Chapter 1
Daniel came over often after that. Almost everyday in fact; we would always sit under the maple tree. He tutored me most of the time. Sometimes we sat and read books together.
It turned out Daniel loved to draw, he was an exceptional artist at that. He mostly drew plants. Flowers and mushrooms were his favorite.
I was sitting on my spot under the tree's shade as usual when there was a knock on the fence. I didn't get up. I just shouted for Daniel to come in. We had been doing this for a week now. Except on weekends, because then his parents and my Aunt and Uncle would be home. They had not found out about us hanging out yet.
We feared....I-feared they would separate us. Daniel is the only friend I have and I was deeply afraid of loosing him. He said the same.
"You are the first person I've actually bonded with for a while now." He had told me.
He sat down next to me.
"What are we doing today?" He asked. He had brought his sketchbook and some other art supplies in his hands.
"I don't know.......I don't feel like studying." I told him slowly.
"Are you going to draw today?"
"Yes"
"Can I watch?" I asked.
"Of course."
-And so I did.
Daniel seemed very passionate about drawing. He focused hard; his hands working magic and his eyes gliding across his work. He drew by memory. He had told me he used to memorize plants and flowers from books he had and remembered them so well, he could draw them by memory. He knew them by name and even what they represented and their characteristics.
One of the flowers he drew intrigued me; it was white and the flower head was drooping downwards. It looked like a lamp, or a badminton shuttlecock.
"What is this one?" I asked tilting my head and pointing at it.
Daniel smiled, his eyes fixed on the drawing. "That's a Snow Drop. It symbolizes sympathy and consolation, innocence and purity. Most importantly; it symbolizes hope."
I chuckled nervously. "Fitting isn't it?" I suggested.
He turned to me and looked me in my eyes,
"It's beautiful."
