Chapter 5

　　~The past~

　　Hazel

　　"What are you doing in the forest little princess? "I turned in the direction of the familiar voice and smiled.

　　The soothing female voice that sang me a lullaby and read me stories before I fell asleep.

　　"I'm looking for mushrooms, mama. It has been a long time since we tasted it. I'm tired of meat and vegetables. ''I said and turned around, then continued to pick more mushrooms.

　　"The forest is not a safe place for you or anyone at your age. It's too dangerous. You made me scared. "I saw worry in my mother's eyes and she heaved a deep sigh.

　　Sigh of relief because she had found her missing princess.

　　"I'm sorry that I came to the forest without your permission. It's just that...I knew you wouldn't allow me, that's why I decided to sneak. "I confessed, fiddling with the helm of my dress.

　　"It's okay. Don't ever do that without my permission, right? "She asked and I nodded, "We can buy mushrooms from the market, you don't have to come all the way here. Come on, let's go back home."

　　Mama smiled warmly at me and held my little hands and we began to walk towards the pack. After a few steps, she stopped all of a sudden to listen to the surroundings.

　　I raised my head and looked at my mother in confusion because I didn't know what was going on.

　　"Mama is something…"I was about to say more words when my mother gestured for me to remain silent, "Shhh..."She said.

　　She bent on my level and held my hands, then gave them a little squeeze. There was worry in her eyes and her hands shook on mine.

　　"I want you to run back to the pack and don't you dare look behind no matter what happens, okay."She told me and a sad smile graced her lips.

　　"What about you? "I asked, afraid and worried. "Don't worry about me, okay? I want you to listen to your mama. "She brushed hair strands from my face and tucked it behind my ear carefully then planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

　　"I want you to have this. "She removed a pure gold necklace from her neck in a hurry and hooked it on my neck then smiled.

　　"Take good care of this necklace, okay. "My mother told me and I nodded. "Okay. Promise me that you're going to come back to me and Daddy. "I said and tears flowed from my eyes because her words sounded like goodbye to me

　　"Run! They are near. I will try to distract them, okay. "She whisper-yelled and I obeyed, hesitantly. I turned around and began to run just like my mother had instructed. I didn't want to be stubborn this time.

　　When I was some distance away, I heard a painful cry...

　　"Mama..."

　　I woke up from the nightmare. My heart was pounding wildly against my ribcage, I closed my eyes and tears flowed from my eyes. My hands found their way to my neck and I touched the necklace.

　　"Mama..."I said in almost a whisper, touching the necklace so tightly as though doing so would help me calm down. I have never removed the necklace since she hooked it on my neck.

　　"Hazel...Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare? "Sebastian asked me, I guess I shouted so loud that I woke him up.

　　"Why? Why does everyone always leave me all alone? "I asked him and he was silent. He cupped my face and wiped tears from my eyes but it continued flowing.

　　I felt like a seven years old girl again, lonely and scared. The memory was so fresh in my mind, as though it happened just minutes ago.

　　"I'm not going to leave you all alone. It's just a bad dream. I'm here with you. I'm not going to leave you all alone, okay. "He said, his voice soothing and it held a promise.

　　I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. Why were the memories of the past coming back? Perhaps it was triggered by what happened between me and Sebastian. I'm afraid of losing someone else who is dear to me.

　　He pulled me into a tight hug and patted my back so gently and gave my body a little squeeze. I closed my eyes and allowed him to hug me because I needed comfort. I didn't want to feel lonely and abandoned again. I wanted an assurance that I'm not going to be a lonely and broken little princess.

　　"Come on, you need to get some sleep. I'm not going to leave you, okay. "He repeated his statement from earlier and I nodded my head, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes.

　　He brushed the dark hair strands from my face and tucked it behind my ear, then planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. I closed my eyes, his lips were warm and comforting against my sweaty forehead.

　　The kiss reminded me of my mother's last kiss in the forest, on the forehead. Fear crept into my heart. The wounds that I have been nursing for years were open.

　　Sebastian helped me to lay back on the bed and fixed the pillow for me, then smiled. It was an assurance smile, assuring me that he won't leave. A small smile plastered on my lips.

　　"Let me fetch you a cup of water from the kitchen. "He was about to turn around and get off the bed but my hand subconsciously grabbed him and he turned back to look at me, creasing his eyebrows.

　　"Please don't leave me, "I said and tears flowed from my eyes. My eyes pounded against my ribcage so hard that I thought it would explode in the next second.

　　"I'm only going to the kitchen to fetch you a cup of water. I will be back before you even know it. "He asked and I shook my head almost immediately.

　　"I'm fine, I don't feel thirsty, "I said and a convincing smile graced my lips. I moved on the bed to create some space for him.

　　He creased his eyebrows but nodded to my words regardless. He knew I was lying, he knew me too well. I sucked when it came to lying but I didn't care at the moment.

　　I moved close to him and he pulled me into his warm embrace and I snuggled impossibly close to him. I felt him press his lips on the top of my head and a small sigh escaped my lips. My grip on him tightened.

　　"Goodnight. "He whispered, his voice was gentle and soothing. I responded by clinging onto him, hoping that he would be able to keep his promise this time. He won't leave me all alone as everyone has always done.

　　He won't throw away six years that we have spent together as husband and wife. After being awake for minutes, I finally managed to fall asleep and this time the nightmare didn't come back.