The Frozen Ground flaws
雨水 [21] / [35]
by Rain Dawson Jan 13. 2025
<The boy>
The sad autumn descends like scarlet leaves falling here and there. Spring arranged in every space from whence scarlet leaves are stripped, sky spreading forth from the branches. Peering into the sky with calm, blue hues dyed on eyebrows. Washing off warm cheeks with both hands, blue paint also smeared on the palms. The boy looked into the palms again. Clear river flows through the lines of the palm, flowing like a clear river, there's a sad face like love itself-her beautiful face, reflected in the river. The boy tries to close his eyes in rapture. Yet the clear river flows, the sad face like love-her beautiful face, is reflected back.
“After arriving at my destination, I managed to find her house again. I sighed deeply before ringing the bell,”
his story continued.
After a moment, somebody answered.
―Who’s there?
―I’m Adeline’s boyfriend. I’m Gresham.
After a rather long moment, the door slowly opened automatically. I adjusted my outfit before entering the huge garden and making my way towards the entrance. It was a very different atmosphere than when I was with Adeline.
It felt less harmonious and more grave for me. It felt like it took me hundreds miles to get from the yard to the interior of the house. I expected Adeline with a plump belly, but she was nowhere to be seen. Who was waiting for me was her father. I couldn’t read his mind through those eyes.
―Why on earth do you want to visit my daughter?
This was the first thing he said to me.
―Sir, I came here to meet Adeline since there’s been a misunderstanding between us…. Can I meet her?
―She is not here.
He answered coldly.
―She is in the hospital.
―In the hospital? Why?
―To get rid of your fetus. Abortion, you know what I mean?
I doubted what I heard. I couldn't say anything.
―That foolish girl, at first she refused to abort, but she agreed eventually. She officially got engaged to a guy to whom she was arranged to marry before when she was a child. Did you know that she was engaged to someone already?
Horrible silence.
―For God’s mercy, he didn't care whose baby she was pregnant with. Her fiancee still loves her. So, as soon as she's discharged from the hospital, she will marry him. And, she will not return here anymore, since her future husband lives in Europe. I’m telling you this to make everything clear.
I couldn’t say a word.
―Plus, be thankful I didn’t have you flogged for my daughter’s sake. So, if we’re on the same page kindly buzz off, would you? Thank you.
The way he said was very gentle unlike his demeanor. I couldn’t leave like that. I barely spoke to him.
―Sir, I need to see Adeline. Can you tell me what hospital she’s in? I will visit her. She’s carrying our baby. I can’t leave without seeing her again. I just can’t.
For a split second, I thought he was going to hit me. But he just stared at me, and wrote the address down for me. I got that note, said goodbye to him, and got out of that house.