The flower which never wilts

Friends at last!

I made my way to my room by walking through the corridor. I had spent much time with grandpa that it was already dusk. I was lost in my thoughts about Shun, his parents and I imagined what he had gone through all this time. I had misunderstood him; he was trying not to close to anyone for fear of losing them. I guess it's only natural that the one who has never been close to his parents or anyone else trusts a stranger like me. I looked outside in the garden but my eyes were filled with tears: i felt Shun's pain. As i wiped my tears i saw a dim light in the Back Garden...

Unf.. Ouch! I went tumbling amidst the bushes. I had seen a light in the Back Garden and went out to investigate but I had to be careful not to be seen by the maids and Mr Blood or I would be once again scolded for roaming around so late at night! Mr Blood would scowl saying, "It's not proper, not proper for a Lady to go out at this time!" and blah blah blah!
Finally i reached the light and there i saw a crumpled figure sitting near a lamp. It was Shun!

"What are you doing here?.. Shun??" I waited for a response but he did not move an inch.His hands were folded on his knees and his head was bent down as if in shame. He was ashamed of having been born, of having been the cause of his mother's demise and his father's suffering! Without any drop hesitation, I crossed the few meters which separated us and hugged him tightly from the back. My little arms squeezed his chest and i folded my hands as if not to lose him. I rested my head on his back and silently remained like that for more than 10 minutes. During those ten minutes my hands which were tightly gripping him and his shirt became wet with his tears. My mind became blank with his chest heaving in pain and his breathing filled my ears. It was then that i decided to always smile for Shun.
On that night of his birthday, I had no gift for him so i tightly hugged him till morning. We woke up at dawn, I picked Heliotropes from the nearby bushes and with a smile said "Happy Birthday Shun! Although your birthday was yesterday.." The sun shone kindly on us and i clearly saw the most beautiful smile being drawn on his face. Shun took the flowers, grabbed my hand and hugged me tightly.

I was only 6 years old and Shun was 9. We became the best friends ever and felt like we could go through every obstacle together! That was an innocent, childish thought which filled us with happiness as we walked in the Back Garden.