only him

Episode 20

We drove for almost an hour before he began to slow down. The sight was peaceful, but he had been quiet, and that made me uncomfortable. He took my hand most of the way, and I was happy with that, he just felt tense and as if a million things were running through his head. I saw the green grass and tall trees that ruled my view through the window, and we finally made a turn on a dirt road that led us to a residence at the far end."I bought this land years ago, but I haven't been here in months, it should still be decent though.""How many properties do you buy a week?" I tried to tease, he chuckled. That made me smile, I wanted to help him relax."This land in particular, it was one of the first lands I acquired when I became... the 'boss.' It was my family's home a long time ago, then it was taken from them by the government. So when I finally could afford it, I made it my top priority to repurchase it for them.""That makes sense... and it's admirable... I am proud of you, I think you did an honorable thing. Were your parents able to see it?" I asked, realizing he never spoke about them before. I was afraid to touch a sensitive subject but, he smiled and nodded."They were, yes. Ma was proud and so happy," He didn't say more, and I didn't push it either. I wanted him to trust me and tell me as much as he wanted at his own pace."There it is, just as I left it." He said and I looked ahead. Tall rusty iron gates and a sign that read 'Ma's Haven.' I melted.He stopped the car and walked out, pulling a set of keys from his pocket. He stood in front of the gate while he unlocked the big chains and then he pushed each side wide open. There was a long road of dirt, but wheat and grass grew up together everywhere else. As he got back into the car, I felt peace had filled him.Not far down the road, there was a very humble, white two—story house made of wood. Even the years and nature could not corrupt the beauty of its simplicity; I loved how a small tree grew right next to the entrance, and there was ivy hanging from the roof's edges. This was a time capsule, and it belonged to him.He parked near the house, but not too close. I unbuckled my

security belt and by the time I finished he was already opening the door for me, a huge grin on his face.I had a long summer dress and sandals, the weather was beautiful, and I felt like wearing them. The dress was one of my mother's last gifts, she said it screamed my name. I felt a hint of nostalgia when I put it on that morning, the pale beige long skirt had swirls of soft pink tulle flowers around it; she called it the 'Meadow dress.'He took a basket, some blankets and two small but puffy pillows from the back seat. Taking my hand he pulled me with him, I decided to leave my purse and phone in the car, this day promised to be unique and I didn't want interruptions.We walked around the house and then behind it. At a distance I saw a cliff and the ocean. It wasn't too far and we kept walking towards it, he was patient with me as the tall grass made it hard for me to walk. I smiled as he put me behind him, shielding me from the untamed nature.When we were reaching the cliff, he stopped and looked around. "Hold this for me please," He said as he gave me the basket, pillows and blankets. He then gave a few steps looking for something while I stood there still struck by the view. He came back holding a large straight branch and easily laid it on the ground; he pushed it a few times as he spoke with childlike enthusiasm. "My father taught me to do this. Pick a large branch and roll it a few times over the wild wheat and you got yourself a nice comfortable mattress."I grinned; he took one of the blankets from me and extended it over the compressed grass, then he put the two pillows one next to the other. He finally took the basket from me, and holding my hand, guided me next to him on our beautiful space. As soon as we sat down, he squeezed my hand, and while we laid back he looked up to the sky. "I haven't been here for a long time since she passed. For months I thought I was a lost soul and I refused to come back, the memories would hurt me more. But when Alex finally convinced me, I realized this would always be my haven."