Taylor and Victor

Chapter 22

Taylor

Four days prior to the end of the year, she eventually found the energy to reorganize her closet. Beside Taylor's wardrobe, was hers, packed with boxes of her belongings and a basket of things they're new to find out.

Taylor takes out the basket, opens all the boxes. Bunch of things that they'll never get in use again. She grown missing her when thought New Year would be no different without her present around.

She sorts out, accessories, school supplies, notes, and paints. Taylor's staring blankly, her chest became empty. Little by little, she spotted her mother's silver watch.

Taylor stands up, walking to her parent's room and starts knocking.

"Mom?" she said, opened the door. Minh shifted her attention from her phone, waiting for her to continue.

Taylor handed Minh her watch, as her mother took a look.

"Where did you find it?" she asked.

"In Paige's wardrobe."

They exchanged nothing else. Taylor quietly walks out and closes the door, while Minh puts the watch in her nightstand drawer. As thought she heard her mother mumble, Taylor had a lump in her throat.

"Why would she ever go through her stuff?"

Victor

She didn't wear it, she made his gift a necklace.

He thought she's weird, but beside, Taylor looked sorrowful. Even when she smiles, he could see brief sadness appear on her face.

Victor didn't acknowledge her change in appearance, he keeps staring when Taylor's making her snowmans in her backyard. Today she's like a perfectionist, smoothing her snowmans over and over. He has to keeps putting their eyes and hands on for her, as she only creates their body.

He thought of her missing something, but couldn't point out what that one thing is.

Taylor keeps on building her snowmans, which are getting smaller from time to time. Their size fluctuated, once or twice, but she stopped when the size of her creation was just a handful of snow. She stands up, staring down at her snowman.

"You're done?" Victor asked.

She nods.

He tossed the sticks and stones down to the ground on his left, sliding his hands, which were frozen without gloves, into his coat pockets. He looks at her, but she isn't looking at him. Taylor signs, puts on her hood and starts lying down to the ground. She stretched her arms wide, and closed her eyes.

He lies down to her level, leaning his face closer to hers, trying to read her face.

"Something goes wrong?"

"Cold," she replied.

He said nothing else, thinking she could have gotten inside her house.

"Can I ask you one thing?" she said after a few moments.

"Of course."

Taylor has her question, but she didn't ask right away.

"Have you ever lost somebody you love?"

Victor knows he hasn't loved anyone. Not above ador-able stage. Though looking at her made him understand he shouldn't spill just anything.

"Never."

"Have you ever imagined," she stops mid sentence. "Someone you know got killed?"

"Why would I imagine those?"

"What did you feel?" Taylor continues.

He stops for a few moments to actually think about what she said. He imagined his friends and family got murder. And Alan. He tried to concentrate, but he couldn't think about his own reaction.

"Maybe I'll be sad, for one or two weeks," he answered.

"I think I'm just too dreamy."

Taylor standing up, brushing the snow off her body. Victor did the same thing and with his knees.

"What happened?"

"Nevermind. Let's get inside, it's turning colder," she said.

He watches her hugging herself on the way back, a sudden glimpse of sorrow passed him. Victor knows, but he doesn't want to admit what he thought she's missing about.