The Eternal Flame

Chapter 1 - The Meadow

I leant against the trunk of the willow tree, watching the snow fall. It was the last snow flurry before spring, everything was bare and white, waiting to blossom. Despite being bundled up in gloves, a thick coat and boots, it didn't stop me from being painfully cold. My face felt numb against the icy wind and my fingers were rigid as I grasped at the thermos in my hand, sipping on hot tea to try and warm up.

I heard the crunching footsteps of someone behind me. I turned my head to see Drew walking through the snow towards me.

"Hey," he said. "You're late," I replied. He rolled his eyes and plonked down next to me. "Well I was busy getting us this," he said, pulling out a paper bag. I opened it to see two small cupcakes, drizzled with sugar. "Happy birthday Weezy," he said, smiling. My face spread into a grin "Thank you," I said, he pulled a poker face "They're not just for you, you know. It's my birthday too," he said, playfully nudging my shoulder. "How could I forget? Happy birthday, Drewmatic," I said, nudging him back. We unwrapped the cupcakes from the white papers they sat in and ate them whole. I put the empty papers back in the bag and stuffed them into my pocket. We huddled together to try and stay warm.

"Do you want some?" I asked, holding my thermos next to him. He nodded and opened the lid. He took two big gulps of tea, then jumped back and started fanning his tongue and whining.

"Ahh, thas stho hot!" he said with his tongue out. I burst out laughing. He looked at me, annoyed. "You think thith is funny?" he scoffed. I nodded in between fits of laughter. "Ahh, thas stho hot!" I mimicked with my tongue out.

He shook his head, still fanning his tongue. Then an idea popped up in my head.

"Eat some snow," I said, picking up a handful of snow and shoving it in his mouth. At first, he seemed annoyed, then relieved. "Why didn't you tell me it was hot?!" he barked. "I figured you knew it was tea!" I said, trying to hold in my laughter. "Water shouldn't be able to get that hot!" he exclaimed. I giggled and took the thermos off him. "Well, who chugs tea?" I mocked him. His face dropped and he knew there was no point trying to argue with me. He sighed and shuffled back next to me. "You win," he mumbled, "as usual." I laughed and rested my head against his shoulder.

I've always been very close with Drew, we've been best friends our whole lives. People always thought we were a couple because we're so close but I've never thought of him as anything more than a friend, more like a brother. I think Drew feels the same too but I never ask because it would be awkward.

After a while, the sun started setting and it was time to get back before curfew. I picked up my thermos and put it in my bag. Drew was already standing up waiting for me. I pushed off the ground, my limbs stiff from the cold and stood up. I threw my bag over my shoulder and we started walking down the hill toward the wall. Suddenly I slipped on a bit of ice and grabbed Drew for balance, but it only made it worse. We both went flying and I landed on top of him. At first, I felt embarrassed that I was lying on top of him but then he burst out laughing and I joined in.

"This is the second time you've hurt me, this afternoon!" he teased.

Eventually, we both stopped laughing and I realised I was still on top of him. I tried to get off him subtly but just ended up scrambling across the ice and falling again. He managed to get himself upright, then pulled me up close towards him before breaking the silence. "Let's go," he said. "Yeah," I responded, as we continued walking back to the wall.

We arrived back at the wall and wriggled through the small broken hole in it. You're not supposed to go outside the wall but no one ever noticed when we did. It was our secret. An escape out of the giant stone wall that keeps us locked inside, under surveillance. The train track that ran along the wall began to rattle as a train passed, but luckily we were both inside before anyone could see anything. We say a quick bye and then head into our homes, which are twenty feet from us.