Snow

Seven

The Goldenleaf is covered in a blanket of snow. It's finally that time of year. I looked outside the window of our classroom as snow droplets formed along the window pane and some more down to the trees. It's a great season for most people in our town, festivals will soon begin to be set up along the street. You can also see the smiles in the faces of the children playing out in the snow, making snow angels.

It was different from me, when it snows it has a deeper, more sad meaning to me.

"It's that time of year again.." I heard Louis' voice from somewhere, but I didn't bother to wonder how he got to our class. Mr. Arthur went out for a council meeting, it must be the same for Louis' class.

I felt Misha's hand combing my hair. "Hey why don't you come by the house for the rest of the week?" She was nice to offer her home to me. My best friend is always worrying about me.

"No Mish. It's alright I can manage, and Aunt May wouldn't want to be alone this time." I smiled back at her and excused myself to go to the bathroom.

Before I could pass through the door, I saw Damian in his seat behaving himself, still looking at me while his group kept on chatting. This guy never gets tired of looking at me. I remembered I needed to say thank you to him but I was preoccupied by so many things.

Not to mention the nightmare became daydreams, or whatever you call it, it happens randomly. Some of it pains my head, some were just flashes of images in my mind while I'm awake.

Days become weeks and weeks become months until I was finally able to bear the pain, with a pain- killer pill, yet still confused about what the images mean.

I also continued to ignore Damian till then as that specific day came near. I couldn't think about anything, and I started to feel heavy these days.

At lunch we ate inside the cafeteria and not in the open field like we used to. I ate my usual lunch with Louis, Misha and Kenneth. We were listening to Misha's story about how her Mom wants her to move to Canada after the school year, and she told us how much she protested and got her final say.

"She's not controlling me like that. And Canada? Why? I'm fine here."

You can see in Misha's face she really hated the idea of going away. I also hated the idea of losing my one and only girl friend. What would I do without her? There's Louis but Misha is Misha. It'll never be the same without her.

"Like she can't separate us Snow. Don't worry." She smiled at me as if she read my mind and I smiled back.

We were stopped by something that hit Kenneth, it was an apple. He picked up the apple and looked for the perpetrator.

"Who the fuc--" Louis stopped midsentence and we saw Damian's group laughing really loud while looking at us. Damian was the only one not laughing. It was obvious who threw the apple.

"Ignore them." I told them and Kenneth put down the apple to our table.

"What are they? In grade school?" Misha was shaking her head in disbelief.

I felt someone near us and it was Cas, grinning at us and holding his hands out to Kenneth.

"Okay... okay.. Give it back." he was chuckling in his sentence, like something was funny but only their group's been the one laughing all this time.

"Ignore them." again I told them and Kenneth obliged, completely ignoring Cas.

"Okay. Ms. Cold as the Snow weather. Can I have my apple back?" he was obviously holding back his temper in his smiles.

I c****d my head to the side. "Why did you throw it in the first place?"

"It was a joke?...Huhh.." closing his mouth with his hands pretending to be shocked.

"Did I hurt you Kenneth? Was this why she's grumpy here?" he said and laughed again, facing his group.

I took the apple. "You want this apple?"

I handed the apple to him, when he was about to take it from my hands, I threw it far away in the open field.

"There you go, fetch." I wasn't even smiling and I knew what I did to Cas made him angry and embarrassed.

"What is your problem?" in his angry tone.

I looked at him emotionless, not caring about the veins popping on his head.

"Bother me or my friends again and I'll pray to all the Gods you die a slow cold death in the snow."

He was silent and after a few glare, he headed back to his turf.

I was also surprised with myself for the cruel words that I said and walked away.

I heard Misha called for my name but I kept on walking. I needed to be alone.

*****************

I went to the usual flower store and bought a very nice bouquet of daffodils, symbolizing 'new beginning'. The owner of the store knows what I usually buy this season and he prepares it in advance. After getting the bouquet, I went the usual route and walked down the street looking at the stores and when I found the store, I went inside and bought the amulet and candle just like last year.

