The first snow: A second chance at love

Thomas let out a bark of sarcastic laughter, taking a few more threatening steps toward the couple. “Your father wants you home dear Rose, he is very angry that you eloped with a servant.” He spat the word servant like it was a bitter taste in his mouth."“She’s not going with you!” Hakeem boomed, red hot rage flashing through him.“Shut up! how could you dare to think of eloping with your master’s daughter?” Thomas sneered.Rose shook with rage. “He is no longer a servant Thomas! He is my lover, my husband.” She slipped her hand into Hakeem’s palm desperately needing strength.Thomas scowled “I don’t care. Your father has searched far and wide for you after you caused him irreparable embarrassment by eloping with a servant the night before our wedding.” He inhaled deeply as if the memory alone scarred him. “He is very angry dear Rose, he’ll never approve of your love for such a lowly person. You know the daughter of whom you are better than I do.”“I don’t need his approval Thomas, I

Scarlett was gone for 5 good years, but everything still felt and looked the same.After all those years of traveling around the world, the sense of nostalgia She felt was truly overwhelming. The bad memories she’d run from also scraped the surface. But now she was a different person, and bad memories wouldn’t make her crumble anymore.Astrid had been horrified at her plan to stay in a hotel for the first few weeks, a traveling habit Scarlett didn’t think much of. It was weird that her online psychologist recommended her an apartment that was available on short notice, but Astrid was fast becoming a friend, something Scarlett lacked.The building in front of her reflected how much Astrid had come to know her. An apartment near the sea, with the most beautiful blend of calming colors, nothing like her own life, which wasn’t calm or colorful. Scarlett took a deep breath and listened for the distant, but serene sound of the beach behind her new apartment, the cool breeze ruffled her lusc

Scarlett was harshly jolted from her reverie when a loud knock sounded on her door.When she stood up to answer, she spotted her horrifying appearance in the mirror opposite her bed. No way in hell was she going to answer the door looking like that, especially being new here and wanting to make a good first impression. Sending a silent sorry to the person behind the door, Scarlett quickly freshened up. The knock persisted without pauses in between. Weird. She washed her face and changed into a light blue handmade gown she’d gotten from a craft market in Thailand. It was a simple A-line gown made with the softest and best quality wool she’d ever seen. The young girl who made and sold it to her probably wasn’t up to fifteen and had such impressive talent and skill. Scarlett finally made her way to the door while tying her hair in a loose bun wondering who it could be. She didn’t know who she was expecting, but she wasn’t expecting a tall handsome guy with blonde hair and green eyes, a

Scarlett woke up with a start. At first, she was struggling to breathe properly, and her voice was nowhere to be found. She struggled to breathe and cold sweat drenched the Coca-Cola t-shirt she’d worn to bed. She calmed down soon enough as she realized it was just a nightmare. It had been too vivid this time. No matter how many times she went through this, or had this particular dream amongst others, she still went through the painful motions like it was the first time. The pure terror she always felt, the shaking, the tears. Her dreams always felt new and real, always accompanied by sleep paralysis too.The Nightmares were a normal occurrence. on a night where she doesn’t have one, she’d be surprised to wake up like a normal person and not shake while drenched in sweat, or paralyzed with pure terror. The nightmares started when she was a teen, and slowly got worse and gory over the years. But she could never get used to it.In the dreams she had sometimes, the memories or visions

“C’mon get up!” Brianna said in a loud singsong voice very close to Mateo’s ear, intending to wake him up, Mateo thought.“Ughh!” Mateo’s voice sounded muffled because he buried his head in his pillow groaning, Brianna was such a morning person and he was the complete opposite. If he was given the chance, he would sleep throughout the day and stay awake all night. He was nocturnal.“It’s snowing!” Brianna exclaimed.“So?” He said in a casual voice, but he knew she noticed the subtle stiffening of his shoulders, she was very observant.Brianna huffed not buying his nonchalant attitude, “You always mop around like a grieving widower on the day of the first snow, I just want to let you know you’re not doing that today,” she said, “it isn’t snowing yet though, but it will soon.”“Just leave me alone Bri.” He groaned, turning away from her, and folding into a fetal position.“C’mon get up,” she nudged him, and when he didn’t budge she said, “I’ll tell Richard about that time!” She said in