His

November 8th.

Nymphadora's POV: 

We usually go out on Sundays. Mostly because Aunt Adeline is home and also because I try to give Ashley the best childhood. After my parents and brother's death, Ashley's mother raised me like her daughter. I never felt the loss of a parent with her. When Ashley was born, it was like God had blessed me with a real sister, and Aunt Anabelle never differed between her daughter and her dead sister's daughter. It was so good to have someone take care of you, but God had other plans, and Aunt Anabelle died when Ashley was two years old while giving birth to her son. Her son also passed away due to a lack of oxygen. We might've not come to live with Aunt Adeline at all, but we were in an Asian country back then, and when my uncle, Ashton, found out that her wife was in a hospital, he got his private jet ready and was on his way from New York when the plane malfunctioned and crashed. They never even found his dead body.

I try to repay my Aunt by doing the best I can for her daughter, even though it is nothing compared to what she did for me. That is why we are walking to the park at the end of the block. There is a festival there every Sunday, and they have all sorts of rides and food stalls. My favorite one, along with Ashley's, is The Sweet Stall. On other days, when everything at home becomes too unbearable, I bring Ashley to the other side of the playground, where there are just a few swings and some slides. It's peaceful on that side, and only some people come that way.

Ashley swings my hand as we walk to the park together, talking and laughing at random things.

"Dora? Ashley says, her voice suddenly serious.

"Yes, sweetheart?" I ask.

"That guy was nice." She mumbles, not making eye contact.

"Which guy, babe?" Not weird at all talking to my 6-year-old sister about boys.

"The one at the school." She says as we reach the park. I give the money for the tickets and they let us in. 

It's been a while since we came here so Ashley's excited. I mean what 6-year-old wouldn't be?

"Okay, where do you want to go first?" I ask, scanning our options.

"The jumping castle." She says, barely containing her excitement.

I smile at her, and she knows when I am smiling, for she replies to me with her own, and we walk over to the jumping castle.

Two hours later, I am already exhausted but Ashley hasn't broken a sweat. I mean it's winter so it's understandable, I guess.

I convince her to go to the food stall with me and we can go on the other rides after we have eaten something. She reluctantly agrees and we walk over to the food stall to get something sweet. Yes, sweet, even though I practically work in a confectionary store. Or worked.

As we sit at the table in front of the stalls and eat our cupcakes, my eyes scan the place for potential classmates who could accidentally see my face as I eat. 2 figures huddled next to a deserted stall catch my eyes and I look at them with curiosity as I finish my cupcake and take sips of my coke. The figure facing me is somewhat familiar as I stare at it. Cut that, the other figure seems familiar, too, but I can't remember for the love of God who they are.

That can't be Mr. Winter, can it?  I ask myself as I finish my coke and secure my mask over my face.

Damn it, it is him. His face shows nothing but pure loathing and anger, the kind of look Aunt Adeline looks at me with every time she looks at me.

The gray orbs suddenly drift to mine and I look away, almost on instinctive. 

Uh oh.

"Ash, hurry up, sweetheart, we need to get home," I say with urgency in my tone.