Something About Septimus

18 - The Path

The weather was cold but I fel warm next to Septimus. Heat radiated off of him in tiny little waves and they all hit me with force.

He led me on a little path into the forest that I never saw before. We followed the dirt path for a couple of minutes until Septimus stopped and started talking.

"Wanna hear the story about how this path started?" He looked down at me with his bright blue eyes.

I gazed up at him and raised my eyebrows. "Sure?"

"My parents started walking on this path before it was even a path. Before any of my brothers were even born. They liked exploring the new land they just bought. Your house wasn't built yet and they owned all this land back here."

At this point Sep continued to walk down the narrow path.

"So they kept walking and exploring everyday until they came to a large clearing filled with beautiful flowers of every color. There was also a river spanning about 20 feet wide at the farthest end of the clearing. There was a bridge already built there so that made it easier to cross the river and explore. My parents loved going there to that clearing everyday. They loved it so much they brought each of my brothers there when they were born. It was like a mini family vacation when we went there. We had picnics and birthday parties there. My whole family walked on that path so much it eventually wore down. And then suddenly we stopped going down this path. Leaves blew over it, weeds grew and soon enough you could barely even tell there was a path here. Not until recently did I find it again. I was exploring the woods back here and I came across it and followed it to the clearing that my family used to go to all the time."

At the end of his story Septimus looked at me with a funny smile on his face.

"I hope you don't mind that I'm walking around here. This forest is tecnically your property so I've kind of been tresspassing since you moved in."

I laughed and his smile grew. "I guess I'll have to call the police on you then."

"Well you won't have time for that because look."

He extended his hand and pointed to a small clearing just ahead. It was about 20 feet by 15 feet, just big enough for a family to camp out. The ground of the clearing started to grow weeds here and there but beautiful flowers still remained. Across from the both of us was a small little bridge, narrow and the ropes were fraying.

"My brothers and I ran across that bridge all the time. Our parents stopped us from going on it because it looks so fragile. But I think it can hold weight just fine. I've walked on it since we stopped comgin here. Don't tell my mom though. She will be mad. I think my whole family forgot about this place."

I remained silent and Septimus took my hand and lead me into the clearing. We sat down on a dry spot of grass and I laid down next to him and gazed at the setting sun. Our hands were intertwined and the next thing I knew my eyes were slowly drifting closed and I fell asleep.

~~

"Etta wake up."

My eyes flew open and Septimus' face was directly in front of mine. I hazed past his head and realized that the sky was dark.