(Mintaka)

As soon as she agreed to sing for me, I lowered my lips and fused them with hers.

Sweet and soothing, her lips are balm for my broken heart and tortured soul.

She brings her hands around my face and softly returns the kiss.

The room is dangerous to be in with her. The monster inside me hungers for Amaia, wanting to pick her up, take her to the bed and fuck her.

Quickly, I pull my lips away and lower my head, unable to look at her. She must think I am so pathetic. I can’t even kiss her properly.

"I...um...sorry," I break down and say. Her hands don’t leave my face and she slowly tilts it upwards so I can stare at her.

"You don’t have to apologise to me, Min."

She holds an understanding smile, serene and peaceful. I feel at ease with her.

"Come, let’s go out. I want to show you something." I have to get out of this room. Straightening up, I offer her my hand, and she takes it, not even asking where I am going to take her, fully trusting me.

We exit our room, and I take the back routes so we can come out at the back of our palace. There is an old maple tree there, on which Alnitak and I used to play. I wish to show her that.

The sentinels posted at the back door opened it for us, letting us step outside into the night. The air is no longer oven-hot at night but has comparatively cooled down. There are fewer torches in the rear grounds of our palace. A few lanterns are hanging on the poles so I grab one.

Squeezing her hand, I guide her forward through the grass. The scent of night blossoms is rich in the air along with the distant chirping of insects.

The maple trees loom in the distance. The very sight of them is making me gloomy. They have begun to change colour from green to orangish-red, indicating the autumn season is almost here.

The season of falling leaves and melancholy.

The season of forgotten songs.

The season I lost her.

I jerk the memories away and focus ahead.

"There." I point towards our tree where the golden painted treehouse is still visible. Bless our mama, she keeps it in shape and has it painted regularly preserving our treehouse and the memories we made there.

"Is that a treehouse?" Amaia asks with curiosity.

"Yes, Alnitak and I built it during our childhood. It was our favourite place."

Amaia smiles but her warm gaze remains fixed on the treehouse.

Arriving under it we stand on the fallen leaves, creating an earthy scent of dampness and autumnal wood.

Amaia deeply inhales with her head raised. This is not a flowery scent of Spring but a pure and crisp fragrance and announcement of Autumn.

"You like this scent too?" I curiously ask.

"I love it. The earthy scents are soothing." She answers which makes me slowly smile.

"Come, let’s climb the tree."

I let Amaia climb the hanging, looped wooden ladder first.

"Go, I will be right behind you." I encourage her. She grabs the sides of the ladder and places her right foot on the rungs before beginning to climb.

I follow her, remaining on her tail. Amaia reaches up and opens the tiny door to climb inside. I do the same while balancing the lantern. Amaia extends her hand and takes the lantern from me so I can easily climb up.

Holding the lantern she watches in awe the little details we have put into this treehouse.

Inside, the floor is marked with scuffs from our countless adventures, and the low walls frame provide a perfect view of the world below.

It was more than just a structure for us; it was like having a castle in the clouds where we played nonstop and acted like heroes.

The small weapons and toys we used to bring there, some of them still lie inside along with fallen leaves and twigs. Amaia bends down to salvage a tiny wooden sword from the clutter.

"I bet you guys played warrior warrior." She holds the sword by the hilt and waves it in front of me like a warrior princess.

I smile at her actions. "Something like that. Those were memorable days."

I place my elbow on the low frame, staring back at our palace and the grassy grounds.

"I can imagine." Amaia stands beside me and copies my action. She places her face in her hand.

The heaviness in my heart grows as memories come crashing back. It’s under this tree that Kayla and I had kissed for the first time.

Amaia’s hand reaches out and she entwines her fingers with mine before placing her head on my shoulder.

"You are sad, talk to me." She can feel my emotions and understand what I am going through.

"I don’t want to sadden you because I am still stuck in the past or make you jealous."

A soft caress she places on my shoulder. "Try me. Sharing always helps. I want to hear your story."

Her words give me strength. Her hair softly flies and caresses my face and shoulders.

Slowly and painfully I begin to tell her my story.

"Kayla was six years older than me. She was Alnilam and Jamina’s badge mate and their best friend." I exhale slowly and Amaia squeezes my hand in affection.

"She had the patience of a saint. When she turned eighteen I was only twelve. She recognised me as her mate but she remained quiet. She didn’t approach me or try anything because I was a minor. Instead, she patiently and loyally waited for me to come of age." I raise my head and stare at the twinkling stars decorating the heavens. Maybe she is there watching over me.

"But she was always present, with a smile and a helping hand for both Alnitak and me. She was so like Kacir in that regard. Like an idiot, I was more into girls my age and never gave her much thought. And then on my eighteenth birthday, I received a card from her where she asked me to meet her, alone."

Sadly, I smile at the memory.