The King Who Won't Marry

STAY (cont. )

Isabelle

"It's all gone."

After 'escaping' the royal infirmary, I found myself standing in front of our house. Well, what's left of it, or what used to be our house.

Everything was either black or gray. Exactly what I'm feeling right now.

My room, our kitchen, our farm, it's all still vivid in my mind. Now, I can't even recognize it. Not even our staircases and doorposts made it. It's all burned to the ground, pounded into ashes.

I sighed, scooping up a pile of ashes and letting it go like dust in the wind, "How did it happen so fast?"

I dropped to the ground, unable to take the sight. I felt so weak, having nothing left. This house was a piece of me, now it's gone.

Now, I'm leaving Sorah. I don't know what's gonna be left of me after that. I lost my house, will I also be losing my home?

"I-it's so..." I sobbed, my face buried in my palms.

Why me?

I never wanted any of this. All I wanted to do was learn, study, live like any other ordinary human being, be with the ones I love, especially. What did I do to the world the made me deserve this?

I don't know what to do. I want to stay, but after everything, it's starting to be a pain to stay. And I hate that feeling.

I don't wanna leave, but I want to escape.

"Isabelle!"

I turned around at the shout of my name. Passing by the trees was Aspen, galloping on a horse.

I met his eyes, along with the much worried look on his face. I couldn't stand to greet him and run to him. I couldn't move at all.

When his horse stopped moving, he stepped down and ran to me. He stopped just a feet away from me, looking at me with the most pained eyes, whereas I was looking him with tears running down my cheeks.

"Aspen.." I uttered.

"You're awake." He gave a sigh of relief and knelt down to level with me, "How are you feeling?"

I felt his arms suddenly embrace me in a short, tight hug.

I smiled lightly at him, "Well physically, I'm better. But, I'm not really as well."

"I'm sorry." He said, "I couldn't do anything."

"Shhh." I put a finger on his lips, "It's okay. You weren't supposed to. Stop acting like everything's your fault, Aspen. We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you."

"But still, I-"

"Agh..." I fake-grunted in pain as I held my midsection. I wasn't really in pain per se.

"Isabelle!? Are you hurt?!" He quickly exclaimed, examining me.

"Nah. I'm just messing with you. Really just wanted you to shut up." I smirked, letting go of my stomach.

He glared at me and shook his head, "You had me worried."

"At least you're not blaming yourself now." Another smirk played on my lips.

"Sorry bout that." He scratched the back of his head, "I just really-"

I stopped him before he could say another stupid speech, "Say another word. This time I'll play dead and never wake up."

Finally, he shut his mouth. But, it later formed into a smile, then into hysterical laughs.

Unconsciously, I started laughing too. Guess, it's contagious. Good thing there's no one around to laugh back at us.