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Hazel is a medical student. Bachelor in science, who is constantly juggling between the demands for these studies and pressures for clinical rotations, she has learned to keep her head down and eyes for...
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I walked back to Martha's house in silence.
She was sitting by the fire; her eyes were etched with worry, and as soon as she noticed me, I knew she was concerned.
A wave of guilt went through me. It wasn't my intention to worry her... to worry anyone.
"Are you all right, Hazel? Do you... do you want a coffee or some tea?" She asked, her hands reaching for mine.
I didn't even think twice when I pulled her towards me and hugged her. I barely knew Martha, and I never asked for her warmth or her care, but she gave it to me anyway. Not expecting anything in return.
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Martha was working on her laptop while looking at me every twenty seconds like if I was going to run away again.
I smiled at her, trying to regain her trust.
Walking towards the back of the house, I sat on a chair on the patio. I pulled up my legs to my chest. I was in nothing more than a thin sweater and a pair of jeans.
Is it too much to ask for the cold to freeze my thoughts?
The scattered toys, the little swing following the course of the wind, the soft snow falling slowly.
What if I wanted Violet to be part of my life? Would that make me a bad person? Would she want to be near me if she knew?
The cold began to creep in. But it didn't really bother me.
I hadn't even heard him come outside, but when I looked up, Chace was there, gently putting a jacket over my shoulders. I leaned into him, my head coming to rest on his shoulder. Just for that one moment, the cold faded out, replaced by the comfort Chace always gave me.
Before I could even process the air biting at my skin, Chace suddenly scooped me up, tossing me over his shoulder. I squealed, my world flipping upside down as I dangled there, half laughing, half confused.
"What is going on?" I asked, my voice muffled by his back as he carried me inside like I weighed nothing.
He didn't slow down; he just kept walking towards the warmth of the house. "We're going away for New Year," he said, his voice casual like this was something completely normal. "Skykomish River. I figured you needed a change of scenery."
