A humble request to re-readers, Please don't comment spoilers and ruin the story for first-time readers. Thank you
***
Ella's hands were clenched tight on her sides, curling into the soft fabric of her blue winter jacket, her palms were sweaty despite the cold weather and steps heavy as she concentrated on placing one boot in front of another in the slowly gathering snow.
She didn't want to be there, at least a part of her didn't, yet the rest of her was dying to walk that all too familiar trail towards the willow tree, while her mind whirled with possibilities.
She was feeling too many things all at once, and she didn't understand which emotion prevailed over all others.
She recalled the words from his letter; they were thoughtful as always, considerate, respectful too and beautiful.
Ella knew all too well that words could be deceiving.
"On my end, there's still so much left to say- not write, say."
Those were his words in his elegant longhand scrawl- and the implication wasn't lost on her.
There were so many questions in her mind too, suddenly so much to say and understand that it practically weighed her down with a physical burden. She blamed her inquisitive, restless mind as she pushed herself to walk faster, the hike seemed longer that day, steeper somehow- an uphill battle, yet Ella was determined, committed to the task. Her thoughts went back to the letter he wrote, the very words that disoriented her.
"You have not misread my words..."
She came to a standstill just before the meandering curve that revealed the bowing tree, she could see a single trail of fading footprints in the snow leading ahead, those strides were much larger than hers and she breathed deeply at the evidence of his presence.
Gathering her fleeting courage she stepped ahead and out of the naked winter branches that barely provided concealment. Her eyes spotted him instantly, he was facing away, donned in dark clothes that almost made him a silhouette over the backdrop of stark white snow, while the willow tree was poised majestically behind him, bowing under the added weight of snow, dusted all over its branches. Ella almost stumbled, she was colder somehow and she wanted to crawl inside the comfort of her warm jacket and stay there.
He stood tall and in his hands was that very same diary she was promised.
Maybe it's not him, she thought. Maybe he's just a messenger, but then he turned around, took half a step towards her and smiled a bit unsurely as their eyes met.
"Hey." He said softly in his deep voice and Ella could only blink up at him.
It was him. It was him all along and she couldn't comprehend what that meant.
***************************************
Intrigued?
Please tell me you are or I'm gonna be super disappointed in myself.
I know it's too soon for an opinion, but Is there anything you liked so far?
If you're enjoying how this story began and are interested in where it goes, go on, scroll to the next page, and please don't forget to vote and comment, I look forward to those things!
I'm dedicating this prologue to you- @QueenFierce45 ... you were such a huge help and amazing critique for my other story (Employed Epoch Of Alex Brook) and I'm immensely thankful. I hope you read and enjoy this one too...your valuable feedback would be much appreciated.
Happy reading :)