Page 120 of Lost in the Dark

The sloping hills of the valley were coated with a light dusting of snow, and popping up through the thin layer of frost were irises.

Thousands of irises in various shades of yellow, blue, and purple covered the landscape.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” Iris said, her voice a hushed whisper.

“Neither have I.” I knelt down and plucked one of the delicate blossoms. “There must have been a warm spell while we were under the mountain. Spring is on its way.”

My hand shook ever so slightly as I swept away her hair and placed the flower behind her ear.

“Th-thank you,” she said, and looked down at her feet.

“Are you going to be alright walking in this? I know—”

She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. “I’ll be fine, Sel. You don’t have to keep looking after me.” With that, she turned on her heel and marched down into the valley.

I watched her for a moment, the brown waves of her hair whipping in the wind, and the fur pulled tight to her chin. Her feet had to be freezing.

“Iris!” I yelled as I ran after her.

But she paid me no attention.

“Iris! Will you stop it!” I caught her arm and whirled her around to face me.

Cold tears streamed down her red cheeks and anger burned bright in her eyes.

She ripped her arm from my grip and stomped her foot on the ground with a harsh thump. “No, you stop it! I know exactly what you’re doing, Sel. You’re trying to pretend that whatever this is between us is nothing, but we both know that's a lie.” Her breaths came out in great puffs of white smoke. “This is the best thing that either of us have ever had, and you’re just going to throw it away! You’re going to throw me away just like they threw me down into the pit.”

Iris dropped to her knees at my feet and dipped her head while she sobbed.

“How could you do this to me, Sel? How could you do this to us? Do you think you deserve to be miserable and alone for the rest of your life?”

She looked up at me, her eyes rimmed red and pleading once again.

“Fight for me. Fight for us. Please.” Her voice dropped to a shaky whisper. “Please don’t make me go.”

I lowered to my knees in front of her and pulled her shaking body into my lap.

“Oh, Iris,” I whispered as I stroked her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” My voice cracked and I felt tears starting to form.

This tiny human had awakened things in me that I hadn’t felt in a long time. And I was ready to just walk away from her?

No.

Nothing would tear my angel away from me.

“And the flowers, Sel. The flowers.” She muttered against my chest as she wept.

The flowers.

As if I needed another sign that this was right.

That Iris was right.

“Angel,” I said softly. “Angel, please look at me.”

She sniffed and stared up at me.

“I was being foolish. I didn’t believe that I was worthy of you. I didn’t think I could give you the life you deserve. But I was wrong.”