“Being an aristocrat is not so easy, is it?”
“You say it like it’s easier for you.”
“I’m the youngest in the family.
I have older brothers, everything difficult and difficult is on them.”
[It was me who was naive, not him...] - Adaline thought.
The profile of the boy, looking thoughtfully into the distance, seemed adult.
[The weather that day was surprisingly good.
They sat on the terrace longer than usual, exchanging insignificant phrases, simply because it was sunny and calm.]
Relaxing under the warm rays, Adaline did not notice how she fell asleep.
She did not know how much time had passed when she suddenly woke up.
Thought one: [He's probably angry.
No matter how patient you are, it’s still unpleasant.]
Thought two: [Mom will swear if I get a tan...]
She opened her eyes.
Shane shaded her face from the sun with his palm.
“Are you awake?
I was just about to wake you up."
He smiled so dazzlingly that at that moment, for the first time, she saw in him more than just a child.
She saw Shane Blanchard in him.
The puppy died.
Sometimes very young puppies die unexpectedly, as if they simply cease to be.
Adaline cried for two days without stopping.
This was the first death in her “new” life.
She was truly scared.
[Yesterday he was warm, alive, soft.
And in the morning he became cold and motionless.]
[It was scary.]
[She missed the smell of the puppy, his touch.]
Shane was silent for a long time, watching her face, swollen from tears.
And then he asked:
“Did you love him that much?”
“He always slept next to me...He loved me.”
[It was impossible not to love him.] One had only to remember, and the tears flowed again.
Shane knelt down in front of her, took her hand and placed it on his head.
“To be honest, I was jealous.
You loved the puppy, not me."
[...Jealous of the puppy?]
“But...seeing you cry hurts.
So you can imagine that I am your puppy."
[That sounded stupid.
But Adaline realized that he was trying to console her.]
The tears subsided a little.
She sobbed:
“Why must the living die?
Can’t you just…not die?”
“If no one died, but were only born, the whole world would have long ago turned into a teeming pit.”
“...Shane...You look like cotton candy, but in reality you are as sharp as a needle...”
“Is that even a compliment?”
“I’m sad not because he’s gone now.
I'm scared by the very concept of death."
Shane frowned. [It was clear that he did not understand what exactly she was afraid of.]
But I still thought about it, choosing words.
[If she doesn't want a "replacement", then he needs to find another way.]
“Then I’ll just hold your hand.”
"..."
“I will always be there.
I won’t leave you alone, even if it’s scary.
It’s not so scary, is it?”
[Did he...just promise to die with her?]
[There's no point in arguing with his clumsy attempt at comfort.]
Adaline simply squeezed his hand tighter.
[Wet palm.]
[Body warmth.]
[Awkward but sincere consolation.]
[A promise that will most likely be impossible to keep.]
[Now he runs after me and swears eternal love...But when he grows up, everything will change.]
[Looks so confidently into the future, not knowing how it will change everything.]
[Promises forever, not knowing what this word means.]
[Childish stupidity.
Childish sincerity.]
[But now he says it seriously...]
[Stupid puppy.]
[What should I do with you.]
[I think I...love you.]
[You are so...real.]
[You promised to be there when I'm scared.]
[So...I will try to make you happy.]
Adaline wiped away her tears.
[Shane's eyes are the color of the sea.
So shining.]
[How can a person be so beautiful when he smiles?]
[You are a child who easily makes promises for life.
And I am no longer a child.
I won't say it out loud.]
[But maybe...I will really try to make you, lonely, happy.]
[But you don't have to be by my side forever.]