Snow Blooms The Perfect Rose

A drizzle

Abram had come. I knew he will. I was confused and nervous. I was not prepared. I remained on the bench, without turning back and fixed my eyes on the hills which was covered with fog. Abram sat beside me. I started to raise.

"I missed this place. It is another winter. It was difficult for me, to leave here, leaving everything behind". He looked at me, I stayed on the bench. He continued. "Sam is not supposed to stay here longer. We must go back soon. This chill could make him sick". He stopped for some time, hoping to get some reaction and continued. "I came here alone. Sam has no idea".

The sky was cloudy and it was freezing. I had no thick clothes or sweater,  I shivered.

"You still have that fever?" I ignored him again. " Those days, you were always shivering, and we made coffee. Fine, I expected this. I would be surprised if you payed me any sort of attention". I raised and started to walk away from him.

"Anna, please sit. I want you to listen". I hesitated and sat near him.

"I am leaving, leaving forever. I have to finish my studies. I stopped it for Sam. Then I have to take care of our firm. I don't think I will come back here, again. So this will be our last meeting. Forgive me, for all the lies and everything, and believe me, you were not a tool, whatever happened between us was real, for both of us".

I couldn't hold any longer. I busted out. "What was the need, to hide Sam from me? How many times I told you about Sandra? You knew her, the pain she was going through. Leave it. I don't want to talk. You can leave or stay, it's your choice and don't drag me into this. I have changed, I am not a foolish school girl anymore. You look different too. As you said, don't come back. I am leaving here too, forever. Both of us can leave our past here".

I wanted him to be angry or sad, but Abram was smiling instead. "No Anna, all these times, I thought, you have changed. You went college. Studied a lot and all. But you know what, you are still that foolish school girl". 

"Abram, don't start now".

"Look at you, trying hard to convince me and yourself that you have moved on and I don't have a chance in your life. If you have changed, you would have ignored me or you would have talked to me like an old acquaintance, but you talked about us. I am sorry Anna, accept this. Both of us are still there".

He pointed towards Larmede, the mountain before us. I looked at him, he has broken everything, every wall I made inside me has shattered  and he went back without looking back.

Abram disappeared into the church. I stayed on the bench. The wind left more shivers in my body. I stayed there in spite of the cold. Most of the guests left the church. I knew someone would be searching for me, but I didn't move. Then there was a drizzle which started unexpectedly  and I went inside the church. Steve was sitting there alone. I joined him.

"I had no idea, it was him". He started.

"Whom?"

"I saw you talking with him. He was watching you throughout the wedding. I recognized him. It's Sam's brother, right?" Steve has found him and I was not surprised.

"Where was he?".

"He was outside. You couldn't find him. I saw you searching him in the crowd".

"Steve, no, forget it. Do you think he saw me searching for him?"

"Probably, you turned back a lot of times during the wedding. Anybody watching you, will know that".

"Why he stayed there?"

"Perhaps to check whether you are looking for him or not".

"And he won".

"I think so".