Ch. 6

Adler wakes up early in the morning. Today, he is leaving. He was too afraid to tell Lilac, but his days in the meadow were numbered. Soon, his dad would be done with this buisness trip and he would have to go back into the big, bustling city.

Since he is leaving in the afternoon, Adler told Lilac yesterday to come early so he could give her a present. He just never told her that it was a farewell gift. Adler holds the boquet of purple lilacs carefully in both hands. He smiles as he thinks of how happy she will be.

As Adler walks into the meadow, he sees a figure already beneath the willow tree.

"Wow Lilac, you came early! I was worried you would forget." Adler says as he walks closer to the tree. However, as he gets closer, he can see that the figure is a tall man. And in the man's arms is Lilac, with her golden hair duller and her face pale. The paleness of her face boldens the dried bloodstains on her cheeks.

Adler drops the purple flowers out of shock.

"Who... are you?" Adler asks through gritted teeth. "Did you hurt her?"

The man stares down at Adler, and for the first time, Adler feels dominated by the person in front of him. Even his own father doesn't hold a presence like this. However, even though he is frightened, he holds his ground.

"If you hurt Lilac, I'll make sure you get punished!" He shouts at the man.

The man looks at the little boy's white hair and blue eyes.

"You're Walter's second son."

"How do you know my father?" Adler asks. He's never heard a person address his father as Walter, only Mr. Rebal. However, the man just ignores his question.

"Don't go near my daughter anymore. She doesn't need people like you." He says as he begins to walk away.

Adler stares in disbelief. After a moment of silence, he speaks. "You can't tell me what to do." He says. "I'll go as near to her as I want!"

The man stops. He turns around at stares at the boy. He smirks. "Oh, really. I can already tell what type of person you are. You're spoiled, unmotivated, and do things only for your personal gain." The man pauses. "Don't worry though, I'm like that too. People like me and you should just have fun and play."

Adler glares at the man. "You're right. I am like that. But people can change. Lilac made me change."

The man scoffs. "People never change." He says as he walks away, crushing the bouqet of lilacs as he leaves.

Adler stares at the crushed flowers on the ground. He can feel his rage building inside him as he feels angry tears falling from his face.

But he doesn't chase after her.

Because the man was right.

People don't change.