Will I Always Be Weak?

Chapter 15. Love

"She's so cute!!!" I squeal

I sat down and was lying on the ground. Tayla was asleep and resting her head on my thighs. She was slightly breathing her mouth agape. She was one of the most adorable people I have ever seen. Almost as beautiful as Angie. We were still in the forest, and it was getting cold, but I didn't want to disturb Tayla's sleep. The weather was getting worse every second, so I wrapped her in some of my vines to keep Tayla warm.

"Yawn," Tayla began to stir and awoke. The sun was bright on her face. She stretched her arms and looked up at my face. Tears began to swell in her eyes.

"Thank you!" She yelled as she jumped at me, giving me a big, warm hug. My heart filled with warmth, and I did the one reasonable thing I could think of. I hugged her back.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" She said, squeezing me tighter and tighter.

"You're welcome; it was the right thing to do," I replied to her. She let go of me and looked into my eyes.

"Is there somewhere we can take you? Somewhere safe?" I asked Tayla. She grabbed onto my hand and started balling.

"Miss, please don't leave me," she yelled as she looked down, squeezing my hand tighter.

"I don't want to be alone again," she said. Tears were leaking from her eyes. Those words hit my core; I remembered why I wanted to grow stronger. It was the same reason as Tayla's. So I wouldn't have to be alone anymore, and so I could protect the people I love. I won't leave Tayla alone; I don't want her to end up like me...

"Tayla," I say

"Ya," She said, looking up at me

"I won't let you be alone," I said. Her eyes brightened, and the tears faded from her vision. Her mouth went wide and grew into a smile. She started bobbing up and down.

"Thank you so much, big sister!" She shouted. She called me Big sister!? My eyes widened and my heart throbbed. This was the sweetest little girl; it may just be a formality, but for a moment there, I saw her, my sister...

"Angie," I said aloud.

"Huh, who's that?" Tayla asked.

"Oh... It's no one. I was just talking to myself." I replied. Angie was gone; she only lived in my mind now. Tayla stood in front of me; she was almost a spitting image of Angie. She made my heart beat like Angie did; she made my head spin like Angie did. It was really like she was my sister.

"You're amazing," I say to her. She starts to dance with joy, and her ears perk up. She gives me a beautiful elvish smile.

"Tayla, can you tell me how you ended up in this forest? The whole reason?" I asked. Her smile disappeared, and a face of sadness replaced it an instant later.

"You don't have to," I say, realizing I had said something stupid.

"No, no, it's alright!" She yelled. I'll tell you. Her story was terrible; it was full of loss, full of sadness, full of loneliness. I could feel the pain in her voice, but she was strong. She talked about all the despair she went through and didn't stop. Tayla was such a brave girl; her strength was awe-inspiring, and I felt a sense of pride. I would never be able to make it through a story like that.

"Good job, Tayla; that was so brave of you. Thank you." I said. Tears fell from her eyes, and she could not stop sobbing. I picked her up and hugged her tight.

"I'm proud of you, Tayla," I said softly. As I patted her on the head. I consoled her and rubbed her back. She cried and cried.

"It'll be okay, I promise." We sat there for what felt like an eternity. I hugged her and tried my best to make her feel better. Tayla had suffered a lot; she deserved to be happy. I stood up and brought my hand to her face.

"Let's go have some fun, Tayla!" I say. She lifts her head and stands up.

"Ok, let's go..." She said. I picked her up and I took her somewhere she would love. There was a massive waterfall with a beautiful little lake in front of it.

"Let's go swimming!" I yell out loud. Leaving Tayla on the ground as I jump into the lake! Wait, I can't swim! I cried out as I tried to paddle. This body couldn't teach me how to swim! I couldn't get up, and I started to go under. I began to lose air, and my vision began to go black... Am I going to die? As my consciousness fades, I feel someone tug on my arm. It pulls me closer to the edge of the lake, and when I feel the rough rocks, I grab onto them. I pull myself up, and my head breaches the surface.

"Cough! Cough!" I was spitting out water and gagging. I thought this body could help me, but it didn't. I look up and see a drenched Tayla standing over me. Her mouth was moving but I couldn't hear her. My ears were filled with water, and my eyes were stinging. I hit myself in the head, and I felt the water flow out of my ear.

"Are you okay!?" I hear Tayla screaming at me. I look at her while coughing and put my thumb up. I just lay there looking up while coughing. I started to get up to my feet, and I looked at Tayla.

"Tayla, I haven't told you my name yet. So my name is Jasmin, and thank you for jumping in there for me!" I said as I hugged her and squeezed her tight. I patted her on the head and pointed towards the lake.

"Now it's your turn to swim; I'll just watch from here... Now go have some fun! Tayla smiles at me and runs towards the lake. She jumps into the sky and laughs."

"hahahaha"

Splash!