AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, after getting back in the swing of writing, I felt this story was not up to par with what I am capable of. It's been years since I started this fic. With more experience, I hope to do better this time. I've done a lot of editing and am changing the direction of the story a bit.
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It had been a brisk Winter morning the Tuesday Dia came to the village. The wind chill was awful, cutting across her delicate cheeks and leaving them reddened. Kurt was walking to the mines, vest clutched closely for warmth, when he spotted a sickly pale woman being guided to the sanatorium by the town Doctor. She could walk on her own, but looking at her would convince anyone else, otherwise. She was thin and shivering as she walked, clearly not suited for such frigid conditions.
Making her way up to the Sanitorium, she lifted the green silk of her gown to the bend of her knees to climb the steps. For such a seemingly frail woman, her legs were lovely. Kurt stared, momentarily mesmerized by the soft porcelain that was her skin. Dia slowly made her way inside and the doctor promptly shut the door behind her. Kurt continued on his way to the mine brushing off the moment... but she didn't leave his thoughts.
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Days went by and Kurt saw no sign of the new arrival. Granted, he hadn't left the Carpentry Shop; Kurt's overall distaste for socializing often times chaining him to his room after work. Dia's face lingered in his mind, however. It stirred his curiosity.
The frail woman seemed so very out of place in the desolate village, in the dead of winter no less. He had been gazing out his bedroom window pondering the situation when his eyes were drawn to a familiar green material billowing along the breeze.
Dia walked down the path leading towards the beach, clutching a shawl over her shoulders for warmth. Suddenly, a blue-haired girl whom Kurt recognized as the village's nurse, GIna, ran up behind her out of breath and frantic.
"Ms. Dia, what on Earth are you doing out here? It's much too cold by the seaside this time of year!" The young nurse chided, much to Dia's blistering temper.
The name Gina had called the frail woman did not go unnoticed by Kurt. He found some degree of satisfaction in discovering what her name was. Watching the scene unfold, he winced as Dia looked ready to tear apart the well-meaning nurse.
"I'm Fine. " Diabarked with an assertion, though her body began to quake from cold. "You fret over such trivial things."
Her small lips gradually drained of color as the cold air sucked her of what little body heat she could retain. She stayed silent, glaring at the village's nurse. Gina remained calm and tried coaxing Dia to return.
"Come with me, I'll run you a hot bath Miss. " Gina insisted, calmly wrapping her arms around Dia. "You're shivering."
Dia begrudgingly allowed herself to be led away from the ocean side as her rib cage began to shudder. Kurt closed his curtains, trying to ignore the pity welling up in his chest. For first impressions, Dia was certainly not off to a cheerful start. What could possibly be in store for such a troubled individual?
Days later the weather was warmer with bright sunshine and no wind. Kurt chopped wood in front of the shop, grateful for less abrasive cold. He heard shoes clicking the stone path, but didn't think to look up. Villagers passed all the time, it never concerned him to greet them. Yet, in his peripheral vision, he spotted a flash of a familiar green dress.
It was Dia. Gina was nowhere in sight, which was the first thing he noticed. The second thing he noticed was how beautiful her eyes were. They were stunningly green, reminding him of life... Spring time grass, the stem of flowers... Ironically enough, Dia's whole appearance and demeanor were anything but lively.
She was approaching him and he couldn't bring himself to do anything but just watch. He put his axe down almost robotically when she was within arms distance of him. Out in the sun she looked so much more well put together. She had impeccable posture without the cruel Winter breeze forcing her to hunch in to herself.
"Good day..." She greeted Kurt, softly.
Kurt just wordlessly stared at her. She was beautiful, so dainty. Her demeanor almost regal, like a princess. Reeling his thoughts back him, he nodded to greet her back, waiting for her to continue speaking. If he were being honest with himself, there was anticipation on his end.
"Is this the Carpentry shop I was told about?"
"It is, how can I help you?"
Dia brought slim fingers up to her dark hair and pulled it behind her ear, eyeing Kurt. Her eyes were beautiful, but her stare was frigid as the winter air. Her eyes looked as if they could freeze one upon accidental glance. They stayed on him, then her attention shifted to the fresh pile of wood Kurt had cut.
