Love Knows Its Way Back

The Lake

He stood there with open arms and a confident grin. What else could I do, but merge my soul with his and attain nirvana?
                 - Diary Of Ophelia

' I don't know why that forest seems dear to me. My soul is urging me to go there, like I'll recover something that was lost to me. But what? I've never been there, in the first place. And that dream!!!
It's always the same. The same young man. The same environment. The same look of helplessness in his wood-coloured eyes. And when he closed his eyes with a reassuring smile and breathed his last, why did I feel like my whole world had come crashing down!? Why?? Why?? Why??
Maybe I shouldn't have painted his potrait. That made it all the more realistic. Grrr! But something in me urged to pour out his features on to the canvas. Those smoky brown eyes, sun-tanned skin, midnight black hair and that endearing beard that covered half the face. But his smile stood out in the midst of all that facial hair, with a pair of dimples making the sight mesmerizing.
Amidst the recurring scene of his death, a few others were like flashes. His happy smile, his confession by the banks of the pickerel plant lake and his vow to never leave. But the object of his affection never showed up in those dreams. I wonder why.
All these speculations swirls around in my head. And I have a feeling that our destination will provide me with a few answers. And then what??'

"Sis, look at them. Aren't they beautiful?" Thea's words heavily laced with awe broke into Sia's thoughts.

Celosia let herself be dragged near to the rainbow of flowers swaying in the refreshing breeze of the dawn.

"We'll go look around for the perfect spot to enjoy the picnic", Alec said while setting off with Barak.

"Careful, don't go too deep." Epione called out with concern.

"We won't."

"Can we take a few with us? Oh, they are so nice! Can we, sis?" , Thea was charmed by the sea of flowers all foreign and new to them.

"Of course we can, sweetheart," Epione replied fondly.

Thea's eyes were akin to glowing stars by then.

"Take care not to let the maids see them, lest they inform Father." Leo warned with a strict voice.

"Yes brother," for once Epione was serious while answering her elder brother.

"Earth to Celosia," Leo waved his hand infront of Celosia's face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I spaced out," she said with an uneasy laugh.

"Are you okay, Sia?"

"Yes,yes. Of course I'm."

"Leo, we've found a clearing not too far away. It's just perfect for a picnic." Alec and Barak had returned.

'Saved by them. I can't let anyone know my worries. I can't trouble them with this. This is a puzzle that I'll have to solve myself.'

"Well, then. Let's go!'

The siblings walked with a relaxed pace talking and laughing on the way to the clearing that was fated to be their picnic destination.

"Wowww..."

"It's such a picturesque scenery....."

"Good one. Easier to spot the wild animals if they are about to attack."

"Leo....." they chorused.

"Relax brother. We're safe here."

"You are my responsibility. Don't try any tricks." Leo was in the crown prince mode with an icy face. No one had the courage to cross him while he was in that mode. All nodded together.