The moonlit night

A beautiful morning Hazel's pov The golden rays of the sun slowly crept over the beautiful city of Lonsdale, illuminating the atmosphere with the red aura of the roofings. Skyscrapers here and there reflect the sun's rays with a bluish hue. A place known for its beauty and loveliness. It was almost dawn and some individuals had already started going about their daily businesses. The city was slowly becoming active and lively. In the residence of the well, it was still quiet. The cottage sat in serenity. Like the rest of the houses in its vicinity, the cottage had a red roof. Beautiful lushes of flowers adorned the surrounding land giving it a fading look of beauty. The cottage, a one-story building with faded yellow paintings, was one of the few old structures that had for some reason survived the transition of the city. Its oddness gives it an eerie feeling. The rays of the sun descending from the roof added a reviving golden touch of life and beauty to the residents. Upstairs, in the room facing the streets, Hazel lay fast asleep on her bed. Her room had a brown interior. A big bed stood by the window. Old but still firm. At the corner close to the door a wardrobe rested against the wall, eight feet tall with the width of an arm span. A lamp sat on a small table beside the bed, dimly lighting the room. A beautiful maiden, twenty-one years of age, with fair skin, and a slight tan. She lay still and night motionless on the bed, her lushy reddish brown hair sprawled on the bed, glistening in the light. She wore a silky white dress. A nightgown. The sun's rays hit her face through the open windows, an everly slight warmth accompanying it. Her eyelids fluttered gently and then opened. She squinted when the light hit her eyes. A slight groan escaped her lips. Then just as if she remembered something, she sprang from the bed sitting upright. She stretched out her arms and let out a yawn. She went to the window and looked out into the street below. Closing her eyes and letting the gentle breeze swish her face. Then smiled softly as her hair floated with the current, ever gently. She was lost in the atmosphere. A faint thudding sound reverberated through her absent mind. The rapping thud came the second time, this time more distinct. She rushed to the door and opened it. A young lad stood there, just like a younger seventeen-year-old male version of herself. "Jasper" she whispered, "what are you doing?" Jasper grinned at her. "What?" She raised a brow. "Aren't you meeting Axel this morning?" He whispered She gave him a warning look. Then spun around to shut the door. Jasper runs in behind her as she slams the door. "Go away" she pushed him softly. "I have to start preparing breakfast" He started slowly towards the door, then he turned and smiled a partially suppressed grin. Hazel smiled and looked away towards the window. "I saw that," he said as he walked out of the room. Hazel made her way down to the kitchen. She walked past a room at the bottom of the stairs. The door was ajar and she could see her step-parents sprawled on the bed snoring like their lives depended on it. She set a pot on fire and then proceeded with minor chores. She heard a soft noise behind her, accompanied by a loud yawn. "What's for breakfast?" She turned to see her stepsister Ava, in her nightgown rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her blonde hair was an entangled mess. Blue eyes staring at nothing in particular. "What's for breakfast?" She repeatedly lunged towards the pot. She tilted it and let out an unsatisfied groan. Then she turned to leave. "Maybe, if you tried helping we'd be done quicker" Hazel simply said. Ava muttered something under her breath. "Ava, come on" she called after her. Ava didn't look back. "Maybe, I can help" Jasper came into the kitchen, from the yard. "No, you go and rake the leaves in the yard while I prepare an edible breakfast", she strained the word edible. " Seriously........ at least I am a much better cook than Ava " he made a mocking face. "No you're not", Ava's voice rang from her bedroom. Hazel and Jasper giggled loudly. Just then Ava rushed into the kitchen. She picked up a knife and vigorously started cutting a huge ball of onion. Jasper took a rake that lay against the door and went into the yard. While Ava and Hazel continued with breakfast. Hazel caught a glimpse of someone sneaking around the brushes. She smiled, but that smile was completely wiped off when she saw who it was. " Milo....." Ava clapped at the figure. She dropped the knife in her hand and went outside. "Great" Hazel rolled her eyes "Just great". She watched from the window as Ava and Milo walked out from the backyard into the street, holding hands. She smiled when the thoughts of Axel flashed through her mind. She picked up the half-cut onion that Ava had left behind. She started cutting gently, envisioning herself strolling through the city with Axel, hand in hand. Their favorite strolls were always in the woods. With the sounds of birds and tiny mammals breaking the tranquility. And the crickets. Yes, the crickets, and their high-pitched chorus echo through the night. Alas, Heaven could exist on the earthly plain. She recalled how much Axel would look at the moon in admiration. They would lie on the grass looking up at the sky. It was just the day before yesterday, but she longed for another. And it seemed like an eternity waiting. Sometimes she would come along with a small bottle of kerosene and they would make a fire. The illumination, the shadow it cast on the surroundings. The warmth. The insects were attracted to the flames, hovering like tiny fairies. The antagonistic crackling sent out tiny embers that hovered above the flames before snuffing out lame particles of ash. The charring scent of the smoke, slightly choking but........ Slightly choking.......... She was pulled from her thoughts by the smell of burning food. She rushed to the pot and brought it down. She inspected it and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw it was just a slight burn. She heard a clattering, and lazy thudding footsteps and at once knew who it was. "What is going on here" her stepmother, Beatrice, howled as she stepped into the kitchen. "Good morning, " Hazel greeted. But Beatrice ignored her and went to inspect the pot. "Where is Ava....." She caught sight of something outside, and for a split second her face bore mixed countenance. She tilted her head. Hazel followed her gaze, to the window. She could see Jasper talking with Axel. The young lad was ecstatic as he narrated and demonstrated indistinctly, while Axel paid attention smiling at intervals. Displaying a clean set of glistening dentures. "Oh Axel", she smiled inwardly, an unnoticeable but warm blush on her face. Then she noticed the look on Beatrice's face "Oh no.....Axel!".