The Southern Story

It was an early autumn evening, and the air was beginning to turn cool.

Adam, a tall, broad-shouldered young man in his mid-twenties, awoke in his bed. He wore glasses that framed his dark gray eyes.

Beside his bed was a smaller bed, where a young woman was sleeping peacefully.

Her name was Lilian. She had turned eighteen the previous week.

Twelve years earlier, Adam’s older brother, Frank, had brought her from a war-torn region of Western Europe.

She was a war orphan.

Frank had adopted her and brought her to their small rural town in the southern United States, where he and his wife had raised her.

Over the years, Lilian had grown into a remarkably beautiful young woman. She had large, clear blue eyes, long blonde hair, and smooth, fair skin.

Adam watched her quietly.

Lilian had always been fond of Adam, who was eight years older than her.

When Lilian first arrived from Western Europe, she was weak and thin. She could hardly speak English and cried almost all the time.

Adam took care of her and tried to comfort her.

Over the years, he became her best friend and the big brother she loved most.

Even as she grew older, she still felt comfortable sharing a room with him.

Adam had always cared for Lilian as though she were his own sister. But recently, he had begun to feel something different.

He had fallen in love with her.

Adam gently pulled the blanket over Lilian before quietly getting out of bed.

He looked at her sleeping face and smiled.

Then he leaned down and gently kissed her cheek.

Adam watched her for a moment before heading to the bathroom.

After getting ready, he returned to the bedroom to change his clothes. He noticed that Lilian was standing beside the bed.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Adam walked over to her.

“Adam…”

Lilian’s face was pale. She pointed downward.

“I’m bleeding.”

Adam immediately understood what had happened.

“Lili…”

He walked over to her and gently put his arms around her.

“I’m scared…”

Lilian’s voice trembled.

“It’s all right, Lili. It’s a natural part of growing up.”

Adam gently stroked her blonde hair.

“I’ll call Dominique.”

He gently wiped the tears from Lilian’s cheek.

Then he looked at her.

“Dominique will explain everything to you and show you what to do.”

Adam gently rested his hand against her cheek.

“You really are beautiful.”

Almost without thinking, he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

Lilian looked at him with a puzzled expression, clearly confused by everything that was happening.