Heart of Ice

Shadows of the past

"Well done Isla."

Isla dipped her head slightly, worldlessy saying 'thank you'

Gade smiled under his helmet, and gently set a hand on her shoulder.

Isla tensed and kicked Gade in the gut. He doubled over, gasping.

"I should have warned you," Sadie said softly, "She doesn't like to be touched," she looked at her little sister

Gade looked up at Isla.

The set of Isla's shoulders was now tense. She turned her back to him, her heart fully freezing again.

Gade didn't understand what he had done, "Isla?"

She didn't turn to look at him.

"It's not you," Sadie whispered to Gade, "She's been like this since-"

"That's enough!" Isla said sharply, an arm wrapped around her stomach as she looked out at the sunset.

When she turned back, she was once again the ice cold warrior, her cape draped over one shoulder, "Good night."

"Good night," Gade said, as he watched her run back to her home.

Sadie followed her.

Isla took off her armor and got ready for bed. She brushed her long blond hair, looking at the corner of her room, a tear rolling down her face. It had been months and she still wasn't over it. People acted like she should be, well, those that knew, but those who didn't know just went on with life. So she never let anyone know that she still grieved. Not even her parents or sisters knew.

She lay down in bed, pulled the blanket over herself and let the tears fall as she looked at the empty place in her room.

Sadie lay down in her bed in the room that she and Starla shared. She could hear her sister crying in the room next to theirs'. She knew that what had happened had crushed her little sister. Since that sad sad day, Isla had become an icy warrior, the sweetness in her had been blocked by the ice, and everything her sister had gotten and prepared and gone into a box that was pushed into the back of the closet, or had been thrown away. No one in the house was allowed to mention what had happened. If they even tried to, Isla would run away. 

"Is?" she called softly through the wall.

Isla wiped her eyes, "What?" 

"Want me to come give you a hug?"

"No." the icy reply came back.

"Just know I love you," Sadie said.

No reply came back to her.