“And another bulleyes! This fellow certainly mastered the art of the craft.” the host of the carnival contest exclaimed.
Aurelia stood cheering for the young man to blend in with the crowd. What she portrayed to the public’ eyes did not reflect in any way what her heart conveyed.
Blake bowed to his admirers but he felt totally empty inside. This game had become way too easy, the challenge long gone. He preferred to hunt lived prays in the forest, the more difficult the better. A long time ago, the easiness would not have matter but his heart had changed since. He no more participated to this ridiculous charade, this joke of a game. This year was exceptional, Blake was forced to go. His father fell ill. His family had no money to hire extra help to reap the land. Without it, they would simply lose the crops. Of course, he could very well hunt the food needed for his family but this solution would not sustain all their needs through the winter. This prize money was essential to help them through the rough times.
Blake waited for the end of the game on the stage. He grew bored waiting on the final contestants as they tried their best in vain to outmatch him. He was scanning the crowd hazily when his heart skipped a beat. Someone had caught his attention. She is so stunning. How can a common girl reflect such creamy skin. And her hair … her light brown curly hair fell loosely out of the simple blue ribbon holding them together. She was smiling, enjoying the game. Her smile is contagious. Blake thought as his lips curled upward. He certainly wasn’t prepared for this.
“The winner is Blake Cutteridge” Blake was startled out of his reveries when he heard his name. As he joined the host for the formalities, Blake’s eyes never left her sight, hoping that she would finally look back at him. She never did. Instead, she got ready to leave; excusing herself and making her way out. Blake was happy the host released him just in time to chase after her.
“Excuse me My Lady, may I have a minute of your time” Blake tried to stop her hasty leave.
Aurelia halted. She knew who was behind her. She noticed him staring at her earlier from the corner of her eyes, but she did her best to ignore him. She hoped to escape before it was too late. Did he recognize me? Impossible. It was so long ago and I am dressed as a country girl, not as the sophisticated Lady I have been raised to be.
“No you may not Sir, I am in a hurry.” she replied moving forward again, not daring to glance at him.
“Please.” he insisted as he softly grasped her arm. “simply a name then, so I can inquire on you at a most convenient time?”
Her heart constricted, her hands became sweaty. She enjoyed to escape to these games every year, an event she was strictly forbidden to assist. At first, she had hoped to see him but as time passed by, she was glad he never participated. Whatever had happened then, she thought it long gone and forgotten, but seeing him again brought back a myriad of emotions. One of them, the most significant at the moment, was anger.
She slowly turned around. “Please Sir, I am late. I need to be on my way. Please remove your hands of me.”
Blake studied her face, something nagged at him. “Do I know you?”
“No” she retorqued quickly and snatch her arm away from his grasp. You abandoned me, may as well say you never knew me. “Now if you'll excuse me”.
“I see, some lucky man is probably waiting for you already. I understand.”
She stopped mid-turn, looking aghast.
“A beauty such as yourself; surely she must be already spoken for. Am I not wrong ?”
She did not dare to advance on this touchy subject. “I will not dignify this with an answer.”
