Late one autumn evening when the sun was setting, Isabella and I were lying on top of a hill looking across the whole village of Locksley. I had my arms crossed under my head looking at the darkening sky. As it was autumn, the weather was colder in the evenings than in the day. Even though, the air was cold it did not bother me. Lying next to me, in the exact same position as I was in lay Isabella. I felt her by my side and the cold could not get to us.
"Guy," Isabella whispered, " will you always be there for me?"
I turned my head to face her. I was surprised she asked me that.
"What?"
"Will you always be there for me when I need you?" she asked again.
"Of course, I will." I replied "Why are you asking me that?"
She turned to face me. "Father said that you will not always be with me."
I sit up and gestured to her to sit up as well. As she sat up, I placed her on my lap and wrapped my arms around her. I felt her lean against my chest and rest her head on my shoulder.
"Father is slightly right." I told her.
"Why?"
"When we grow up," I explain " we will both have families of our own. And when we have families we have to live with them."
"But, I don't want a family without you."
I chuckle. "We will still be a family. Except now our family will be a lot bigger. This means that the Gisborne name can live on forever."
"Will you still love me?"
I looked at her, still unsure as to why she was asking me all these questions. "Why are you asking me all these questions for?"
Isabella goes quiet. I turned her to face me.
"Isabella?"
"It's nothing." she quietly responded.
"No, it's not nothing. Something is the matter. Tell me."
" It was something someone said in the village."
"What did they say?"
"They told me that when you get older you will not love me anymore because you will love someone else."
I wrapped my arms around her and she does the same to me. I lean in to whisper in her ear, "Do not listen to what they say. Yes, I may love someone else when I grow up but, that does not mean I will ever stop loving you, dear Isabella. You are my little sister and no matter what happens to the both of us, I will always love you. I will always be here for you whenever you need me."
She broke the hug and looked up me,
"Promise?"
"Promise." And with that answer she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.