Mom, why didn't you wake me up."
"I'm sorry, I remember wanting to stir you, but…"
Taylor raised a brow.
"But?…"
"You just looked so cute and peaceful, I just couldn't bring myself to."
*Of course you didn't!*
He thought, as he questioned her logic.
Taylor had been up, reading late at night.
Sigh!
"Mom, you can't keep being over protective, I'm not a little kid."
"I know you're all grown up now."
She lowered her gaze with a sad expression.
"Don't worry, mom I won't never let anything separate us, I promise."
He got out of the bed.
Lalia changed him to his usual attire.
They went down down.
Taylor went to the kitchen table.
Lalia had already prepared breakfast.
Where a bowl of porridge awaited him.
"Thanks for the meal, and goodbye Lilam and the others are waiting for me!"
He hurriedly passed outside the door.
They both took a sit, Lalia sitting facing him.
*Of course she served porridge, I'm starting to think it's the only breakfast meal she can cook!*
Taylor bluntly stared at the porridge.
He let out a sigh.
"Is something wrong Taylor?"
Lalia, cut his thoughts.
"Oh, nothing just thinking."
Lalia let, out smile leaning her cheek against her hand.
Staring at him with a soft expression.
"What's wrong is there something on my face?"
Taylor said raising his brow.
"No, it's nothing."
Lalia said, making him reminisce.
*That was, fast karma.*
He thought.
"Well it's just…"
She said softly before continuing
"….You've grown so much."
Taylor was a bit taken aback.
*I thought she said, it was said nothing.*
"It's just your actions, you act so mature sometimes."
She said calmly.
"Really I haven't noticed."
He said trying to hide his nervousness within.
She kept staring at him with a warm expression.
Taylor, buried his face on the warm meal.
As he finished he suddenly remembered.
"Oh, I almost forgot Liam and the others told me to meet them for the town's festival tonight sorry gotta go, love you mom!"
Lalia turned her head, as Taylor rushed out.
"He really has grown a lot."
Taylor sprinted out of the yard.
Huff! Huff! Huff!
"Whew, I'm exhausted I can't believe I forgot!"
He started to walk slowly.
Taking in the beautiful view of the village, the nice and fresh smell of flowers. The sweet scent of bread lingering in his nostrils.The whole hearted playful screams of the children, bursting through the air.
"Good morning there boy."
Said an old man riding a wagon.
"Good morning Mr. Harvey!"
Taylor said, as he waved back.
In his eyes, life didn't seem quite so bad.
As he passed the heart of the heart of the village.
The village's fountain.
Eventually arrived at the black smithing shack house.
"Good morning Liam's dad."
"Why, there good morning Taylor."
Liam's father greeted back with a warm smile.
Stepping, outside the backyard he spotted the group.
"Taylor, you're finally here."
Carol said.
"Yeah, what took you so long?"
Eli added.
"Sorry, for the wait guys!"
"Don't worry about it!"
Liam reassured.
*I wonder what took him so long?*
Lowell's thoughts drifted to him.
"So, are you ready for the festival?"
"Yes!"
Liam answered with enthusiasm.
"We're going to stay up late?"
Eli, added wit excitement.
"But, let's go and play first!"
Carol said, with eagerness in her voice.
"Yeah, let's go!"
Liam and Taylor shouted.
They headed out, waving Liam's father goodbye.
Laughter trailing behind them.
Taylor and Lowell were walking slowly.
The air was quiet.
*He really doesn't remember, to me it feels like it was yesterday!*
***
Flashback:
"Here! Take it"
Lowell said, as she gave Taylor a neatly folded envelope.
"Huh!"
He looked at the eager little girl.
"Read it when you're alone."
"Uhmm….thanks
"Wow, this is perfect!"
Taylor blurted out in excitement.
"Really?"
Lowell asked in confusion, her heart racing.
"Yes, thank you!"
Taylor gave her an oblivious smile.
Lowell quickly ran off.
*I hope he reads it.*
She had heard, from her mother that when a girl feels strange around a boy that usually means they are both in love. So she had asked her mother for paper wich wasn't easy to get in this village.
But it was worth it in her eyes.
She had spent all day thinking about the right words.
And all that effort and hardwork was advent in that letter.
She rushed back to her home.
"Mom, I gave him the letter."
"Wow, look at you all grown up."
A slider of doubt, appeared in her heart.
"I'm sure he feels the same way about you."
Her mother said, not thinking much of it.
In her mind this was just a silly little faze that she will eventually grow out of.
"Really? You think so?"
"Yes, I'm sure! there's nothing to be worried about."
"Thank you, mommy you're the best!"
She rushed to embrace her.
"Any time, my little girl."
The next day.
Lowell, was waiting for Taylor at the exact spot.
Her black silky hair, tying back into two loose buns.
"Why isn't he here yet?"
She waited, as ten minutes passed.
"Maybe he's fixing himself up, yeah that's probably it!"
The twenty.
"I've been waiting did he not read it.
Thirty, more.
"Yeah, I'll eat him alive when he gets here. HA HA HA!!!
Then forty.
"Mabye he didn't read it?"
*I guess man really are oblivious, maybe I should go to him instead!*
She walked to Taylor's home.
As she arrived.
Her eyes were momentarily stunned.
As she saw Taylor playing with a paper airplane.
She didn't need to come closer, to see that it was the letter she had given him.
Done playing with the paper airplane.
Taylor simply three it in the ground.
Lowell was stunned npby the sight before her.
As she took a step back.
Feeling a piercing pain in her chest.
*Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!*
She inwardly repeated to herself.
*Why did I think he was going to like it, I'm so…stupid!*
All that hardwork, flushed down the drain like nothing.
"Hey Taylor where did you get the paper?"
His friend asked.
"Oh, that my super amazing friend gave it to me."
"Really?"
"Yes, she's amazing!"
As Lowell arrived at her home.
She hurriedly ran up the stairs.
Her mother asked.
"How did it g—"
Thud!
The huge, thud cut her off.
Fell on her knees.
Is everything alright dear?"
"Yes, mom everything is, okay I just don't wanna talk about it!"
Her mother listened from the other side
As tears fell down her face.
"Never again, will I ever fall for a boy."
"Never!"
***
*That's right, I cried myself to sleep that day and it was all because of him!*
Lowell decided to break the silence.
"Hey, do you have a second?"
Taylor looked at her
"Sure what is it?"
Lowell tried to let out a sentence but she couldn't.
"No it's nothing…."
*Seriously, that's twice in a row.*
"Oh…okay!"
Taylor brushed it off.
"It's just…."
*Oh, come on!*
"Here! Take it!"
She took out a letter.
As he was about to take it.
She suddenly withdrew it.
"You'll have to earn it. I'll give it to you tonight! When we light the lanterns."
She gave a mischievous smile.
Before catching up with the others.
"Hey wait, for me."
Taylor said as he chased after them.
***
Thank you for reading.