Edmond and I began meeting secretly behind my house. He would bring me flowers each time, it was so sweet. My favorite was when he brought roses, so he did it as often as he could afford to. Edmond told me all about his life, his hopes and aspirations. He was so fascinating. He had traveled outside of our small town many times.

"You mean to tell me that you've sold roses to Prince Eric?" I asked with such interest, it couldn't be contained.

"For him to give to Princess Aurora." Edmond smiled.

"My, your stories are amazing, Edmond." I told him, gazing dreamily into his eyes.

"Almost as amazing as you." He responded as he took my hand.

Only two weeks had passed since our first encounter yet I was closer to him that I had ever been with someone before.

"Someone's feeling brave." I giggled and twirled my hair around my finger.

He smiled back at me.

"Edmond, do you find me beautiful? Do my looks entice you?" I asked, fluttering my eyelashes.

"I find you extremely beautiful, you're more gorgeous than the brightest sunset. And you're more enticing than the oasis in an arabian desert," Edmond squeezed my hand, "Babette, I find you to be perfect. The perfect woman."

I sighed and took my hand away, "My parents don't find me to be one."

"What?"

"A woman. I am and always will be just a girl to them." I sighed and turned away from Edmond.

He rested my head onto his chest, "Life is more than just being a girl or woman. It doesn't matter who you are as long as you have someone. Someone who accepts you as you are, girl or woman," He patted my head, "And that person is me."

"Oh I know, but wouldn't it be lovely to be a woman…" I let out a long sigh.

Edmond sat up in the stack of hay we were laying in. We were hiding behind the chicken pen behind my house. The cold morning air nipped at my skin, it was still dark outside. Edmond said nothing for a long time. All I could hear was the the sound of the cold blow of the wind. I felt as if I should remain quiet and wait for Edmond to speak first. But he never did. He was quiet.

"Edmond?" I prodded.

"When you become a woman you will have to get married."

Of course I had thought about this problem before. It had become a source of constant anxiety for me.

I didn't say anything while I thought of what to say to him. But what could I say? I knew the dark truth was that Edmond didn't have enough money to be able to marry me. My parents would never approve. Edmond was a simple florist, he could barely make enough money to support himself.

I hugged Edmond's arm, "I know. And I could lie to you by telling you that we'll be together forever but honestly, we won't."

Edmond grabbed both my hands and looked into my eyes. His eyes were so dark.

"Babette, you love me, don't you? We've spent a few weeks together but I've never been more sure of anything before in my life. I want to be with you and I know you must want to be with me as well. And if this is true, if our love is true, you'll leave this place and stay with me."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, almost speechless.

"Run away with me, Babette," He whispered, "Together we don't need money, all we need is eachother. And as long as we have that we can be happy."

"But of course we need money, and food, and a place to stay. Edmond, you're not thinking straight. You've been out working for days, I'm sure you're going crazed by lack of water…" I tried to talk him out of it.

Of course I loved Edmond, more than anything, but this couldn't possibly be the answer.

"No, the only thing I'm lacking is your confidence in me," He looked at me with the most confused look I had ever seen upon anyone's face, "Babette? You love me, don't you?"

I sighed, "I've loved you since the moment I set my eyes upon you, I still do."

"Then you'll run away with me. From all…" He waved his hand in the air, "...this."

I had to think for a moment, was this really what I wanted to do?

"I-" Before I could answer my father came storming around the corner of the house.

"How dare you speak to my daughter that way, you wretch! You poor, worthless, florist!" My father shouted relentlessly at Edmond.

Edmond was too shocked to respond, he simply fell off the bail of hay and tumbled onto the hard ground.

"Secret rendezvous! And talks of eloping! Never have I been more disgusted!"

"I-I'm sorry sir, it was just a misunderstanding…" Edmond didn't know what to say."

"Enough!" My father put his hand up to show that he had heard enough, then he turned to me, "And you! After everything me and your mother have done for you? We raised you better than this! And we expect more from it!"

"I'm so sorry father…" I broke down in sobs and couldn't stop my tears.

My father grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me up, "We're leaving and you are never to speak with this boy again!"

I began to sob louder but it in no way convinced my father to change his mind.

"Boy," My father turned back to Edmond, "If you ever set foot near my daughter again it'll be worse than just a beating for you."

My father stormed inside, furiously. My mother was already inside with her hands on her hips. I put my head into my hands and couldn't stop crying, I didn't want to be in a world where I couldn't be with Edmond. I would miss him far too much. I already missed him.

My mother grabbed onto my hair and pulled hard on it to force me to look up, "Do not try to get out of this by crying. You little… Ugh! How could you do this to me and your father? We've done everything for you! We've always put you first! Did you ever stop to think about us? About what would happen to us if you ran off with that boy?"

"I wasn't going to leave with him." I said between sobs.

"Lies! More lies!" My mother shouted.

"We're already poor enough, how do you expect to farm to stay afloat without you to help? We'd starve!" My father added.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know… I wasn't thinking…" I continued to cry even harder.

My mother grabbed me by my shoulders, " I have never been more mortified by your actions, Babette."

I couldn't look her in the eyes.

"How could you do this to us?"

I shook my head and creased my lips, finally looking her in the eyes. She looked so angry, and I felt another tear slide down my cheek.

"I don't know."

"Babette-" My mother's eyes rolled and she fell over.

My father was instantly on his knees by her side, "Nadia?"

She didn't move.

"What did you do?!" My father screamed out in a mix of fear and anger. He turned to look at me, and with tears in his eyes he shouted, "What did you do to my wife?!"

I covered my ears and shook my head, what did I do? I couldn't stand my father being so mad at me so I found myself running out the back door and into the warm light of the day.