Chapter 35

"Why do you hurt me? Why do you choose to break me, despite my efforts to remain strong?"

Anonymous.

"Oh sugar," I sigh.

"Oh sugar indeed," my inner voice says.

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing!" I reply a little too quickly, gaining a suspicious look from Wyatt.

"Well...okay then?" He says. "Sorry about the momentary distraction. Let's go get our bags from the back and then we can head to the forest."

Glancing around, I peer at the forest with a look of distaste. Obviously, Wyatt catches on and abruptly interrupts my thoughts.

"Listen," he begins, "it's going to be fun. We'll stop whenever you want and I'll be there, I'll make sure you're okay," he reassures.

"But...b-but is it safe?" I stutter.

"You'll be safe," he confirms. "You have me and I'll never leave you."

"I swear that's what he said last time and what happened? Oh yeah he avoided you! Don't you think it's a little peculiar how he only wanted to make amends when Red showed up?"

"I'm sorry!" He blurts out.

Snapping out of my haze, I can't quite grasp what he's saying to me, confusion taking over me as he then proceeds to babble nonsense. That's when I realise.

He's talking about how sorry he is for avoiding me.

How sorry he is for only acknowledging me when Red came along.

Tears form in his eyes, desperation hung on every word that's been uttered, sorrow rising within him, a genuine apology written all over his face.

Love, clearly portrayed in his big eyes.

I cup his face with my hands, demanding him to stop. Obliging, he stares into my eyes and almost appears to get lost in them. Breaking eye contact, he bows his head, sporadically glancing at everything but me. Slightly annoyed, I lift his chin and from the soft sigh that leaves his lips, I know that Wyatt feels complied to notice the girl in front of him.

"Classic Wyatt," my inner voice says, the statement dripping with sarcasm. "Only acknowledging the good things in his life when he's either one, forced to or two, looses them."

Sighing, I vent to him, letting out all that's been bottled up inside.

"I'm still irritated," I admit. "I'm still pissed that you chose value me when I was starting to move on. When I was making another friend," I explain.

"I'm sorry," he apologises.

"However," I continue, dismissing his remark, "I've also committed wrongs in this friendship. So, I forgive you because who am I to judge? I like you, you like me and we respect each other and at the end of the day, that's how we surpass our troubles," I finish, satisfied with my little, heart-warming speech.

Silently, I wipe his tears away, my consolation helping Wyatt calm down. Taking a pack of tissues from my pocket and offering it to him, I succeed in mollifying the perfect boy, and cheer him up with a few corny jokes of mine. Once he regains his composure, we grab our bags and head off

into the forest, the leaves welcoming us into the vast, green mist.

...

Dark-brown, gnarled trees surround me, looming over us as we stagger across the uneven path. Sticks and stones are trampled by our feet, the sudden and abrupt snap of a twig resonating. A curtain of swamp-green foliages hides the sky, an occasionally baby-blue peeping through the thin branches.

Cherry-red lady bugs scurry into their respective habitats, their coal-black spots reflecting the light. Butterscotch-yellow butterflies fluttering around us, the same giddiness emerging from when I first saw them, the same beauty portrayed from when my eyes first observed their magnificence.

In the distance, I can vaguely hear the small sounds of water splashing and from that, can infer that there may be a stream nearby. Ahead of me, Wyatt leads the way, making sure I heed his warning when there may be a steep path ahead or a deep dip in the ground. Thankful for his consideration, I awkwardly avoid all of these obstacles, not wanting to embarrass myself.

"You okay, Val?" He asks, smile on his face.

"Yeah, I fine," I answer, side-stepping to get through a narrow opening.

"Sorry if this is hard on you but we're almost there," he says. "Just a little more... I think?"

"You think?!"

"Umm Wyatt, how long has it been since you came here?" I quiz.

"Hmmm, I came here last week but I might have forgotten the way," he retorts, scratching his head.

"I'm dead."

"Oh good!" He exclaims. "We're here!"

"This place better be something," I whisper. "Or else-"

I stop, dead in my tracks.

Water cascades over the flint-grey, knife-like stones, thrashing into the large stream in one swift movement. Hot-pink flowers surround it from the sides, light peeking through the top of the trees. Birds stand rigidly, perched on the rocks. The robin, fills its heart-shaped chest with air and sings its romantic tune, releasing the first note into the air.

Holding my hand as I gape at the scene in pure awe, Wyatt guides me through it. I am completely indulged in seeing skylarks soar above us, vibrant fishes swim elegantly from side to side, feeling the breeze hit our skin and cooling us down. Gasping, I witness as we come to a halt, the sun setting above the waterfall, the pastel-oranges and strawberry-reds mixing into one another.

Fascinated, I marvel at the extraordinary attributes this place possesses, reminding myself to never forget this feeling of euphoria, this feeling of peace and wholesomeness. A smile creeps onto my face, a laugh escaping my lips and happiness wrapping itself around me. Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale slowly, taking in the diverse sensations.

"Do you like it?"

Grinning and finally opening my eyes, I reply with:

"Yes, I love it."

"I knew I had to bring you here when I first saw it,"  Wyatt confesses. "I knew I had to share this with someone. Someone very beautiful, someone I really like."

Blushing, I hide my face and smirk from his admission.

"You said you came here last week, right?"

"Yeah, I came with my dad. We've always been into outdoors kind of stuff, so it just seemed like the natural thing to do that day, since we were both free,"  he recalls.

"How did you find it?" I question, looking out to the flowers, to the candy floss-pink clouds drifting over the orange and red sky.

"There's this quote," Wyatt begins, "that goes something along the lines of this: 'In life, we tend to find all good things accidentally, coincidentally and even unexpectedly. Yet the love we feel towards those things isn't a coincidental event; it's a purposeful one, one in which both the hearts involved are connected.'"

"So, you finding this place was uncalled for?"

"Yeah," he replies. "My dad had gone ahead with some things and he sent me to go get the rest of the stuff from the car. When I did, I realised I was lost and I started wandering about. I then came across this place and I vowed to myself that I would bring you here."

Looking up at him, I can't help but smile at his boldness and charm. His kindness and integrity.

Turning to me, Wyatt then says:

"That's how I see you, Val. You are the happiness that I accidentally found and now, you are the act of purpose which my heart is devoted to."