Grieve

Chapter 7

As we walk, I realize I don't know where Evan is taking me. We left behind the stores in the center of town after taking a shortcut that only he knows about, so now we're surrounded by so many trees that I'm not able to see anything, except nature. There are sunlight rays weaving through the branches and leaves of the trees, but they are so big that there are mostly shadows protecting us from the sun's heat. There are birds chirping from time to time; the rustling of trees from the wind's invisible swirls relieving the heaviness in my body. My mind wanders off to an unknown place, one where nothing else exists, but this moment where my feet are scrunching dead leaves as my legs move forward.

Evan is quiet, but so am I. And I don't think neither is uncomfortable with that since there are other sounds filling the air. They mimick the conversation we have without pronouncing any words.

He keeps walking, and I follow along until I'm able to see a sliver of a lake nearby. I'm not sure whether it is a lake or a pond because the trees are denser in this area, covering the view. Evan continues that way and walks across an arms length gap between two thick trees. When he's on the other side, he looks at me from there. The gap has an unintended oval shape that surrounds his face.

"Are you coming or not?"

I don't answer. Instead, I walk across the gap, aware that his hands are holding some branches away so I don't get hurt. Then, the view of the lake is right before me. Around it, the grass is high, wild, clearly not perturbed by man's hand. My skin feels almost wet from the humidity in the air.

Evan keeps walking around the lake until we reach a spot where there is still undergrowth, but it's not that bad. He sits, and I do the same by his side.

"It's beautiful, don't you think?" he asks, I don't answer right away. I take the time to admire the way the high trees and plants are reflected on the lake, and the sun shines through them all.

"Yes," I whisper, hugging my knees with my arms.

"Daia decided to stay home?" I roll my eyes at the question because I remember her audacity.

"Yeah, but just because my task for the day was to go out with a friend. Since I don't have any, she decided to take some attributions and pick someone she trusted to be alone with me." His smile lights up his face at that.

"I'm glad she likes me."

"Don't get too excited," I threaten. "The one that has to like you is me."

Evan's eyes wander around my face.

"Do you?"

I avoid his gaze at that question because I have no idea what to answer. Do I like Evan? I  not to delve into that thought in this exact moment.

"You're okay," I say, and he chuckles.

"You're okay, too." I can't help but snort at that.

Evan reclines his torso, his hands behind his back to hold himself, while stretching his legs out. Sun rays fall into his face, making him close his eyes.

"How did you find this place?"

"It was a week ago, I didn't want to be at home, so I took a walk, found the shortcut we walked through, and got here somehow."

I nod. My eyes focus on his face.

"I like coming here when I feel lost," he blurts out, and I frown at him.

"Lost? Have you actually felt like that?"

I'm not sure why I answered like that. But, right now, looking at him like this: sitting on the grass in front of the lake with sunlight in his face makes him look so peaceful. Like nothing could ever be wrong with him.