Chapter 1
We were so happy. But we are even happier now. The way things are, I don't think it could possibly get any more blissful. But it didn't start like that.
3 months earlier…
I was sitting next to Rhydian on the river bank, where he was drawing a portrait of me in the cool soil.
"That's beautiful Rhydian!" I exclaimed, delightedly.
"You think?"
"Yeah!" I nudged him to reinforce how wonderful I thought it was.
He leaned back, admiring his craftsmanship. Then he looked at me.
"Not exactly." He said, "But then nothing is as beautiful as you are."
I stood up.
"It doesn't suit you," I said, "Being romantic I mean."
"Really?" He looked genuinely disappointed, so I recovered the situation by saying that I didn't like romance much anyway; too slushy (not true, but I didn't want him to get upset).
Neither of us said anything so I changed the subject.
"Do you ever miss home?"
"What?"
"Stoneybridge? Tom and Shannon? Do you ever miss it?"
He considered.
"I suppose. A bit. But this is my home now."
I started walking along the riverbank, letting my old trainers sink into the mud. Something had been on my mind for ages. Something I hadn't dare tell anyone. Except now, I had to tell someone, and who better than Rhydian?
"Rhydian," I said, anxiously, still walking away along the river.
"Yes," He replied. I could feel his eyes on the back of my head.
"I want to go back. I really want to go back. I miss it so much, I don't know why."
Silence.
"Sorry!" I said, turning round and running back to him. Was he upset?
"Aren't you happy here?" He was worried now, "You have me and your family? You have everything!"
"But just think Rhydian! We could get married and have a house of our own; we're old enough!"
"Yeah, get all happy, then Dr Whitewood would find us, kill us and it'd all be over. Don't you see? We can never go back."