I bought myself a snack even though I know I won't eat it. I walked some more along the streets and wandered far until I reached the cemetery. I asked the caretaker if I can borrow a few cleaning materials.

I looked for it and finally found it.

Here lies Cara Reed

A mother, sister, daughter and a friend

1979 - 2009

I cleaned the dust on her grave, when it was clean, I put the amulet, candles and flowers on top of her grave. When I was finally satisfied with the position, I lit the candles and sat on the ground. 

Sat in silence.

"Mom... It's snowing again..." I looked up at the sky. It's not snowing heavily yet.

"I'm not sure if you can hear me.."

"Aunt May's healthy, Adel's still sweet as ever, Misha kept spending her money on me, she's like a sister I never had, Louis is always a gentleman." I smiled weakly.

"Misha's mom celebrated her birthday last month. If you were here you probably had the same age." I held on my locket. Tears crept at the side of my eyes.

"I still had this locket, Aunt May said it's your locket and told me to always wear it. I can't even open it."

"I was cruel to a guy in our school because it's that time of year again." I shed some more tears.

"I can only remember your face, your smile. I can't remember anything after that. Why can't I remember."

I cried and cried, her beautiful face is the only thing I can remember and her lullabies. It's frustrating to have few memories of her.

I tried to remember anything but really there was nothing. It's like she only existed in my mind, no pictures, just this locket. Her grave lies here but Aunt May never came here not even after the man in suits buried my mother's coffin here.

The shadow of an umbrella made me look up from my teary eyes. I saw my friends smiling weakly at me and immediately Misha hugged me.

"I knew you were coming here. You should have told us so we'd come with you." she hugged me tightly and I cried out some more.

"I can't remember her anymore Misha. I can't. She's disappearing in my mind." I cried and cried.. And cried.

Louis held the umbrella for us since the snow was pouring heavy now and all three of us just stood silent in front of my mother's grave. Paying our respects.

When I went home to Aunt May, she had a hard time hiding her tears from me and held me tight. She was sitting on the couch and I hugged her, while we both sobbed.

It's been 10 years after losing her and yet the pain still lingers. 

*****************

Damian's POV

My wolf was whimpering from where I was sitting inside Seb's car, we both followed her all throughout the day, went to the routes she took just a few feet away. Her behaviour was worrisome specially today. She had been depressed lately and I felt the weight of it all.

Now I know what her friend meant by 'that time of the year'. Her actions to Cas were inappropriate but soon when I realized what was the cause of her behaviour I understood well.

She was grieving.

When the three of them went back home. I stepped out of the car and headed for her mother's grave. Seb followed behind me.

"I never knew you were a sentimental one brother.. Paying respect for your Mate's mother" he was trying to joke.

I did not respond as I was reading the name engraved on the tombstone. Seb stopped and looked at the name.

Cara Reed.

Seb looked shocked at me and I knew instantly what made it shocking for him. It was Cara's grave.

The same Cara who started the war 10 years ago.

The witch he hated was buried here. The witch who started it all is Snow's mother.

No. My mind protested.

"It can't be... She died back then so there should be no grave. Witches die and turn to ashes." Seb still can't believe it as I can't believe it as well. This makes things much worse.

"Dig it up" I ordered him. He looked at me in dismay.

"I just had my nails done." I heard him whisper but did the job anyway.

It was dark now as I waited for Seb to finish. I heard a thud from his knuckles and saw he reached the coffin. He looked at me and I handed him a flashlight.

He opened the coffin while I stayed out to look out.

"It's empty." I finally hear the most terrifying words from Seb.

I was hoping Snow was human and that inside this coffin was her human mother named Cara.

I looked at the coffin and it was empty. I slumped down the ground.

It was Cara the witch.

My Mate might also be a witch.