Four seasons

by Not A Stranger

Little snippets of Harold Smith's life as the seasons change. I wrote this based on a writing prompt that is the same as the title.

Winter

Harold wrapped himself in a sweater and peered outside his window. It was snowing. Again. He could feel the chill through the glass. He liked when it snowed. People stayed indoors and made him feel less of a freak. He walked over to his bookshelf and looked through his collection before making a selection. Perhaps he'd make some cocoa to go along with his book.

Spring

Spring came late in Northern Washington, but eventually the trees grew new leaves and fresh grass covered the lawns. Harold ignored the new life outside, favoring his plants in his greenhouse. He carefully tended to each one. His orchids were looking healthy, but without careful attention they would wither and die.

His social worker had contacted him about a meals on wheels program the Double R Diner was starting in a couple of months. He reluctantly agreed. It had been so long since he had company and a new story to hear. He held that bit of hope close, like a seed buried in the dirt.

Summer

Harold didn't mind the summer heat. The orchids needed the humidity, and the rest of his apartment was dark and cool. He was tending to his plants when he heard the knock on his door. A blond woman in a cotton sundress smiled and introduced herself as Laura.

She was beautiful. Suddenly, he was almost painfully aware of the heat outside. He invited her in, but she couldn't stay long. She delivered his meal and promised to visit again soon.

Her soul was white-hot within her. It took him forever to cool back down.

Autumn

Laura was in trouble. It was obvious from the stories she told about her life, but it was also in her eyes, plain as day. She was caught between the darkness and the light, the hunter and the hunted. He wanted to save her.

But, oh, the stories she told him.

He shut the door behind her when she left and listened to the crunch of dead leaves under her feet as she walked away. She made him nervous sometimes, but she never tried to make him leave his house. She said he was smart, staying safe this way.

In the distance, he heard the hooting of an owl, and tried not to shudder.