It was winter break when I returned to him. At school, I only thought about the two weeks I have off and the possibility of seeing him again. Today, Friday, as the afternoon bell rang, I leapt off the steps of the school in a joyous bound. I love the feeling of crisp winter in my lungs and my pale cheeks turning rosy. When I got home, I dropped my book bag, removed my school ID and immediately rejoined the tall trees in my back yard.
A description for you, my reader:
Off of the house, there is an open garden, and a small field to the side, then a forest acting like walls, guarding my home. In the farthest corner of the field, there is a path, and that's where I met him first and where I skipped to meet him again.
Its magical, you know, walking down a forest path in winter. Pale sky, dried vines and dormant trees, the cold earth littered with dead, curled leaves. I can't see my breath today, but my fingers feel numb. Putting them in my pockets to defrost, his presence is made known. I don't think he can help it, but he's really good at sneaking up on me.
He stands several feet before me, as if he's shy about approaching me. Looking melancholic, his arms hang low and his tentacles slither in the air, as if they're slick against the atmosphere. His head rises, but there are no eyes to meet mine. Even still, its almost like he has eyes, and they're looking at me mournfully. I feel a smile on my face and I walk over to him. He needs a hug.
I felt his body jolt when I wrapped my arms around his thin frame. Suddenly he leaves my grasp and I feel him behind me. I look up at him.
"What's wrong?"
The world is deathly silent for a moment.
He shakily raises his thin arm and sickly fingers lay across his heart.
His hand is over his chest.
His head is lowered.
His tentacles flicker at the tips.
"Are you ok?"
Silence.
"I'm sorry."
His ghastly head flicks upward and I feel his emotions. I can sense that he's trying to express gratefulness, or at least I assume so.
My arms are out wide, waiting for a response. The heavy tension in the air settles to the ground like dirt after being kicked up by wind. I embrace him again, and this time, he doesn't teleport away from me. In fact, his arms plop over my shoulders. For a moment, I feel as if tears drop down on me, but do they exist for this being?
When I giggle, he shudders and releases me.
"Sorry. I think its a little funny," He turns his head to the side with curiosity "I look dwarfed compared to you." I smile and he somehow smiles back.
Suddenly the world doesn't feel so cold anymore.
The vibrations from the phone in my pocket make me jump, but my surprise at the sudden vibrations are belittled by his reaction to my reaction. He looks so concerned that I seem afraid to him.
"Don't worry, its just my phone." I got a text from my mom, telling me to come back home. "Hey, I have to go now, ok?"
Still concerned, he seems disappointed that I have to leave after such a milestone moment of embracing a so-called "monster".
"Don't worry. I'll be back tomorrow, alright? Actually, I live just over there," I point to my house, barely in sight. "um, my room is the one on the very end. With the blue curtains in the window. You can visit me at any time."
He looks at least a little bit happier. "Is that ok?" I get the impression that he's thinking. "you ok?"
In one motion, he swoops me up and suddenly I'm in his arms, my head above his. Although he looks so thin and frail, he picks me up with such ease and although his body is cold, he seems at least a little bit warmer.
I'm not sure if I had blinked or if everything went dark, but before I realize it, I'm back at my house. Did he teleport me back to my house?
I look around and he's nowhere to be seen.
"There you are, girly, I was waiting for you! Callin' and callin'-"
My mom escorts me back into the house, and I have the overwhelming feeling of happiness and that someone is really looking over me.