Aurelius And Roe [Fiction]

Flakes of snow clung to her chestnut hair as we stared at each other. Her eyes were solemn, calmly distant, and her cheeks tinged pink from the cold. She was beautiful, just as she'd been six years ago when we first met.

She was engaged to be married to another. “Maybe in another lifetime, we would have been great together. Not now, Aurelius.” She'd said gently touching my cheek. I leaned into her soft palm, if that would be the only time I'd feel her warmth. “I love my Xachary,” she added. Words that cracked my heart into many pieces.

Years later, I returned to Willows Keep and learned that Roe was recently widowed. All efforts to offer my condolence failed for she only ever left her home once a week to visit the village library for some books. Like tonight.

She would chat a little with Maisy, the librarian, and they would close up together.

But not tonight. Once she saw me approach, she packed the books from the library, tucked them under her arm and turned to walk away like we'd not seen each other for some years.

I was lost for words. I had a lot to say but my oratory prowess deserted me at that instant.

She strolled with an unfaltering grace, like she owned the night. The attraction between us was still the same but stronger this time around. I walked closer and fell into steps beside her. She stopped abruptly and turned on me, “What do you want, Aurelius?” Her nostrils flared and her eyes sparked.

“I’ll walk you home,” was all I could say, when I wanted to yell, “I have missed you. I never stopped loving you. Now, I'm back to make things right.”

Her gaze pierced into mine as I absorbed every bit of her facial expressions. She saw everything I couldn't bring myself to say and narrowed her eyes at me.

“It's a long walk and I'm fine. I have been since you left. Go back home.” She spat and continued walking. I wasn't deterred.

“I'll do as you ask after I drop you at your front door.”

She whirled on me, anger pulsing from every part of her and something else. She hissed with her teeth bared, her eyes cold as the night and sharp as steel. “I don't need you to take care of me. I've been doing fine all by myself for the past year.”

I knew then that she wished I never left. But I had to. There was nothing left for me in Willows Keep if the woman I loved did not want me. I wasn't ready to start a fight—not until I had something worth fighting for.

“Don't fight me, Roe. I'm back and not going anywhere now.”

Tears spilled from her eyes. “I have nothing left. Nothing to give you, Aurelius,” she whispered.

“I'll be the judge of that. It's late. Let me start by walking you home.” I took the books from under her arm and we walked in silence together.

Baby steps.

^{Images created by AI in Nightcafe Studio}