cold




"I'm cold," Amy thought on that gray September evening.


It was one of those starry nights that clink with cold.


Amy wished for nothing more than each other tonight


to cuddle a strong shoulder and let the world be the world.


But who should this shoulder be for her? There was nobody there


that could warm her.




Ryo, the son of a friend of her father's, was two doors down.


Was he awake now too? Did he long for some tenderness too? How gladly would she have gone to him and asked him. Reveals her feelings to him, hugs him, warmed himself up against him.




It was late. Too late for a school age sixteen year old.


But she couldn't bear the thought of her cold, empty bed.


So she stayed awake. That night she started to write .....:




'Beloved Ryo,


I can hardly describe my feelings for you ... '





*




The next morning everything was as always. She couldn't let her feelings show at any price. Not her, the proud warrior. Especially not in front of her father, who would consider this to be childish rubbish.


Not in front of Mr. Bondiko, Ryo's father. He probably wouldn't even understand her, deaf as he was.


And certainly not before Ryo. The cause of their grief.


Today, like every day, they would go to school together. Side by side. Close and yet so far. She would watch him, in secret, admire him and she would wonder what if she had the courage to tell him.




*








It was raining unusually hard that day. They got all wet on the way to school. Now Ryo was sitting next to her. Bored with math, she stared out the window. Suddenly Ryo broke the silence. Much to the displeasure of the current teacher.




"Hey, spinach head," he said in a low voice.

Amy would never admit it, but she hated being called that. Straight from HIM.


"What is it, stupid," she said, contrary to her belief.


"Is there anything out there for free, or why are you staring out like that?"


"What's that got to do with you, Bondiko?" She said, more cheeky and, above all, louder than she thought.


Just as Ryo was about to utter another flippancy, he was loudly interrupted by the said faculty:


"Shigeru, Bondiko! If you have such an urge to communicate, you can indulge in it for two hours this afternoon!


WHEN AFTER SITTING !!! ! "




"Well," thought Amy, "there are worse things than having to be with Ryo for two hours ...".








*






The time of detention was approaching. The rain had gotten stronger. The first hour of detention passed silently and wordlessly, under the watchful eyes of the overpaid mathematician.



But then this specialist was urgently required in the school yard, so that Amy and Ryo were now alone with themselves, even if only for a sweet moment.


"Tell me, spinach head," he began, "did you do the physics homework ..."


"Listen," Amy couldn't explain to herself where this anger suddenly came from, "if you think I'm just a homework machine for you, then ....."


"What else should you be for me?" He asked dryly and without any visible emotion.




"It's enough! If you only see that in me, you can .....". Tears welled up in her eyes as these words came out of her.


She jumped up and ran out of the classroom through the window. Ryo was speechless. He couldn't understand what had gotten into her.






*






Amy ran. The clouds broke completely now. Maybe Heaven wanted to wash the tears from her face.Or her make-up. Or both.


She had arrived in a pasture. She didn't know where she was. She didn't care either. She just wanted to get away. Away from all worries and problems. Away from this unfeeling, freezing cold, selfish ........




"Spinach head," Ryo's voice sounded softer and more apologetic than usual. He had always been an excellent sprinter.


Amy knew deep down that he knew he would catch up with her. Maybe she even hoped so.


"Spinachkopf!", He had finally reached her. He took her arms. She tried to avert her face so as not to burst into tears again, but Ryo gently took his hand on her chin and looked deep into her big blue eyes.




"What's the matter with you, little one?" he asked gently.


"I ... you ..... we .." she wanted so much to answer him, to confess everything, but her throat was as if constricted.


She was wet to the skin and so she dropped to her knees.

Ryo did the same. "Well?" He added again.


Amy's fingers were trembling. With cold and excitement. She fingered her trouser pocket and slowly and deliberately pulled out the letter she had written the night before.




She read it aloud.




"Beloved R .." she had to swallow.




"Beloved Ryo,




I can hardly describe my feelings for you, but they are so strong that I can no longer control them.




I hope and pray daily that I could muster up the courage to share them with you. I know myself, I know I will never succeed. Therefore I am writing you this letter.




How do you say:


'Love comes fast, love comes in a hurry, there are thieves in the temple tonight'?




It is not true. It is more. A whole army with a million flaming torches are in the temple of my heart.


The torches burn just for you, Ryo.



You can't imagine how much I love you.


How much I want your heartbeat next to mine


Your head on mine, your voice singing a lullaby in my ears.




I am a proud warrior, but without you I only want and can cry.


You are my way out of a dark valley, my light in the dark of night.




Be my thief in the temple tonight "








Now she could no longer contain herself. She cried hard enough to compete with the rain.


Ryo didn't say anything. Sometimes actions speak louder than words.




He kissed her forehead gently when a small tear rolled down his cheek.




"Ryo?" Amy breathed softly.




- “Yes?” He said uncertainly.




"Embrace me. I'm cold."








of dh












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