The Cold

Part 6

I groggily opened my eyes and found myself in a comfortable armchair. I was quite startled to see the sight of my uncle looming over me, with Alma peering over from the background. I felt a searing pain at my temple and my hand flew up to feel my head. Jasper grasped my wrist. "Ah! Don't touch it Julee, it won't hurt in a moment." I winced as Jasper put an ointment on my injury and a plaster. I gingerly felt my head. It hurt, a little. I sat up, and Jasper seemed satisfied. He turned to Alma. "Thank you, miss Alma for bringing Julee back here, now if you will excuse me, I have work to do." He walked swiftly from the room, leaving me and Alma. She sat down and hit me on the arm. "Ouch! Alma?!" She chuckled. "That's for nearly giving me a heart attack back there!"

"So, we were best friends huh? Maybe we can still be? I mean, Jasper's cool I guess, but you can't expect to live your life up here all by yourself." Alma flicked a lock of dark red hair behind her ear. I smiled brightly. "That sounds great Alma...I was looking forward to meeting someone like you." Alma gave me a crooked smirk. "Well, come on biffle, there's something I want to show you." Alma grabbed my arm and I ran after her out of the house. She led me around halfway down a worn brick path I had never noticed before. She tuned left and disappeared into the bush. "Alma?!" I whispered. "Come on wimp!" I heard a voice. I ducked my head around the corner and discovered a barely discernible dirt path that I never would have noticed otherwise. I fought my way along, barely keeping up with Alma, who was surprisingly agile despite her slim and delicate figure. Several scratches and bruises later, Alma disappeared again, this time up a tree that appeared to have been split some time ago.

Alma's face could be seen up near the top of the tree. "Julee! Quick, get up here or you'll miss it!" I looked anxiously back along the path. "Alma! I can't climb!" She laughed. She climbed down and held out her hand. "Come on, no way you gonna miss this." I took her hand and she hoisted me up into the tree. She helped me up onto a little platform of wood covered almost completely with dates and names. "I like to come here and watch the sunset." Alma propped herself up on her arms. I looked out and, indeed, the view of the sunset was beautiful. I asked; "So, did you build this yourself?" Alma laughed. 'Nah, my dad did when I was three, before he left. I like to think it was his way of saying he loved me, but who's kidding?" I was silent. Alma's dad left? Alma went on. "He left way before you did, I don't remember much, you must know the feeling. Anyway, after dad left, mum went after him. She said she'd come back when she found him, but she never did."

"I guess she found someone else, and thought it best that she just forgot about her life here, and start anew. Can't blame her really. She said one thing to me before she left; 'periit amor tibi'." I was speechless. "Did you find out what it meant?" Alma shook her head. "If she didn't love me enough to come back, I don't care what it means."

Back at home in my room, I carefully slide my laptop out from under my bed. I opened a search browser and searched up a Latin translator. I typed in -periit amor tibi- and pressed TRANSLATE.

I quickly shut the laptop closed with an alarming BANG. I tentatively open it back up and listen for footsteps. But nobody came. I read over the quote, over and over, but it refused to change.

'Love is lost to you'