SONG OF THE WOLF

Hamish is Gone

Elena opened her eyes in the morning. She dreamt that she had kissed Hamish last night. Remembering that wet, passionate kiss made her feel like thousands of butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. She smiled and rolled over in bed.

However, her body bumped into something. Not a bolster, but a person. Hamish.

"Argh!" Elena cried out. She pulled up the blanket to cover her body. After seeing Hamish beside her, Elena realized that she was not wearing any clothes. She was naked.

Elena's scream woke Hamish up. He wasn't wearing any clothes either.

Elena chuckled. She'd kissed Hamish last night, taken off her clothes, pulled the man she'd barely known into bed. It was all reality, not a dream.

"What's wrong?" asked Hamish, rubbing his eyes.

"We?"

Hamish smiled. He reached out his hand and rubbed Elena's cheek. "Last night was the best night of my life. I love you, Elena," he said, kissing her forehead.

Elena's cheeks turned red. It all felt like a dream. She had lived alone for a dozen years. At night, she only talked to the moon that would never give her an answer. However, these few days, there was someone waiting for her. There was someone waiting for her. And, that person loved her. It was really like a dream.

"Let's hurry up. You still have to go to Mr. Colman's restaurant. When you get home, I'll cook various dishes. I'll show you my cooking skills." Hamish got off the bed. He put on his clothes and left the room. "You just take a shower. I'll prepare breakfast."

It took a few minutes for Elena to gather her wits. She put on her clothes and went to take a shower. By the time she finished bathing and changed into her faded blue dress, Hamish had already finished making breakfast of strawberry jam bread and milk.

"This morning it's just bread and milk. In the evening, I'll cook something better."

Elena sat down reluctantly. She still couldn't believe Hamish had romantic feelings for her. However, the man's smile convinced her in an instant. Hamish loved her. He would accompany her through these difficult days. He would laugh with her and wipe her tears when she cried.

"Let's eat. You'll be late." Hamish pulled Elena's hand to sit with him at the dining table.

Elena smiled. Without saying anything, she began to devour her breakfast. For some reason, today's breakfast tasted better than usual. In fact, she often had breakfast with strawberry jam bread and milk.

After breakfast, Elena stood up.

"Are you just going to leave?" asked Hamish.

"Huh?"

Hamish stood up. He took Elena's hand. "You have to give me a kiss before you go to work. And, when you come home tonight, the first thing you should do is kiss me again."

Hamish's words made Elena's cheeks flush. She wanted to leave the room immediately and shout how happy she was now.

"I won't let you go until you kiss me." Hamish played with his eyebrows.

Sunlight streamed in through the window. Elena would be late if she didn't leave now. Hurriedly, she kissed Hamish's cheek. When he released her hand, she ran out with a big smile.

Elena stopped running when she reached the T-junction. She passed Julia.

"Is someone after you?" Julia caught Elena's body.

Elena calmed her gasping breath. She then shouted at the top of her lungs, confusing Julia.

"Hey, are you crazy? What's wrong? Tell me." Julia patted Elena's cheek.

Elena almost told her about herself and Hamish. However, her voice caught in her throat. She remembered that Julia didn't like Hamish very much. Surely Julia would nag her.

She didn't. She didn't want to ruin this happy day with Julia's nagging. Elena took Julia's hand and rested her head on her best friend's shoulder.

"I'm just happy right now," Elena said without elaborating.

"Why?" Julia kept asking until they reached Mr. Colman's restaurant. However, Elena just kept quiet and smiled broadly.

The next day, Elena didn't tell Julia what happened either. Elena was lost in her own happiness. When she woke up there was someone beside her, greeting her with a smile as bright as the summer sun. When she came home, a face greeted her, hugging her and whispering words of love. There was nothing more Elena wanted. Her life felt perfect.

Two weeks passed. Elena felt determined to tell Julia about Hamish.

"Come to my house after this," Elena said as they were clearing the table at Mr. Colman's restaurant and preparing to leave.

"What's going on at your house? Is there a gold mine there that will make me rich?"

"It's not a gold mine, but it will surprise you." Elena blinked her eyes.

"I wonder what it is."

"You'll find out later. Hurry up and finish this job."

"Okay."

Curious about what Elena wanted to show her, Julia accelerated her hand movements. Their work got done faster than usual.

The moon was shining brightly tonight. Elena and Julia walked while singing.

After years of friendship, in the past two weeks Julia saw an unusual happiness on Elena's face. Happiness as if Elena didn't have any burdens in life.

Elena and Julia arrived home. Elena opened the door excitedly. She couldn't wait to tell her about Hamish and see Julia's expression when she ate the man's cooking.

Elena froze in the doorway. The house was a mess. Tables and chairs were broken.

"What happened here?" Julia entered first.

Elena ran into the kitchen, looking for Hamish. No one was in the house. In the kitchen and rooms, Elena didn't find Hamish. She only found fish on the kitchen floor and a broken bed in the room.

"Hamish!" Elena shouted. She began to panic.

Elena shook her head. There was no way Hamish had left her. Something must have happened. Seeing the messy condition of her house, a thief must have broken in. But what would a burglar look for in a house that was clearly devoid of valuables from a distance?

There was a wolf howl in the distance. Elena paid no attention to the frightening howl. She left the house and looked around for Hamish.

"Hamish!" Elena shouted until her voice was hoarse.

"Elena." Julia stood in front of her best friend.

"Elena, he's gone!" Julia snapped.

"No, he's not. No way. There's no way he left me. He told me he loved me. He would cook delicious food for me every day. He loves me, Julia."

Julia rolled her eyes. "He said that and you believed it? I warned you. Be careful with Hamish. He's not a good man."

"You're wrong. He's a good man. He loves me." Elena's tears fell. Her knees were weak.

Julia thought she understood the problem. Hamish lied to his best friend. The bastard had deceived Elena. Hamish gave her a moment of temporary happiness, planted the seeds of a beautiful flower, and then destroyed it.

"This is his way of having fun. He destroyed you. You're definitely not the first. I should have found out about that bastard," Julia grumbled. She was disappointed in herself for failing to protect Elena.