It All Began In Autumn

ch4

"We don't want you having a heart attack, do we"? His voice is low and it's coming from behind me. I feel him more than see him, move closer.

I hold my breath as his fingertips find my back and he softly pulls my sweater. I take a few steps until I am glued to his chest.

His hand slides down my arm and finds my own, crossing our fingers. "I'm here". He says, his breath fanning against my cheek as he leans forward to speak. I am shaking uncontrollably but it's not from the cold.

"Lia". I close my eyes, as if it makes any difference in the dark hallway. My name rolls off his tongue like it was meant to be said by him. "Lia" he repeats and I shiver against him as his other hand touches my throat lightly. His fingers trace a soft line down the column of my throat and I hold my breath at the sensation.

"Noah", I gasp when his finger reach my collarbone. He stops, fingertips lingering over the spot on my skin. I gently pull his hand down and he caresses my palm, making my insides turn to mush.

A moan escapes my lips when he dips his face and his lips come in contact with the shell of my ear. "Lia'' his whisper makes me gulp.

"You are freezing cold. You should get close to the fireplace". I manage to choke out before this madness can continue.

A chuckle makes his ribs vibrate against my back and he takes his hands off me. I open my eyes and sigh, feeling cold but also more clearheaded now that he is not touching me.

His fingers were actually warm enough to light my skin on fire. He sits in front of the fireplace nonetheless, while I use a match to find some candles.

I discover not only a couple candles but also an old kerosene lamp that Noah masterfully lights.

I bring blankets to the living room since the heating to the rest of the house doesn't work without power.

My mother sends me a text that because of the storm they won't be able to get back. I discard my flip-phone in a corner after that. It doesn't matter.

I snuggle in the corner of the couch while Noah stretches out on top of a blanket on the floor in front of the fire. "You are like a cat" i laugh and he seems offended. "A cat? Please" he rolls his eyes and I smile. "A dog then" i compromise and he shrugs. "Better than a cat".

We talk about school, our childhood and Christmas. I move to the floor with him at some point and eventually I fall asleep with my back on the couch, facing the warm flames.

When I wake up, I am lying on the couch, while Noah is curled on the floor in front of the fireplace, with his head on top of his hands.

"Noah" i mumble as I stretch, he opens his eyes lazily and rolls on his back to look at me. I yawn and sit up, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand.

The light coming from the window is grey and dull. I squint my eyes to look outside, there is something pasted on the window, blocking my view of the outside world.

I groggily stand, visit the bathroom, wash my teeth although I prefer to do that after I eat, and then move back in theiving room where Noah has fallen asleep again. I check the time, nine o'clock, and then go to the window.

I try to open it. It won't budge. I push harder. Nope.

I groan as I push, putting all my weight to it. It refuses to move an inch. I huff and take a step back. What on earth? I try the second window in the room but it is the same exact situation.

I run to the door, my bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor.

"Noah"! I cry out once I can't open the door either.

I hear heavy footdteps and then he appears behind me, looking startled, with his eyes wide and his hair flying in all directions"What is it"? He asks on alert. I shrug, "The doors and windows, they won't open" I move to go to the top floor.

I mamage to open the window in my parents room, as it opens several milimeters of ice break off.

I grunt as I push it against the hinges and I look out. My jaw hangs. There is snow up to the porch shed. "Noah" I call but he is besides me already. "Wow, that is a new one. We haven't had snow like this in years"! He says as I spot the tree that fell yesterday, blocking the wires.

"Great"! I murmur as I pat my legs over my pajama pants in an attempt to resume blood flow in them.

"We should call someone". Noah suggests and I nod.

Mum says they are stuck in the hotel they slept in last night. Cozy says they can't get out of their house either. "We can't stay here, we'll freeze to death". I whine as I drop another log in the fire.

"No we won't, we'll be fine" he doesn't sound like he believes his own words.

I hate this place more than ever right now, with its lack of resources, the stupid weather and this old house.

I slump down next to Noah, with a bowl of milk and cereal in my hands. Noah has already filled his bowl three times.

"You think the snow will melt"? I ask hopefully, his blue eyes tell me all I need. "Great", i huff and keep eating.

We end up playing board games until it's time for lunch. We eat whatever doesn't need baking since I don't trust either of us to cook in the fireplace. Then I paint Noah's nails while he sleeps, sprawled out on the couch.

Nightfall finds us lying on the floor with our feet propped up on the couch, bored out of our minds. "I'm so bored I don't even want to sleep". I groan and Noah agrees with a grunt.

"Wish I could run on the snow. The forest is beautiful in the snow. The stream freezes and we ice skate". The boy says and I imagine the forest, with snow and icicles hanging from the branches. "That sounds nice." I admit. He turns his head to look at me.

"Maybe when we get out of here we can go together" he offers "And I can finally show you the stream. It will be fun". He promises and I smile. "Sure". His smile almost reaches his ears. "That's great". He turns his whole body towards me now.

"You can borrow mom's ice skates and then I can show you the bears, they sleep in the caves but we can see them from afar, and the cubs are so cute." He keeps babbling about all the things he will show me in the forest and I fall asleep with the images of frozen rivers, bear cubs and snowy treetops behind my eyelids.

I dream of running through the woods, with a big wolf running with me, he is not hunting me, he is accompanying me. The dream is calming and warms my heart.

This chapter is in serious need of editing but I thought I'd share it anyway. I hope you liked it and will come back for the next one in four days💙
Take care everyone.