The Castle in the Woods

He told me he wanted to leave.

I stared at him.

His face stayed calm, never changing.

“You’re serious?” I was taken aback by his boldness.

“The most I’ve ever been.”

He held my hands so tight

Our rings dug into each other’s skin.

His expression never changed.

After sitting in our silence for what felt like hours, our eyes

never leaving each others’

I finally asked,

“So what’s the plan?”

“That’s it?”

“Yep,” he said with a large smile adorning his face.

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as I’ll ever be,” he sighed.

“Hm . . . ” I let my head fall to his chest.

He held me, large arms surrounding my waist, holding tight

Like I’d disappear if he didn’t.

I smiled while in his hold.

He kissed my head and whispered to me,

“I think we can do it.”

I hummed,

“I know we can, my love.”

The sky was pitch black, the air was cold and wet.

The willow trees, heavy with rain, surrounded us as we walked.

The trees looked as if they were caving in on us.

I felt as if I was being watched in the trees and bushes.

I tried to ignore the feeling, pushing it deep down

But it was pretty, so damn pretty.

The more we walked through the wet grass, the colder I felt.

The air felt like needles pricking my skin.

Suddenly he stopped walking, holding my hand tighter.

I looked up to see him staring at me with a smile.

The moonlight made him look ethereal. He was so beautiful.

“There is a building farther up, you think you can walk a little

more?”

I looked ahead, then quickly back at him,

“Yes, I can.”

We finally reached the building, more resembling a small castle.

“It looks kind of broken down, and creepy,” he said.

With a smile, I said,

“Broken on the outside, makes for a beautiful inside.”

He sat there silent, looking down at me,

A smile gracing his features.

The lavender tea helped calm the screams in the echoey halls

of what we called

Home.

The sweet smell filled our room, the wind helping the smell

waft throughout it.

He was fast asleep.

After long days of reading and being . . . well, him,

His soft breathing as his arms clung to my waist.

Insomnia forever overtaking me.

Nights like this were perfect, always so perfect.

I wished daylight would never come.

He left, just for a moment.

He told me, “I saw something while we walked. I’ll be quick.”

He left a chaste kiss on my cheek and left.

I was left to my own devices, unpacking whatever we had

brought.

Water left to heat over the fire I started.

The flames licking my skin, warmth gracing my side.

I was lost in the way the flames danced in the fireplace.

So lost, I didn’t hear him greeting me,

“Hey! I’m back.”

I turned around to be met by two small children;

Tanned skin, long dark hair, and gray eyes.

Eyes like moons filled with fear and abandon.

“These two stood out,” he said while he placed the items down.

They were small and quiet.

I sat them both by the fire, handing them tea and a blanket.

One looked up and spoke, “I’m Dancer, she is Dalia.”

“Beautiful . . . ” I said underneath my breath.

We watched as they became more comfortable in our castle.

For just a moment, he pulled me into his large frame and

whispered,

“It’s just the start, my love.”

Dalia was quieter than her older brother;

But she warmed up to me quick.

Grabbing my dress as she walked next to me, braiding my hair

. . . or attempting to.

Dancer loved to listen to him play music and sing. He loved to

help do things.

“I want to be the king of the castle,” Dancer said, while giggling

and holding tight to his arm.

“Oh?” he said, lifting Dancer into the air. “Then what am I?”

Dancer thought for a moment and said, “A JESTER!!”

Our small castle was full of laughter and warmth.

I hoped it would stay this way forever.

After putting the two energetic children to sleep,

After many stories and cups of lavender tea sending them slowly

to their dreams,

I walked up the staircase, sliding my hands gently against the

walls

Down the dark hall to a candlelit room.

I opened the door slowly.

Watching him stand on the balcony.

I smiled at the sight.

Walking up from behind him, hugging him tight.

“Y’know, it’s cold out here. Don’t.”

He said through his teeth.

Of course I knew, but . . .

“I’ll be warm right here . . . ” I said.

He turned around to face me, his lips meeting mine

In a sweet and soft kiss.

“Your nose is freezing,” he said, pulling back.

“Let’s go to bed,” I giggled.

Dalia wanted to be outside

So we took a small basket we made and set off to the meadow.

“Stay close, little one,” I asked once we reached the water.

She nodded and took the basket from my hand to collect whatever

she found.

Finding butterflies to chase around, I watched from underneath

the shade of a willow tree,

Letting myself get lost in the scenery of it all.

It felt like a dream,

Like I could wake up and it would all be over.

The feeling I tried too hard to push down was bubbling up into

my chest.

I was lost in my feelings and thoughts

Until,

“Excuse me?” a voice said.

My head shot up. I came face to face with a child,

Maybe older than twelve, thin and pale,

Raven-haired and . . . moon-eyed

“I think . . . I need some help,” they said in barely a whisper.

826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students from under-resourced communities in San Francisco with their writing skills.