Loving a Black Rose & Life in an Elevator

Loving a Black Rose: Chapter 1: A Love in Autumn

"Note from the Author:

This story takes place one month before the events of my previous t story: "Life in an Elevator."

Loving a Black Rose.

I love her. She is everything to me. We were lying next to each other as if the world did not matter. The wind was blowing with all its might, but we were sheltered by the leaves of the tree's branches. This tree was enormous , with long branches that looked like tentacles reaching toward the sky. Many had tried to cut it down fifty years ago, but it had resisted and even outlived them. The tree still stood, its branches adorned with red leaves. In summer, those branches would be covered in blue and red flowers and green leaves that supported a variety of wildlife, including birds and insects. But it was autumn, and all the singing birds had left; the flowers were gone, and the leaves were starting to fall. While they didn't completely shield us from the wind, it was enough because we had each other. We were completely glued to one another, with my head resting on her shoulder.

— "You're shivering," she said softly.

— "It's fine, Lou," I murmured , distracted by a rose with striking color at its edges.

— "Take my jacket," she insisted in an authoritarian tone. "You know I have Russian blood; I welcome the wind."

I knew that I was unable to resist her sparkling smile. I stopped playing with the rose,, put on her jacket, and kissed her cheek.

— "Yes, my Colonel," I teased, a grin tugging at my lips.

She blushed, and smiling playfully, she replied,

—"You know I love you," she purred, her eyes soft.

She met my gaze, her green eyes steady as she said,

— "Don't worry about what I'm going to say," she warned, then hesitated, her voice softer. "I'll be traveling to volunteer with one of my friends. They need my help."

— "OKAY," I muttered, not fully convinced.

No, it was not OKAY, not OKAY. She sensed my tone and quickly told me,

— "No, no, it'll only last three days."

— "I know it will be alright," I replied keeping my eyes fixed on the ground

We laid there for four minutes lying down next to each other listening to the blowing wind. Lou looked at me.

— "We should go back home," she said while caressing my cheek. "Your aunt is going to want to know where you have been."

— "Home." In a microsecond, A memory flashed through my mind: a little boy crying on a bed. I snapped, grabbing her hand and shoving it away. Disgust twisted in my stomach as I stood up, my face hardening."

Lou looked scared.

— "Sorry," I replied, ashamed."I didn't mean to," I added quietly. I lay down next to her and rested my head on her shoulder.

— "It's fine," she said in a quiet tone. "Oh, I forgot to give you this," she added cheerfully, pulling a black notebook from her bag.

— "A notebook?" I responded.

— "Yes, stupid!" she exclaimed, playfully hitting me softly with the notebook. "Every day, when you turn a page, there will be a message for you. Only one page at a time—please don't skip ahead!"

My dark thoughts melted away, replaced by a warmth that spread through me. How lucky I was to have her. She was good to me—too good to me. She might not have been the most beautiful girl I had ever met, but she was stunning in her own way. With her short, messy black hair, a gap between her teeth, long thin legs, and striking green eyes, she had a way of making me fall in love all over again with just one look.

— "Let's go," Lou said confidently, standing up. "It's getting cold, and I think I'm going to regret my great generosity in giving you my jacket," she added, playfully punching my shoulder.

— "Yes," I replied.