I spit out the dirt as she jumps to the other side with an innocent smile. I shake my head, chuckling as I jump, grabbing the fence as I pull myself up. My feet pushing off an iron bar and I jump down beside her, balancing myself. My glasses hit theground, but before I bend down to get it. Elsie holds them for me and I smile at her.
She smiles back then turns around facing the place. The abandoned greenhouse. It is constructed in black iron bars with grass spiralling around. Graved with small arts, while the rest is made of green stained glass. What a misery that this place has now perished.
The world doesn’t appreciate the beauty of details and hard work of each spiral engraved into the iron. The beauty of the stained glass that is now filled with filth and spider webs.
Elsie whistles in awe as she whispers “Wow. This is beautiful.”
“Absolutely.” My gaze isn’t on the greenhouse at all. I watch her eyes sparkle, taking in every detail. My hand brushes hers as I step forward. Holding the door to the entry as she steps beside me. We press together into the door as it creaks open and she steps in.
A huge black chandelierdecorated with spider webs is dangling front the center in the high ceiling.
Elsie spins around, arms outstretched as she throws her head back. “How is this place hidden? I would spend every day here.”
The plants are dead, only a few are barely showing as a small empty fountain stands in the middle. The edges of the white porcelain are now molded. I sit down, feeling the coldness of its surface strike my hand. Leaning down as I rest my elbows on my knees. “This was built fifty years ago. Apparently a wealthy family lived nearby and the man ordered this greenhouse to be constructed for his wife.” An ant climbs up my knee as I flick it away.
“That’s romantic, imagine someone builds a whole place just for your content.” She wonders with that gorgeous smile on her face.
I lean back, stretching my legs out. “If you could have your own place, what would it be?”
She kicks a rock away as I see her eyebrows furrow slightly in consideration.
“A house, surrounded by flowers. Maybe three or two stories. With a great view like mountains, or a fountain.”
I would build a whole city for her.
“What would you build?” Her voice catches me off my dissociation.
“I don’t know, but it would be something for us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, or you want to get rid of me, mon ange?” One side of my lips curls up.
She walks towards me, sitting beside me. She holds her pinky out. “No, I promise we never drift apart.” My pinky links with her and gives her a firm nod. Our foreheads pressing together, I can feel her breath hitting my skin. My head inches closer, looking at her eyes for any hesitation. She gazes back at me with a smile and I fight every urge not to just press my lips forward onto hers. I want her first kiss to be with me, I want it to be so good, she wouldn’t bother to kiss any guy after me.
Just an inch closer.
She jerks away from me suddenly, gasping loudly. “Clay, look!”
Disappointment fills my heart as my head turns towards the direction. Two moths flutter ahead of us as Elsie’s eyes widen, standing up abruptly. She reaches a hand up as a moth lands on her finger, showcasing its beautiful wings. Elsie is in such awe, she doesn’t even breathe, scared the moth would fly away.
I stand up to my full height as I look around the silence of the greenhouse. A small movement catches my attention at the stained glass. I lean down, grabbing a log as I inch closer to the wall.
“Clay, what are you doing?” Her hunched voice echoes through the walls.
Holding the log firmly as I swing it hard and hit the walls. “Clay!”
Hundreds of different colored moths fly all around us. Elsie’s scream of joy motivated me to keep hitting the wall to disturb them further, just to see this girl happy. She runs around as her hair flows around her. Moths land all over her as she spins around.
I stand aside with a small smile, admiring her excitement. The way her eyes shine through the darkness around us. Only she would find an abandoned place this amusing and full of life.
Her eyes meet mine as she grins.
Definitely searching for more abandoned places.
Chapter Twelve
The present
