A WINTER OF CHANGE[Complete]

7

Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It's a good idea," Melanie said as they made their way along the snowy trail towards the town centre. Melanie walked in front of him wrapped in a black long coat and a black scarf around her neck. Benjamin was wearing his usual brown coat and he was in his cabin finishing his manuscript when she showed up asking him for an outing.

Snow fell on top of her braids, staining them with white powder. He didn't like this. If the people saw them together, they were going to spark up rumours he had no patience dealing with. But as always, he was inclined to do whatever she wanted, which is why he had agreed to this.

"We will see," he said, his hands going into his pockets. Darkness was slowly descending upon the world and maybe the dark was going to obscure them from prying eyes.

"And where are we going?" He asked, he had just followed like the fool he thought he was.

"I need a drink," she said.

"You can drink at your house," he reminded her. He sounded like he was arguing with her. Melanie was now leaning on alcohol to numb the pain. It worked but only for a short while, he knew about it pretty well.

"My father is there and he doesn't like it when I drink. He says it's beneath me, his daughter can't drink, not at all."

"Fine," Benjamin knew that fighting with her wasn't going to help both of them. The smart thing was to let her drink her fill then take her home.

They reached a small bar and slipped inside. To his delight the inside was dark. They sat down at the very back and ordered two mugs of beer.

"All I can hear in that house is how I need to go back to Keith. Even my aunt called me to say the same thing. He cheated on me but they are so blind to that fact."

"It's all about the money, Melanie," he told her in case she had no idea Mr. MacArthur liked Keith because of what he could bring on the table.

"And what kind of a father will sacrifice his daughter's happiness for money?" They both knew the answer to that so no need for any elaboration. Their drinks were brought to them by a large man who gave the two of them a curious glance, he set their drinks down and left. Melanie was quick to bring hers to her lips. Benjamin sipped his slowly. He didn't want to get drunk but the woman sitting across from him was in the mood.

"If he persists, I will run away," she said.

"Where will you go?"

"Away from here. I can't do this anymore."

"Just talk to him, I'm sure he will listen."

"If my mother was here this wouldn't happen. I miss her so much sometimes," Melanie said, finishing her drinking and calling for more. Benjamin watched her for a while. She was drinking to forget about this, maybe to numb the pain but that as he thought earlier it only helped for a bit but when the pain hit again it was going to sting the same even more.

"I'm sorry you had to see her leave at such a a young age," Melanie's mother died when she was thirteen by suicide. Benjamin guessed that living with a man like Melanie's father one would totally lose one's sanity what he says goes, no arguments just follow it all.

"It used to hurt a lot back then but now I think I just accepted it. It happened and there was nothing I could do to save her." Another mug was laid in front of her. Again she did not hesitate but took another long sip. He wanted to stop her but he let her let it all out.

"My father treats me like a child. He forced me to marry and now when the marriage fell apart, he's asking me to go back to him. If my mother was here, she would have stopped this somehow," she said and took another long drag of her drink. Benjamin was certain that an hour from now she was going to be very drunk and he was right.

"Let's run away," she said in a lazy tone. He barely saw her in the dark corner. Maybe that's what made her so very open.

"It will be just you and me. Alone. Together." Those were very tempting words to Benjamin. He liked the idea of her and him alone somewhere in the world. Where they could live with no worries whatsoever.

"We should leave for home it's—"

"No!" She said stubbornly. The corners of Mr. Weathers lips lifted. Her defiance and the way she was holding her head was comical.

"You think I'm funny?" She asked.

"Come on," he tried again.

"Just one mug then we will go home. Look," she motioned at his mug which was half full. He had barely touched it; he wasn't in the mood to drink.

"You will come to dinner," she said, her words sounding like a damn command. "I don't want to be alone with them, please."

"I don't think I can come . . ."

"Don't say that, my aunt will be there. She will force me to get back with Keith. She's like my father, they plot these things—" she failed to finish the last word. A hiccup seized her body and then another.

"That's it," he said, getting to his feet.

"I'm not done," she protested but he did not listen to her.

"There's tomorrow and the day after that, don't drink like you're going to die tonight."

"Maybe," she said. Mr. Weather froze, he hated the sound and determination in her voice. That's how her mother died, she killed herself and he suspected it was because of how her husband treated her. How he disregarded her and cheated on her.

"Come on," he grabbed her small delicate hand and pulled her to her feet. He paid for their drinks and they walk out of the bar curious glances following in their wake.

Melanie could barely walk, she leaned most of her body on him, her feet leaving a trail behind her. He was a strong man so her weight didn't bother him that much. They walked slowly towards the mayor's house where hell was waiting for them.