Revenge

Like a dream

Over the next few days he would come over, we would look through newspapers and then listen to the news on the radio with James draping his arm over me. It felt safe by his side.

"hey, lets go into town today.... we can work on this later but we need a break" he pulled me along and before I knew it we were in his car and driving into town, many people were here. Once we stopped he looked down running his hand through his hair blushing "I uh.. I heard about a festival, and I uh thought you'd like it" the way he looked over at me with his head tilted down and blonde hair falling in his face, I couldn't help catching my breath.

"I would love to" I felt this bubbly feeling rise in my chest. He then stepped out and went over to open my own door, helping me out. We soon stepped in to the sway of people going on way into the center of town, I could hear music. Sweet savory scents of different foods filled the air, music played and people laughed, the warm summer air had a cool constant breeze. I could feel a smile growing on my cheeks as I felt a warm large hand wrap around my own. I looked over to see James looking forward like holding my hand was the most natural thing.

"Do you want anything to eat?" he smiled softly, as if he knew I was looking at him without having to look at me. I could smell the miniature hot dogs before I could see them and my happiness was probably obvious. "Do you want some pigs in a blanket?" he laughed and I blushed

"I- I shouldn't... you've been so nice to me so far, giving me food and training me..." I felt bad, all I had been to him was a burden over the months we had become 'partners'.

"No, I won't hear that. You need to eat, being that adorable must be exhausting" He pulled me over and got the miniature hotdogs on a plate, then handed them to me smiling "Enjoy yourself, Lilja"

I bit into it and felt the flavor explode in my mouth, the bread fluffy and crunchy and the meat cooked to perfection. After we ate he took my hand and in my surprise led me out into the swing of dancing bodies and spun me around and my hair somehow flowed around me without getting in my face. He sang softly to the tune with nonsensical lyrics and acted like a doof, he made me smile and we danced in a large line dance, switching partners to and fro, yet at the end of the song I was with him yet again. I saw children getting their faces painted and he sat me in a chair.

The lady looked baffled as he grinned at her "Give her a butterfly" he laughed and disappeared into the crowd before I could refuse.

She then started painting the butterfly on my face, using blues and greens and purples. Pushing my soft auburn hair away from my face for her, I tried to look around for him but soon stopped when I had received annoyed disapproving grunts from the lady. Once she finished I jumped up and looked for him.

Suddenly the crowd of happy people didn't seem so inviting.... Like they were leering. I suddenly felt sick, like I didn't belong. Why was I here, laughing? I didn't deserve this happiness, where was he? I was alone, the music deafening, everything spinning colors. I tried to turn and move and then I ran smack in to someone's chest. When I looked up all my blood ran cold. It was him, Madeline's ex. It all hit me, I grew dizzy, couldn't breathe. Flash backs of her beautiful smiling face, her laughter, her lecturing me. They kept spinning around in my head one after the other until they stopped, and there it was, her cold, dead, lifeless body laying on the forest floor. I saw her furious red face the pain in her eyes, her screaming at me during our fight it's all your fault my life is so horrible, if you weren't here everything would be better! I turned quickly trying to escape the swinging dancing bodies, my breathing heavy and shaking as I tried to escape. I could feel the tears, hot and salty, pouring down my cheeks and messing up the butterfly that was just painted on my face. Blue sparkling paint dripping down my cheeks onto my clothes as I rushed out, running into people and gasping a sorry without stopping.

When I turned back after escaping the crowd, there she was. Beautiful as ever, ethereal even. She was wearing a white dress, her cheeks warm and full of life. Then her eyes hit mine and her smile fell away "Have you already forgotten me?" Her eyes were cold and accusing "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT" The people weren't dancing or laughing anymore, they were all looking at me with that cold glare "It's all your fault she's dead, it should've been you instead" I turned and ran, flashes of her at every time "Did you forget?" ringing in my ears it's your fault. I reached a bench in solitude and I crashed onto my knees, crying. The music was gone, who knows how far I ran. I cried even after my tears had gone cold and the pain shot through my temples steadily. Soon enough I heard the sound of foot steps, and the calling of my name broke through my cloud of misery "Lilja?! Lilja?!!" I looked up to see James running towards me, it was already dark and he was running with a gas lamp. Once he reached me he got down beside me "What happened?!"

I looked over at him, feeling the tears coming again "It's all my fault! I should've died in that forest!!" I felt his warmth wrap around me as he pulled me into a hug

"Lilja, It isn't your fault. You're doing your best to avenge her, those bruises, scabs, and callouses prove it" I could feel his arms tighten around me "If you had died, I would've never gotten to meet you..." He then pulled away and looked at me softly before wiping the tears off and looking straight in my eyes "Lilja, you're still alive... and I.. I love you. I love your auburn hair, your fiery attitude, and those beautiful green eyes... I love how short you are, and how silly you can be, and that look in your eyes when you set your mind to do something.."

I couldn't cry in my surprise as I looked at him, he loved me... "I could never have met you if you had died, we can go avenge Madeline together. You can't keep blaming yourself, you need to focus on what you can do since you ARE alive. You can avenge Madeline, you can smile and dance and feel. Don't take it for granted, I love you, so you should live." I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh in my surprise, he was being so serious. All the while he had a bunny face painted on his own. Everything felt so surreal, like a dream. He pulled me into a hug again and I ended up falling asleep in those warm arms. When I woke up I had been carried to my own bed, and up covered carefully.