I Spy, a Lie

Part Seventeen

Five Years Ago, Rolanz, Rungland

            “Dusty, please come out!” The girl’s aunt asked, sounding helpless, as she knocked on the child’s bedroom door. “You need to eat. Plus Landon is here. He wants to see you. We are all so worried about you, and we all love you sweetie. Please come out.”

            She got no response. She turned to the boy waiting at the end of the hall watching her from the stair case. “I’m sorry Landon. She just won’t come out for anyone.”

            Landon’s heart sank. He had come every day that week but she just wouldn’t come out to see him. It had been four days. Each day he’d wait outside her door, after her aunt left. He heard her cry. He wanted nothing more than to go in and be with her. “Okay.” He said walking over to her door sitting against it. “I’ll wait here again.”

            Her aunt looked down at the boy. It was obvious he cared about her niece. “If you need anything, just ask.” She went back down stairs.

            “So, my mom made her blackberry pie last night. It was great as always.” He said looking down to his lap, pulling his knees to his chest. “I saved some for you.”

            He heard movement in the room and he turned slightly hoping he’d hear footsteps coming over to the door. But there weren’t any. “My dad said that he wanted to take me to Yalts this weekend. I said I’d think about it.” He paused, hoping he might get a response, but nothing came. “I’d love you go with you. I’m sure my dad wouldn’t mind. We could get you a new dress, and some candy.” He wasn’t sure what else to do.

            “You know I really want to see you. I miss spending time with you.” He said head going into his knees. That’s when he heard it, what he’d wanted to hear all week. The door squeaked open. He looked back and saw her blue eye. It looked sad, red, and puff. Her eye lids were dark, making her eye color pop out even more. “Dusty!” He said slightly relieved.

            “Did you really mean it?”

            “Of course.” He said getting up, putting a hand on the frame of the door. “I really did miss you.”

            Her eye lightened. “Good, but I was taking about going to Yalts.” Her voice was slightly playful.

            It made his heart warm a little, he was still worried about her, but it was a step in the right direction. “I meant that too.” He said, giving her a little smile.

            “Hey, Landon.” She mumbled.

            “Yeah?” He asked, head leaning on the frame under his hand.

            “Promise me something.”

            “Anything.”

“Promise that you’ll never leave me.” Her voice was a soft whisper.

It made him take a step back. It had come out of no where, but he knew what he wanted to say. “I swear that I will never, ever leave you.” It was true, that’s what she wanted him to do. If that’s want she wanted, that’s what he wanted.

“Pinky promise?” She asked sliding her small hand out of the door to him, her pinky finger held out.

He gave her hand a small smile. “Pinky promise.” He took her finger in his. From that day on, he decided he would do anything to protect her and make her happy.