I've a special connection to this place Gruiene, Texas. My aunt Clara lives here. She's one of the kindest people in my life. It takes a day by metrorail and only 7 hours by air to get here from Oceanville, Wilmington. But I've only been here like couple of times. This year in I decided to spend my whole summer vacation with aunt Clara which means for at least a month or maybe more. Mom and dad gave me permission on one condition I'll attend summer classes there since my grades dropped a little bit last year. They are always so extra. I agreed because I really didn't want to get bored and spend my whole vacay by mowing our grasses. And I had another reason I wanted to go to Texas. I wanted to find her there. That cute little girl with her gorgeous eyes and how those eyes used to shine so beautifully every time she gets excited which is a lot. I never seen such a funny and talkative girl in my life. I was only 12 or a bit older than that then. She must be 8 or 10? I'm not sure cause she talked with so much maturity. I went to aunt Clara's for vacation for a few days with my parents. I was a shy kid. The adults were talking and having discussions in the living room. There was no one my age around so I was just lurking on the lawn. Then I saw them three girls, they were on the lawn of the just opposite house. One girl was a little older than the other two. The elder sister was trying to make something out of clay and other twos were just probably there to ruin it. So their hands were all dirty with mud. I have OCD. It's in lot of control now but then it was a bit extra. I felt cringe disgusted seeing them all covered in dirt!
One of the little girls noticed me staring at them all in horror and told her other sisters something which made them giggle. I got really embarrassed and quickly went inside.
The next day the girl who caught me staring was holding a puppy on her lap and then trying to put it on a leash. She was struggling with it. She realized I was there so I looked away.
"Hello! Hello there." she said in a sweet voice. I was extremely introverted that time and really shy who always ran away from girls. I looked around me and she said again, "Here here!" Then I realized she was talking to me. I was so perplexed by it no words came to my mouth. I just followed my reflexes and ran away from her far as possible.
The following day she also alone again and saw me sitting on the lawn. She had that puppy in her laps and she came straight to me along with it! I was so startled by this I backed away from her immediately. She seems really surprised and little hurt by it. But she won't give up. She steps toward me and says "Hey I saw you looking at us. Do you like puppies? This is Vanne. Wanna hold her?".
I take a step back again still no words came to my mouth. "Hey I don't bite you know neither does Vanne. Do you bite Vanne?", she say eagerly. Vanne protested by making her puppy noise. "Did hear what Vanne said?", she says again. "I'm sorry to ask but can't you talk? Oh was it the case! Now I get it..", she said. Then she makes some gestures with her hand and says, " Myy Naame is Rin, I am Err..."
"Rin! What are you doing up there?? Come up here right now mum's looking for you everywhere!", the elder girl who must be her her elder sister shouts from their lawn.
"Oh! Sorry I've to leave. We will meet again tomorrow okay? Tomorrow?", she seems disappointed and then she just runs off the road with her puppy. I see this strange girl in disbelief! What is with her? She's just so extra. I immediately disliked her when I saw them covered in dirt. But I was bored and had nothing to do. I felt really angry with myself that this girl thought I can't talk. Why didn't I say anything and just stared at her the whole time! What is wrong with me. This strange creature thought I couldn't speak.
Then all of a sudden I start getting rashes and my skin gets reddened. Shit! The puppy! My stupid allergy. I'm extremely allergic to dogs, peanuts, prawn, seafood and a lot of other stuffs that I can't even remember properly. So I've to be very careful always. This little girl will probably get me in trouble I mean she already did. I get inside and get a earful from mom.
Definitely should stay away from this creature. Next two days I didn't go out of the house. On the 3rd day I came out because I was exhausted so decided to take a walk. Unknowingly my eyes searched for that strange girl. Their lawn was empty. I just took a round in the neighborhood and came back. Next again no sights of them. The following day I see her. She seems a bit off. She's not in her usual mood. She even saw me looking at her and ignored it.
It was really strange seeing her so quiet. But I just went on my way. Next day she was in better mood. Suddenly she was beside me and I backed off immediately all aware.
She seems hurt, "Why do you always run away? I'm nice!"
(Because you're dirty. I don't know you and we never talked and you already striked my allergy.)
"Err um I'm not the talkative type really", I say abruptly.
"You can talk! Wow that's so cool! I'm happy for you. Just yesterday I told mommy about you. Can't tell you how relieved I am!", she said excitedly.
"Told her what?", I ask eagerly.
"That there's this strange boy he can't talk it's so sad. Mommy was sad to hear it too! Oh.. I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Sorry..",she replies.
(That's exactly what I said to my mom only vice versa.)
"Hahaha", I suddenly laugh out loud.
She seems surprised and asks me,
"What happened why did you laugh?"
"I never seen anyone so relieved to hear that I can talk!", I say.
"Oh!", her face reddens.
"What's your name?", she asks.
"Ethan. My name is Ethan and you are Rin I know.", I say.
"Yeah Ethan nice to meet you!" she says holdin her hand in the air.
When I don't shake the hand she seems surprised and her eyes gives a look that pierces my heart. I was thirteen I didn't have an idea about that feeling. It was a strange ache. I wanted to hold it so bad. But I knew she had a dog. I have to be careful after that allergic attack. They were painful.
I should've told her. But I didn't want her to think of me with sympathy. So I just shrugged.
She took her hand back and didn't say anything for a while.
"Um I should leave. Wanna play with me and my sisters tomorrow?", she asks.
"Will the dog be there?", I ask
"Vanne? She's not a dog just a puppy. No she's in the vet for a while. Why?", she asks.
" I had some incidents with dogs.. I can't be near them.", I reply.
"Oh okay! See ya tomorrow. ", then she smiles and leaves.
I see her leaving. What a strange girl. I clearly insulted her by not declining the handshake. She didn't even ask for any explanation. She didn't even ask what was about the dog incident as well. Is she really that uninterested or is she really this nice! I mean she's just 8 or 9. She can't be that pretentious at this age right.
It all began from that moment. Her smile and silence. Her words..they introduced me to this new strange feeling. What is this noise. Is it my heart. Why am I hearing my heartbeat? It's definitely has to be another allergic attack. Yes it is..
Until it wasn't. I met this strange girl I hated and hated and hated. That summer was the my best summer. I played with them talked about things, went to their house. They were even careful so that the puppy wasn't around when I was there (Must be Rin's work.) Sometimes they came over. It was happiest time of my life. Day by day I was getting this heartache now or then..whenever she smiled it ached and accidentally we touched it didn't affect her at all but my skin burned. I was getting so used to her that when the time of our leaving came nearing I couldn't bear the thought..She told me straight, "I just hate Goodbyes! I won't be there when you leave.."
Then the day the end of a happiest summer back to being old me.. Everyone came to say goodbye her elder sister, younger sister her mom even Vanne! But she wasn't there. She wasn't joking.. Still my eyes were looking for her hopelessly to see her one last time before we leave. She didn't say goodbye to me... But the feeling it never leaves. No one ever made me feel that way ever again. I tried to look for her..they changed their address. I was thirteen Aunt Clara couldn't help because uncle Billy got really sick.
Seven years have passed...
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Authors note: Hello my lovely readers thank you so much if you've read up to this point! We just reached 1k views within a very short time and it's all possible because of your love so thank you so much!! Take love 💌💌💌
PS. this chapter is my favorite one until now. I really enjoyed writing this one. If you like it please leave a comment and I'll be super grateful and it'd encourage me a whole lot! Love you all ♾ keep reading and stay safe take care^^