It was a book, a book reminded him. It was only a book, and yet he couldn't help but reminisce about long days past.

It arrived in the mail as he sat in his chair, and when he got it, when he opened it, he felt like the memory was just yesterday, and thoughts of all the terrible deeds that had got him to this place vanished.

"Read me a book please?" the younger boy asked. His face was so small, so cute. His eyes were shining. He was clutching a big book, a book of fairytales and fables.

"Of course mein Bruder, always for you." He received the book his little brother was holding, opening it to the first story.

The story was of a young orphan boy who struggled above the odds to become great, a little fairy helping him along the way. But it all came crashing down on one small thing. The fairy fell in love with him; he couldn't help her because he had fallen in love with the princess, a beautiful but cruel mistress.

The fairy died in grief, as the princess made the orphan do terrible things and forsake his only friend. When he realized his mistake, his went to the forest, burying the flower petal she left, last token of her love… and friendship.

"He buried his secret in the forest near his house, hoping no one to ever find it."

His brother was sniffing, little tears running down his face. Of course he would cry, it was a sad story.

"I don't understand, he was so happy before… why did he let her die?"

He ruffled his brother's hair, trying to comfort him. "I don't know either."

"I don't understand…" He was still sniffing "She fell in love with him, and she did so many things for him too… why did he let her die?"

As he turned to comfort his brother a little more, he saw a sentence, scrawled in the bottom corner of the page.

'True happiness may have been behind you the whole time, if only to find it before it disappears.'

He never really understood what that sentence meant, back then after reading that story. He understood it now, when everything was over. He laughed at himself, a mocking laughter. It was too late of course… the chance had already disappeared, gone before anyone knew it. He laughed again, though this time, he felt a tear down his face…

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Special thanks to my dear friend Franny, giving me my first writing prompt ever.
"He buried his secret in the forest near his house hoping no one will ever find it again."

-Ardent Skies '09