Whispers of The Frozen Heart

Chapter One

Everrete

The streets were empty, and the skies were gloomy. It's been two days since Grandma's burial; I haven't felt any warmth inside me since the day she's gone. I looked outside the window pane and saw strangers going on with their lives. There were couples taking pictures and kissing, playing fetch with their dogs, and some were just like me, hands inside pockets, heads down, avoiding eye contact and conversations. As the pain inside my heart grew heavier, I decided to put on my jacket and take myself for a walk in the park. The serene park is blanketed with the golden hues of autumn and the crunch of leaves under my feet uplifted my mood. I was doing my very best to appreciate the beauty of nature around me. I hate this emptiness that I feel, the pain that's haunting me daily but my eyes are too tired even to cry. If only grandma is here.

As my feet started to feel numb and weary, I sat under the maple tree. I was lost in a trance gazing at fallen leaves when suddenly I felt a pair of strong hands blindfolding me.

"What the heck!" I exclaimed as I forcibly removed the pair of hands that were covering my eyes. It wasn't easy because he seemed determined in what he was doing. I felt veins bulging, making me believe that whoever owns these hands is fond of handy work. I struggled, so I decided to claw it, burying my nails.

"Agh, that hurts Leigh!" he screamed in shock.

I turned around to see the face of whomever it was who decided to play a prank with me. I was in complete shock when I saw his face. His face looked heavenly, his jaws were shaped perfectly, and his beard was trimmed to perfection. I was lost gazing into his crimson eyes, which seem to hold the deepest secrets the world has. His black hair was tied back, making him look more dashing.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" I asked. My heart beats fast from nervousness. He might look dashing, but who knows what he's capable of?

A surprised expression was plastered all over his face, followed by embarrassment.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I thought you were my sister. I mean, you look like her with your back facing me earlier," he explained.

"You almost made me have a heart attack! Like, who would roam around the park blindfolding people just because they look like someone you know? Ah, yeah, right. YOU!" I replied sarcastically.

"I sincerely apologize, my lady. By the way, I'm Leland," he said and politely offered a handshake.

"Everette," I took his hand and felt how strong it was again.

The atmosphere was filled with silence again. I tried avoiding conversations, and here I am talking with a stranger.

"I have to go," I said, immediately standing. I walked fast, leaving Leland standing there, processing the happenings.

"Nice meeting you, NOA!" he shouted. I froze and looked back, but he was already gone. How did he know my second name? No one called me that except my grandma. I was filled with anxiety and fear as I rushed back to the house. Upon reaching the house, I opened the door and locked it. Who is he?

I lay down on the sofa and tried brushing off my thoughts. The fear inside me started creeping as I wondered who is the man I met at the park earlier. I can't help feeling afraid of who he might be, I don't trust people anymore, which makes it even worse. I've never felt lonely all my life even if it's just me and my grandma all the time. I don't miss school either cause I don't have a lot of friends back then. I've always been the odd one most people stay away from me like I'm infected with the plague. Now, that I was alone I felt trapped in this space painted with muted colors that completely showed the distress that I was feeling inside me. And, for the first time in a while, I allowed myself to be vulnerable, I cried. I always tried suppressing my tears, my pain. I know I am weak– yet I find reasons to act strong around everyone. Now that I am alone to venture the world I must be more vigilant than I ever was. This thought pained me more, remembering how I used to be vulnerable when Grandma's around—my hero. I thought we had much time left but I was wrong. With my soft sobs filling the empty house that got even sadder as I looked longer, my eyes started to feel heavy and I drifted to sleep. Grandma is no longer here, I curled up in a ball hugging myself as I dozed off.