The Remnants Of Forgotten Love

chapter 9

"Times when you don't know where to go, follow the moon"

"Uhh... I... I wanted to he friends with you!" Isla said as she grinned and clapped her hands.

"I don't want to" refusing, I start to walk away, only to be stopped by her crying.

"Ahhh! Mom!!! It hurts soo much, I think I broke my hand!" She cried as she sat on the floor, while holding her wrist with her another hand, in the air.

"Isla! Are you ok? Does it hurt alot?" I rush to her, worry visible in my eyes, my hands wanting to hold hers, but something stopped me.

"No, it hurts alot" she said with her puppy eyes and a pout.

"I'm sorry... it happened Because of me... I hurt you" I said, feeling pain in my heart and And guilt all over me.

"Don't apologize, I think I just need to put bandage on it"
"How about you take me to your house, and help me put bandage on it" she said with her puppy eyes.

"Uh... but..." I hesitated.
"Hm... OK..." I said in a low voice covered with hesitation, still feeling guilt all over me.

After walking for awhile we finally reached my house. My roommate when to his hometown, it's only just us here.

Opening the door, turning on the lights, I invite her in. After she came in, I went looking for the first aid box, while isla started looking around the room.

As I turn around i find Isla staring at a photo, of me and my... cellmates.
I feel my heart heavy... I wanted her to stay away from me but I didn't want her to think of me as a criminal or be scared of me.

"A photo infront of the jail?" She said, wondering and still looking at the frame unaware of me looking at her.

"It looks like you lived there" she said with small laugh.

"Yeah" I replied with hesitation catching her off guard, making her turn her face to me.

"What?" She said, confused.

"I... I went to jail" I admitted. Looking at her, preparing myself for her hate. I wanted you to not love me but I didn't want you to hate me as well.

"Woah! Really?" She said, amused. She looked like as if she was impressed.

"Yeah... why...?" I ask confusion written all over my face as i got caught off guard by her reaction.

"You are not scared of me?" I added.

"Ofcourse not!" She said, confidently.

"Why?" I asked still confused. Maybe you are saying that just to not hurt me...

"I don't know what happened that you were sent to jail, but to me you don't look like a bad person at all" she said with those same starlit eyes and that comforting smile, that i was yearning for all these years.

"I went to jail for arson..." I hesitated as I told her the reason, maybe this will make you hate me?

"It's ok, you already paid for whatever happened, even if you did it or not, it has already happen, don't beat yourself anymore" she said, as she walked to me and tapped on my back.

I couldn't say anything for minutes, yeah, it's you. I don't know how I expected you to hate anyone, you are the person who sees the good thing even in the worst person.

"Here, I'll bandage your wound" I said, while showing the first aid box, and trying to change the subject as well.

"Okkkk" she nodded with a beautiful smile.

"Can't you really become my chef?" She said, with a pleading and a sad look as I was dressing her wrist.

You know it's really hard to refuse you but I have to.

"No" I said while shutting my already locked heart away.

"Why?" She asked with a disappointed and a nervous look on her face, trying trying her best to change my mind.

"No reason" I said, coldly, while bandaging her.

"Hm then..., I'll leave now..." she said in a low voice, her bright smile disappearing, and a blanket of sadness falling on her.

I said nothing and just moved out of her way, with my head hung low, I watched her leave.
I didn't only hurt her physically but mentally too.

I'm sorry Isla, but for you, I really can't be close to you again.
I fall and lay on my bed staring at the fan the hung on the ceiling, my mind accessing everything that happened today, but my mind is lingering somewhere else.

Isla. The room feels heavy and lonely, but even though Isla left, somehow her light, her shine still seems to stay here with me, her scent still seems to linger here, her voice seems to echo too, you really left right? But if you did then why do I still feel that you are here.

....

The room lit with dim candle lights and the reflection of television screen spread around Liam who rested his head on Isla's lap, who sat infront of the television on a sofa.

"Isla. What if... one day I hurt you or someone you love?" Liam asked, as he squirmed his head on Isla's lap.

"Hm" Isla wondered continuing to play with Liam's hairs.

"I don't know. I don't think you can hurt me or anyone I love, and even if you do then I think that will also be for me" Isla replied as she looked at the TV screen.

"Why do you trust me?" Liam asked still with a hint of love and sadness on his face.

"I don't know" Isla wondered, looking for the answer of the question that Liam asked.

"Maybe because I love you? Or maybe because you are Liam? Or maybe because you are my liam"
Isla said as she hugged his head.

"Uhhuh, my trouble is getting mischievous huh" He said as he pulled Isla for cuddles.

....

Reminiscing about the past, Liam fell asleep on his bed, hugging his pillow.

Isla sighed as she opened the locked door of her house. Straight walking to the kitchen, the fridge, she takes out a cold bottle of water, resting on the kitchen counter, she murmurs.

"What do I do now?"
"I can't find a good and cheap chef... and I can't take too much time as well"
"I can't even pawn... as I have no one..." isla complains as she walks back to her room, still wondering for a solution.