Torned Pages

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11: FALL'S LOVE

HANNAH

After we said Goodbye to Sir Manuel, Axel carefully rode his bike and I also sat at it and we travelled  far away from the real home. The home where happiness is the only thing that is important. He started to move the pedals so the bike can finally start moving. I can totally see myself being pale right now because of the cold breeze in this silent night. Even though I'm wearing a hoodie, it isn't enough to really block the freezing wind in touching my skin and I'm also wering just a tank top under this hoodie.  I rubbed my shoulders as  I looked up the sky, it's so  dark, not even a single star dare to shine in this plain black canvas. I placed my hands near my mouth and blew on it to warm it up and placed it in the pockets of my hoodie. Yet I am is still shivering, I saw some leaves falling down from the trees, fall is coming. I can't help but to cry again. Fall, supposed to be my favorite season. Brown leaves falling down, cold comfortable  breeze every morning and cold nights where my mommy used to cuddle me back when I was a child. The windy nights where Max never made me feel cold and alone. His hugs and kisses warms me and  made me always feel like home.

I'm crying again, this time I try not to sob because Axel may worry about me. Yet I failed. I started sobbing and placed my shivering hand to cover my face. The the bike stopped. I knew it he's worried. I removed my hand from my face and saw him walking to face me. I looked at him. He took off his jacket and placed it on my shoulder. he took the zipper and zip it making it tight yet cozy for me. But he is just wearing a T-shirt beneath his jacket. I became concerned and I wanted to take off the jacket but he held my hand. His hands are so warm and my hands are so small it fits in his hands so good.
He looked at me and releases my hands from his tight warm grip. Then he cupped my face and using his thumbs, he wiped my tears away.

" Stop crying, it's freezing you might get a cold" he said and let go of my face and walked to his seat and started pedalling.

" How about you? You said it's freezing, you need this jacket because you might also catch a cold. " I said with a worried tone and a wrinkled forehead.

" Just wear that and don't get sick. Don't worry about me, I'm strong." He said while laughing.

" Bu--" he ineterrupted my sentence.

" Shhh. No buts just do what I said okay?" He strictly said .

" Okay." I said as if I was a child being scolded by my father. Except that my father didn't really cared for me from the past years specially when my step mom came. I really misses the old him. Back when he treated me as his only princess and not just a daughter of my dad, Henry Willows. I really cherished the memories we had together specially in a fall like this.

"Daddy it's so cold" I said hugging myself in a fall night at the forest. We went camping and my mommy was cooking.

" My princess." He sweetly said and carried me in his arms and cuddled with me. He tickled me. And I was giggling the whole time he tickles me.

" You know my sweet princess. Fall isn't really that bad. " he said

" No daddy! It's cold too just like winter without snow. " I said angrily.

"I'm gonna tell you a poem okay? listen carefully. This poem is entitled 'Sing to me Autumn' by Patricia L. Cisco.

Sing to me, Autumn, with the rustle of your leaves.
Breathe on me your spicy scents that flow within your breeze.

Dance with me, Autumn, your waltz that bends the boughs of trees.
Now tell me all the secrets you've whispered to the seas.

Sleep with me, Autumn, beneath your starlit skies.
Let your yellow harvest moon shimmer in our eyes.

Kiss me, Autumn, with your enchanting spellbound ways
That changes all you touch into crimson golden days.

Love me, Autumn, and behold this love so true
That I'll be waiting faithfully each year to be with you

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/sing-to-me-autumn

See my princess? Fall isn't that bad." He said so sweetly and softly into my ears.

I smiled as I remember this scenario. I'm cried again and I felt the bike stopped.

" We're here." Axel Happily said.

He got down the bike and quickly went to me and assisted me in getting off the bike. I stood infront of him and smiled.

" Let's g--" he was about to speak when I hugged him. I felt his body being shocked yet it became relaxed and in a few seconds I can feel his hands patting my back. And he finally hugged me back. I was about to let go when I heard a cough. And he quickly released me from his hug. I saw my dad standing at the gate and looking at us directly with a questioning eyes.

" Sir ! I'm just comforting her. No romance included." He said with full of respect to my dad.

" No it's good. She's smiling. You're a good guard. Protect her at all cost. Good job. just be sure that no romance is included. Copy that." My daddy said and he walked towards me and hugged me. I can't. I still can't hug him back. I miss his hugs yet I still can't hug him back. Everytime he hugs me, it hurts. So I just stood still while he hugs me. He released me then looked at me smiling in my emotionless face , and without a word, entered the house.

" Thank you." I said to Axel and smiled and without his reply I quickly ran to my room and shut the door locked. And cried the whole night cherishing the fall's cold love.