"I came looking for firewood...my room is cold." she explained and Kurt picked up a light piece, handing it to her.
"Here you are, miss...?" he trailed off, pretending to not know her name.
"Dia. Thank you."
Those were intended to be her parting words. Dia stopped before walking away.
"...who would you be?"
"Kurt."
Dia left. Kurt just watched her retreating form wondering why she really wanted that firewood. Seeing her come to get it seemed too out of place.
"Hm..." he murmured to himself, thoughtfully.
When the sun was setting, Kurt stored his Axe away before making his way back to his room upstairs. His brother Joe was lounging by the T.V while his boss stood by the stove stirring a cup of tea. He hadn't bothered to check the fridge for any food because he didn't feel like cooking. Grabbing the towel hanging from his door, he decided he would shower before heading to Duke's café for Dinner.
The hot water spewed from the shower head as his thoughts drifted. After washing away the sweat from a day's hard work, Kurt dressed in a loose pair of jeans and plain gray V-neck since he was off for the night. Walking to the café was peaceful and he passed by the clinic and sanitorium without a glance. The inside of the café was quiet with soft jazz playing over the speakers. Eve stood behind the bar passing out food while Duke polished glasses and served drinks. Kurt approached Eve to place his order.
Eve was the tall blonde woman with large pink eyes whose charming personality had many smitten with her. Her golden hair was always tied back gracefully, and she was always soft spoken. Such a trait Kurt could appreciate.
"Cream of tomato soup and warm bread?" she asked when Kurt sat down on a bar stool.
"Please. Thanks, Eve."
She turned on her heels to prep his food in the small kitchen behind her. Setting it down in front of Kurt, Eve walked away to tend to others. Picking up the spoon, Kurt started to eat in silence, disengaged from the people around him. The cafe was a place most came for good food, drink and conversation, but Kurt didn't care much for the last bit. He only spoke to order his food.
Once again passing by the medical buildings located across from Duke's café, Kurt was nearly out of earshot when the door to the sanitorium opened and out came the doctor and Gina. They looked at each other worriedly, clearly very tired with something or other. Being a nosey person wasn't something Kurt strived for... but as of late, it seemed to be uncharacteristically recurring.
"Gina, what am I supposed to do? She doesn't want to be helped." The doctor whispered hushed.
The nurse just shook her head sadly, her lips turning downwards in to a frown.
"If she doesn't cooperate, then there is nothing else we can do for her." Gina's voice cracked. "Maybe my grandmother was right."
Alex sighed putting his hand behind his head, shaking it stubborningly with evident dissapointment.
"Let's hope Martha wasn't right just this once." And, with that he was guiding Gina back into to building now that their quiet conversation ended.
Kurt found himself worrying about what just happened. Alex and Gina had just stepped outside to have a secretive conversation... about Dia. What was going on?
"LEAVE ME BE!"
Kurt's head whipped to the right at the sudden scream that came from the building. The voice was sharp, angry and very loud. Dia appeared weak, but her voice carried. He continued walking home ignoring the questions that began to surface.
Xxxxx
Another set of days passed without Dia making an appearance. Business was slow in the Winter, so most days Joe and Kurt spent their work hours chopping lumber for the upcoming projects in Spring. So, once again, Kurt spent the morning chopping lumber.
As he cut a fallen tree down in to chunks, Kurt started to wonder again what exactly Dia needed that piece of firewood for the other day. The sanitorium didn't have a fireplace in her room...did it? No, not possible. Kurt decided that he would pay her a visit, but he needed an excuse first.
That night Kurt laid in bed unable to sleep. The space heater hummed in the background as his thoughts began buzzing. The village was dull the last few years. People began leaving when the local farmer left. The young man, Jack, tried his hand at starting a ranch but never got past growing crops, ones that were average in quality. A year went by and he decided he was done. He packed his things and left for the city.
His barren plot had nothing but a tiny worn-down house by the beach. So much potential, wasted. Everyone had high hopes for Jack when he came, but he gave up. Kurt had spent the last three years watching that land after it was abandoned. He wanted something good to come of it, waste was something he just couldn't stand.
Dia was the first person to come to Flowerbud in while. It seemed as if her life were no better than the sad plot of land Jack left behind. And with that, he drifted off.
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