| Story |
 |
(Page 2 of 5) Discovering Alyzae by Nicole AnnI relaxed a little.
"I am Aiden Rabelais." I smiled warmly and gently shook her hand. She beamed, clearly enjoying herself. There was a familiar twinkle in her eyes. "I'm a writer. I live just outside of town in a small cabin, and I was just on my way home." Not entirely true. I was a writer, and I did have a cabin outside of town. I was just going to join my deceased wife in her mausoleum bed for the night.
She doesn't need to know that.
I turned my attention away from my own thoughts and back to Alyzae. She had just said something. How had I missed that?
"I'm sorry, what?" I felt like a fool.
"I said, is it a long walk to your cabin?" She was so innocent. I grinned.
"Not too bad, only about a twenty-minute walk. I usually welcome the quiet after a long day." I was developing feelings for the girl. Already. How did that happen? I blinked. "And what are you doing out so late alone?"
Alyzae looked down at her hands. I followed suit and felt my eyes widen with shock. In the moonlight I could see large, dark bruises that covered her forearms, accompanied by deep, bleeding gashes. What the hell was that from? And why hadn't I noticed it before? "You see, he doesn't like it when I sing. He says that it's improper for a young girl. But I love to sing, so I do it. I've been warned, and I guess I ran out of warnings." Her voice was quiet and sad. I felt my heart ache with sympathy.
I stood up suddenly.
She is not going back to him. Whoever "he" is.
"Come with me."
The girl stared at me as if I wasn't real. God, what was I thinking? I couldn't take in this girl just because she was abused. The idea was absurd.
"Alright, then, let's get going."
I stared at her with what I was sure was the same shocked look I had just received. We were truly crazy. I gently took her less injured left hand in my right, and we started down the gravel road that led to my cabin. Hand in hand, we walked past houses, barns, the mausoleum housing my forgotten wife, the church, and the Catholic cemetery. We walked in silence, each smiling with contentment. Why was I so drawn to this Alyzae?
All too soon we arrived at the cabin. Now what? What would I do with a girl at my house? I hadn't had another person in my house since Anastasia had passed away. I opened the door, allowing her to enter first. Once inside, I lit the few candles I had to illuminate the room. Alyzae yawned. Where would she sleep? I turned to the sofa, which was more accurately a couple of scarcely padded chairs pushed together. I was at a loss as to what to do and the silence was rapidly becoming more and more awkward.
Alyzae stretched and casually dropped onto a chair.
Ok, one problem solved.
I walked into the back room and returned a moment later with an oversized shirt. I laid it on the chair next to her. "Well, I guess get some sleep." I rubbed my neck awkwardly.
| |
(3 ratings)