Chapter 2

"Liliana? Are you okay?" I looked up to see Shane standing there.

"I.. Yes." I replied, standing up. We walked up to where everyone was waiting. We were now to be told what must be done before the three months are up.

"As you know," Said the Head of the village. "You must complete a task before your three months are gone. The task is this: You are to start your lives anew. That is, the only relationships," At this he was looking directly at me. "You will have shall be with each other and your families." My eyes grew wide and I could hear myself let out a gasp. 'Brendan!..' I thought. Without even thinking, I blurted out,

"But what about our friends?"

"Liliana!" It was Papa's voice, sharp, and clearly angry.

"I-I'm sorry.." I murmured.

A tear rolled down my cheek, and a sniffle quietly came from my nose as we were dismissed to leave. "Lil, psst, come here!" I heard as walked out of the Chapel. I looked around and saw Brendan hiding behind a tree. I ran over to him, pretending to have lost something.

"Brendan, it's terrible-"

"I know. I heard. Lil, I can't imagine my life without you. Every day that goes by is sorrowful until I see your face. Every raindrop that falls from the sky to keep us apart is like a sword through my chest. Every chilly snow that keeps us indoors is like frostbite to my soul. Every time I see you, though, it is like an angel has been with me all day. I can't go on without you." He closed his eyes and looked down, tears streaming from his cheeks, sobs escaping from his throat in gasps.

"Oh, Brendan, that was beautiful." I said, wrapping my arms around him. This was the first time we'd ever had more physical contact then holding hands in such a long time, and I wished it could last forever, the two of us, lovingly embracing each other.

"Lil.."

"Yes..?"

"Don't leave me.. Don't leave me again.." I looked up into his face.

"I thought we were never going to speak of that.." I said.

"Lil, we can't keep it secret forever. The truth has to come out eventually. They'll have to know that you-"

"Don't say it!" I let go of Brendan, tears on my cheeks. "Please, don't tell anyone what happened that day. Not any part of it. Back then, we weren't ready for what we did. That's why what happened happened, and it's a miracle I'm here today. I don't need to relive that day, and I don't think you do, either."

"Liliana, if it hurts you that much to think about it-"

"It does. So, please, just drop it, leave it be. Maybe sometime, when it's further behind us, we can bring it up, but not now. Not while I'm still recovering the damages done."

"I'm sorry, Lil. It was my fault that happened to you. I've been nothing but bad luck to you."

"Brendan, don't talk like that.. I shouldn't've snapped at you like that. I'm sorry, if you want to talk about it, then, I'll be able to a little later, just, not now."

"No, we won't be talking about it. Liliana, I've only caused you pain. Maybe not physically, but emotionally."

"No, you haven't!" I said, a flood of tears streaming down my face. "Brendan, you could never do anything to harm me or cause me pain in any way! After what we went through together, I'm surprised you even said a thing like that." Brendan looked deeply touched, but he still spoke with sorrowful doubt.

"Lil, I helped cause the pain of that day. You still haven't lived it down, and I take total blame for your distress. I'm causing you pain, now, too. You should be with your future husband, instead of reliving the bad memories you and I made together."

"Brendan, no.." I fell to my knees.

"Liliana.. You know I love you now and I always will, but you shouldn't be with me. I've got no mother, and my father is poor. You have a wonderful family, and will be marrying into an even better one then I could ever bring you into."

"That doesn't matter! I don't care if your father is poor, you're the one I love, forever and always! The whole arranged marriage thing doesn't seem right, I want to be with who I choose to be with. You know I'd never want anyone apart from you, and I'd never be able to find someone to replace you, if anything should happen. I love you, I don't care if we're not in the same Clan, and I don't care who knows it!"

"Good thing, then." I whipped around, and there stood not just Shane, but Momma, Papa, and Shane's parents. At first I wasn't sure how to react, but then I stood up and knew what I had to do.

"What I said was and is true. I refuse to accept anything else!" I said in fury. Shane came up to me, getting right up to my face, towering above me.

"If that is all true," He said. "Then I must keep you in line the hard way." At this, he raised his arm up and struck me across the mouth so hard I fell backward and tasted blood. I tried not to let the tears fill my eyes, though it stung with a burn. "I hope you've learned your lesson. If I catch you doing anything involving him again," He glared menacingly at Brendan. "I won't be so gentle."

"Leave." I answered his threat, though my voice was quivering. "Now. Leave me alone!" Shane raised his hand again, but this time Brendan stepped forward.

"Go away. Liliana no longer concerns you!" Shouted Shane. Brendan stood his ground, staring him down.

"Liliana's protection concerns me more then it ever could you!" He snapped out. Shane's face grew full of rage and fury at this. I had stood up by now, and was leaning against the tree.

"Liliana." His voice was enraged and infuriated. He grasped my arm with such force it was loosing circulation. He then pulled me away, going in the direction of his house. Brendan ran after him, but Papa struck him down.

"Go back home now, forget about my daughter, and never bother us again. Is that understood?" Brendan stood up and looked Papa firmly in the eye. Papa shrunk his eyes into tiny slits, and Brendan looked away. "Get moving now or I'll see to it you never get out of poverty." He warned. Brendan looked soulfully at me, then turned tail and left.