A Prince's Love

Chapter 6.

Maadwoa's POV

My aunt went out again about 20 minutes ago to go to the market. So I used that as an opportunity to walk around the village.

I slowly walk towards nowhere in particular, taking in the environment and people around me. Little girls are playing jump rope together, while the boys are playing football. When one of the girls falls and skins her knee, her mother who was standing to the side, quickly runs over to her daughter and cradles her as she cries in her arms. The mother picks up her crying child and consoles her, as she places kisses on her cheek, and carries her back into their house.

The sight is bittersweet for me. It's makes me feel jealous that I never had a mother figure to care for me tenderly and lovingly like that when I was growing up. Even now, I'm older and I still don't have that mother figure in my life. Sometimes, I dream of how my life would be if my mother survived the birth process. How happy I would be. How easy everything would be. I wouldn't starve, she would have made sure I always had something to eat and was always comfortable. I would have someone to look up to and talk to. In those dreams, I feel happiness for once in my miserable life, but when I wake up, sadness overcomes me again as I realize my fantasy can never become reality.

I let out a deep breath and pass through the trees, towards the small riverbank in the depths of the small forest we have.

The riverbank is my place. I go there whenever I need to clear my head or think about things. I accidentally stumbled upon it a while ago when I ran away from home in tears. It's hidden in the forest and I don't think anyone knows that it exists because people are afraid of the forest, but something about it being secluded makes it comforting for me.

I look behind me to make sure nobody is watching, before I bend below the tree branch and enter the forest. I turn to the right, and approach the river, but I come to a halt when I see a tall figure sitting on the grass, gazing out into the water. I open my mouth in shock that someone is actually here. Nobody ever comes here, except me. It almost makes me frustrated that someone knows my secret place.

I quietly approach the person, by of course, my clumsy self steps on a twig, and the cracking noise makes the person quickly whip their head around. I stop when I see Prince Danny, and his eyes become wide when he sets his eyes on me. Prince Danny? In the forest of the village?

I notice the look on his face, and it is not his usual, joyful face. He looks gloomy and stressed.

"Maadwoa, hi. Are you following me now?" he asks, trying to lighten the mood.

I bow and shake my head with a smile.

"No, Prince Danny."

He chuckles and shakes his head at me.

"I asked you not to bow when you see me."

"I'm sorry, Prince Danny." I apologize, playing with my fingers.

He pats the ground next to him, looking at me with a smile.

"Please, feel free to sit here."

I nod and slowly walk over to him. He continues to gaze out into the river and I cautiously lower myself to sit on the ground. I leave a space between us, just so he does not feel uncomfortable or creeped out. A silence falls between us, as he looks ahead of us, with his aloof eyes and a sullen look on his face. I can easily see the sadness in his eyes behind his smile. The sight makes me feel sad for him, and I can't help but question him. He helped me the last time, and now it's only kind to do the same.

I clear my throat quietly and turn my body to face him slightly.

"Erm, Prince Danny?" 

He looks at me and gives me a half smile, with his eyebrows raised.