Love will remember

Prologue 20 years ago The two kids skipped happily towards the garden and down to the river. Alongside the river bank, hidden by bushes that served as boundary marks partly was their 'safe house'. The safehouse was mainly a clearing with two used mats on the earthen floor and holes in the 'roof'. Max and Rose came here to lay on their backs on the mats and gaze at the stars. Today, however, they were early so instead of stars, the sun burned their eyes. Max and Rose were both ten years of age. They were what you would call best friends behind the scene. While neither of them would win a beauty pageant or fashion show, Rose was popular while Max was well, you know, a bullies' special.But while character drove them apart, the need to escape to this safehouse made them soulmates. Nothing like common trouble to bring people together. These two young souls came from dysfunctional families. Max's father was a drunk who beat his mom for a hobby while Rose was brought up by a neglective uncle. She stayed out of his way mostly and ended up at Max's home for most mealtimes, after which they'd escape towards the river to avoid both abusive parents. Today however, was Saturday and being exam time, there was no extra classes and so they decided to head over early. "Say peaches" Max started. "How many stars do you see? " They were lying on their backs. "I don't know, Flowers, too many" Those were their nicknames for each other. Too wise for their age, they had taken the phrase 'its not always going to be Peaches and flowers', to mean that trouble will someday leave them alone. It's not always gonna be them, crying and hurting. "Wait.That's a shooting star" Max squealed. "I'll make a wish,first" "Or we could do it together. On 3.3,2,1..." They both made their wishes silently. Before they could divulge what the wishes were, Rose's uncle and two of his friends filled the entrance to the hideout. Little did the two kids know that the adults knew of this place and what's more, used it as their hideout for weed. Quickly sitting up, both kids looked at the adults fright on their face. "You'd better get out of here little brats, and fast" her uncle snarled. They quickly scrambled up and were going past them when one of the men reached out for her hand. "You, little darling,stay" It was said softly but she knew she had to obey. "Go" she told Max, avoiding his eyes. She didn't want him to see her cry but she need not have bothered,his eyes were wet too as he ran to get help.