Cherry

° Ch. 3 • Emotions °

Emory watched as his childhood friend and the Protector of the town walked away, off to fight a battle he could never join in.

He felt guilty for thinking this but he couldn't help but have it cross his mind. He was, after all, just a human.

Sometimes, he would envy Edrea for her strength and courageous personality. She was always so strong, like a piercing light that cut through the darkness.

He was always told that men were supposed to protect women. His father said it showed the resolve in a man.

His father was a strong man. He said he met his mother when she was being hit on by thugs and he saved her.

Emory wanted to be like his father. He wanted to be a person that people looked up to and respected from the bottom of their heart.

But, Edrea was different. She totally broke the stereotype for women, children even. The day he met her was the day his world came tumbling down. And then? It started to rebuild itself in such a way he imagined impossible.

They were only six years old when they met and somehow they managed to establish a budding friendship that only continued to grow.

"Emory! Can you run an errand for me?" Emory's mother called out to him while tying her red hair in a bun to keep it off her neck.

It was the middle of the summer and the weather was like a giant invisible fire that raged on for hours upon hours with no end.

Emory came running out, his hair also in a ponytail from it's long length. "Sure, mama!"

His mother smiled and gave him a basket of fruits. "Can you give this to our new neighbors, Em?"

He took the basket happily. He knew where to go. This town hadn't had many settlers come by so when a group came, it was kind of a big deal.

"Okay!" He cheered, pumped up to be able to do something to please his mother.

He ran out the door, basket in his arms as he crossed over the dirt road to the other side.

He noticed a girl around his age with pink hair sitting on the grass in front of the neighbors' home.

He never saw her around the village before.

She must be the new neighbor, he thought and walked up to her.

"Um... Hi, are you-"

Then, she looked at him, her green eyes focused on his face and he felt paralyzed.

Emory's legs froze and tried to advert his eyes but couldn't. It was like he was stuck.

"Who are you?" She asked him softly but it had so much strength in it. It wasn't a question anymore. It was more like an order.

She blinked and tilted her head in confusion. "Hello?"

And suddenly, he was broken out from his daze.

"Um.. Hi.." Was all the boy could muster out.

This girl. This girl had the eyes of a natural born leader. Of someone who would have people follow her without hesitation.

She had the eyes of power that Emory had always yearned for.

"Are you okay?"

He finally seemed to get used to it and unconsciously straightened his back. "Y-Yeah. I'm Emory. What's your name?"

She smiled at him. "I'm Edrea. Nice to meet you, Emory." Her hand was outstretched to me, as if expecting the boy to take it.

"Oh, um.." he moved the basket to his other hand and accepted the greetings, grasping her hand in his.

It was funny. Edrea's hand was so small and fragile to Emory. And yet, she held a power most men could only dream about.

She noticed the basket of fruits. "What's that?" She pointed to it and the young boy raised it up to show her.

"It's a basket of fruits. My mama wanted me to give it to our new neighbors!" Emory declared happily, remembering the reason he had come in the first place.

"Ooooh," She looked amazed, like she had never received such kindness in her life.

"Edrea? Where-" the voice of an older and mature woman was heard by Emory and he spotted a woman exit the house that belonged to the new settlers.

She had her blonde hair in a bun and her green eyes gave Emory a bit of a fright.

"Ah, who are you?" the woman asked him and he responded quickly.

"My name is Emory." He held up the basket, "my mama told me to bring this to you."

The woman laughed. "Hello Emory. I'm Amira." She took hold of the basket. "Tell your mama thank you for me!"

"Okay!"

"Oh, have you met Edrea?" Amira put her hand on the girl's head. "This is my daughter."

Edrea nodded. "We just met!" She told her mother and she smiled in response.

"Edrea, would you like to go play with Emory?" Amira asked, nodding over to the redheaded boy.

She shook her head yes. "Can I?"

"Of course, I can go see Emory's mother as well so we can all have fun!"

"Yay!" The pink-haired girl exclaimed and turned to Emory.

Amira laughed at her daughter's enthusiasm and walked back into her home to take care of the fruits.

"Hey, do you have any siblings?" Edrea asked.

"Yup! I have a younger twin sister!" Emory answered.

Edrea gasped in delight. "Woow, you're so lucky! I don't have any siblings."

Emory's face reddened as he took the girl's hand. "I'll be your brother!" He told her.

Edrea blinked a few times, letting the statement ease in, making Emory afraid that she'd be angry.

But, instead, she was surrounded by a bright aura that screamed happiness. "Yay!" She cried, hugging him.

Emory widened his eyes before hugging back.

When they left each others' arms, Emory started to pull Edrea along, showing her all around the village.

Emory smiled at the memory. The memory when they first met.

He learned that she was actually born in this town but her father had to leave suddenly and her parents wouldn't abandon her.

So they brought her along to a large town that was full of crooks and thugs and the sort. It wasn't the best place to raise a child.

But being raised there for six years could possibly be the reason she's so strong. Her small brain didn't understand what to do so it did the only thing it could do.

Grow and learn. Adapt and overcome.

Edrea had all of those traits and he admired that.

She would help whoever she could, whenever she could.

A kind, pure heart like that didn't belong in the slums of the streets. It belonged with family and warmth.

And Emory was happy that place was where he was.