An eternity of lightning

Chapter 7

Astrild brings the child to her again, and this time she is prepared for the boy to follow. Miles, she thinks, weary of the interference. 

As Crystal approaches, she is holding the hand of her brother, who is glaring at Astrild with fiery brown eyes that almost look red in the sun. 

“Crystal, I’ve missed you.” Astrild kneels, hugging the child to her, aware of the evil glare she’s attracting from the boy. 

“It seems you were waiting for us.” Miles says, his eyes narrowing, his posture becoming more erect. 

“I was doing no such thing. Crystal knows that I take a walk in this part at this time in the morning. We often see each other as she walks to school.” They nod at each other in equal understanding. 

“Perhaps I shouldn’t let her walk alone to school anymore.” Miles mumbles, although they live less than a block away. 

“That reminds me. Why aren’t you in school now, dear?” the question was appointed to Crystal, but Miles answers anyway. 

“We have the week off. Teacher conferences or something.” Astrild nods in annoyance, “We should be going.” he finishes, glaring again, that hateful expression in his eyes. 

“Ohh, but Miles, can’t Astrild come with us?” Crystal says, looking and pleading with her brother, although she knows it’s hard for her to get her way with him.

“I-”

“No, I’m sorry Crys.” Astrild interrupts, patting the shoulder of the child, “Your brother and you should have some time together. Maybe tomorrow?” She asks, winking, and then she turns away and heads back toward the woods. 

I suppose every girl only wants to be whisked away as I have been tonight, thinks Astrild, staring into the eyes of her love as he kisses her hand and leads her to a small pond, dazzling her the entire way. 

By this time, her hair is beginning to come undone, and her face is drooping from the lateness of the night, but her green eyes are still as bright as ever. 

Bernard takes her hand, bows before her, and lands onto his right knee. “I know this is sudden.” He begins the inevitable, and Astrild can predict what is to come next. “But, my beautiful Astrild, if you would only do me the honor..” he trails off, clearing his throat before continuing. “If you would only do me the honor of becoming my bride.” he states nervously, under the pressure of his parents and her father. And yet, he was quite unaware of how unbearably happy he has just made the seventeen year-old girl who was sitting before him. 

“Nothing would make me happier.” She says, tenderly kissing his cheek before rising and making her way back inside alone.