The Leaving

The Last One

~One left.

Just one defiant leaf left. It dangles from it's branch, swaying slightly in the cool winter breeze. I sit in the snow and watch, fully aware of Kade calling my name and telling me to come in for mid-day meal. But I refuse to miss this moment.

I've already lapped the garden twice in search of more leaves, but the other trees are stripped bare and covered in smooth ice. The cold bites at my nose and ears ,despite my layers of outerwear, and my lips have become dry. But still, I sit and watch.

It has been 1 round 10 ticks before it finally happens. I know because I've been checking my clock the entire time. And according to Kade's calls from our living space, I've also missed mid-day meal. But, honestly, at this point I'm not sure I care. The leaf struggles for a few seconds before taking a leap off the now bare tree, joining it's friends on the soft bed of snow covering the ground. It doesn't seem like much but, it really is a beautiful sight.

"Wow, I see why you stayed," says a soft voice behind me. I turn around startled. It's only Kade. Her green eyes are fixed on the leaf for a moment before she looks at me "I'm sorry, Belle, I didn't mean to frighten you."

Kade is the only one who calls me 'Belle'. My name is Annabelle, so everyone usually calls me 'Annie'. But when I was little, and assigned to living space 'Alpha 6' with Kade,(and Jessica) she thought that my blue eyes reminded her more of a Belle than an Annie.

"Mabye it's the bits of gold," she said. I must've looked confused because she hastily added, "Oh yes, flecks of gold. Right... there." Then she practically shoved her finger in my retina. That night, when I examined my eyes in the mirror, I found them. A tiny, but apparently noticeable, gold pattern, weaving through other blue-green patterns. I found them kind of strange, but then further examining my face, I noticed that nothing really matched. My skin colour is somewhere between carmel and a light tan, my hair is dark brown and wavy (in the sun it almost looks red). I'm around the same height as the other thirteens in Alpha, but that's basically the only similarity between us.

"Um, Belle?" A hand is waving in front of my face. I must have zoned out while recalling the memories. "Belle, are you ok?"

I blink a few times and nod. "Yes," I reassure Kade, "I'm fine,"

"Then can we go inside now? It's freezing out here. Your face is almost as red as mine." Kade gives her cheeks a light slap and we both laugh. Then I stand and start to walk to A6 (Alpha 6) with Kade. The winds become a little stronger and I notice that Kade doesn't have much outerwear wear on, despite the Council's request for many layers. Her black hair blows wildly behind her, her olive skin turning red. She must be really cold.Just as we aproach the garden gates, I realize that I've forgotten something.

"Wait!" I yell. Kade turns to me, shocked, but by the time she can say anything I'm already sprinting toward the tree that I've spent the last round and a half with. I find the leaf laying, undisturbed, atop a the snow. I pick it up carefully and walk back over to Kade. She looks puzzled.

"It's my leaf," I explain, "It's the last one."