Why Don't You Love Me?

Chapter 2: No Light, No Light

"A flower cannot bloom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." ~ Max Mullen

"Slowpokes!" Jack yelled over his shoulder, sprinting down the road toward the large hill.

He could hear the excited panting and giggling of little kids chasing after him.

"You want to get to the hill before your moms notice, don't you?" He asked.

This gave the children a burst of energy, and Jack craned his neck to see them gaining on him. Laughing, he sped up, and at the foot of the hill, he stopped and turned around. The kids- Ruthie, Parker, Mark, Anthony, and Krista - surrounded him, while holding their sleds close to their chests. Krista giggled and tugged at Jack's hoodie, and when he smiled down at her, she grabbed his hand, and pulled him up the hill, still giggling.

Anthony bounced along, chattering. "And know what? One time. . .one time, we went to Uncle Jimmy's house, and it. . .and it was snowing, so Uncle Jimmy, he took us sledding!

The small boy's eyes widened as he stared up to in wonder to Jack. "Did you make it snow there too?"

Jack nodded. "I'm always the one behind the snow, buddy," he said softly.

Krista stared up at him in delight, with her flushed red face beaming. When they finally reached the top, Jack looked around at the small neighborhood, the ice and snow covered townhouses, and the trees donning their icicles, and he knew that this was why he loved the snow.

Anthony whooped excitedly, as he slapped his sled onto the matted grass poking out from the snow, and yelled at the others to hurry up. Before Jack could leap down the hill, he felt another tug at his hand, and looking down, he saw the trembling Krista.

"I dunno if I can," she whimpered, with both of her tiny hands wrapped around his own.

Her big green eyes fearfully peered through her cherry red bangs.

Crouching down next to her, Jack brushed her bangs away and gave her a smile, saying "You can."

Krista's chin firmed, and nodding, she dropped her sled on the ground and hopped onto it. Jack wiggled his fingers, and a burst of wind pushed her down the summit. He laughed, as he listened to her squeals of delight.

"Told ya so." He howled down the hill, and she briefly glanced up at him, to which he waved.

"Ay, Jack, you go now!" Mark yelled, while haphazardly waving his arms from his spot at the bottom of the hill.

Jack nodded, and then, sliding a sled from beneath a child's boots, he planted his feet on the board. After a bit of wiggling, Jack and the sled went speeding down the hill, and he could hear the cheers of the other children. Suddenly, he jumped and curled into a ball while grabbing the sled with both hands, and then he was flying over the hill and excitedly shouting children.

Tossing back the sled, Jack waved to them as he continued to fly. He frowned a bit, seeing that the wind was carrying him toward a grove of trees with spear-like branches. With a snap of his fingers, Jack lowered himself to the ground, and he had to leave soon, since China could never have enough snow, but one more launch from the hill wouldn't hurt anybody.

"Jack!" He heard one of the kids call frantically. "Jack, where were you? Krista's hurt!"

Sighing, the boy slid through the snow, and toward the crowd of children that gathered a few yards from the edge of the hill. He could hear Krista sniffling, and shoving through the crowd, he could now see Krista curled up on the ground, with a little gash on her cheek. Jack knelt down next to her, and cradled her face in his hands. Rubbing a thumb over her wound, and ignoring her cries, he let cold, clean water wash out her wound. Next was a newer trick, and he concentrated with his eyes shut.