Imageless by Michaela Noelle (top 100 books of all time checklist TXT) 📕

way through the structure and up the elegant wooden staircase. He was guiding her to the balcony that Alexis always visited to feel safe and at peace. They admired the view as the rain fell in the forest and on top of the roof, both were sheltered but it was mostly Alexis. She felt at rest and no longer full of worry. Right now everything was okay and they both had nothing to worry about.        

Emile turned on the radio they had on the balcony level, and he bowed towards her. It was his silent way of asking her to dance. Alexis could remember all the different times they danced in the wooden structure together, in the ballroom and the balcony. When the song ended Emile place his hand on Alexis' face and cupped her check, stroking it back and forth with his thumb. He smiled, looking down upon her beautiful face and closed his eyes. His lips gently met hers and let them speak all of the words he couldn't share. The one thing that they would both miss the most, is now what they're missing the least. The rest of the evening was filled with romantic embraces and silent love. If he couldn't talk, she wouldn't either. Alexis fell asleep in the arms of her love listening to the rainfall and sounds of nature surrounding her.

***       

 Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. Alexis stayed at the tree house castle for a month with Emile, taking only short trips home to grab important items and food. She loved every second she shared with Emile and sometimes wondered if she was dreaming.        

After a month of it, she realized it was wrong. Alexis realized that she was being selfish and that she needed to let go. Emile needed to let go. He had already passed away five weeks ago, but was stuck until he let go. Alexis would be the one to tell him to, whether she wanted to or not.        

"Emile, I love you. I want you to realize that I have always loved you and I will love you forever, no matter what. You're the only person that has always been there for me, through thick and thin, and I want you to see that you still are. Here's the hard part. You need to move on, you don't belong here anymore. You passed away five weeks ago and you can't stay here any longer. You need to move on to where you do belong and stop prolonging your destiny and end the suffering."        

Alexis tried to stay strong, for the both of them, but she couldn't. She enveloped Emile in her arms and cried on his shoulder. They both walked out of the tree house castle together, fingers entwined, and stopped with their backs to the entrance of the structure. Emile looked down and admired Alexis one last time. Their lips met and Emile embraced the rose petal like lips of his lover. Alexis' fingertips traced the edges of Emile's face and his cheekbones, as he wiped away her tears. He pulled her near for one last hug and held Alexis in his arms. They swayed together and held each other tight. If they both hated one thing it was goodbyes. Alexis knew it wasn't goodbye forever, but it felt like it was going to be.         

Alexis watched his silhouette disappear as he walked off into the heart of the forest. Emile turned around to wave goodbye and Alexis returned the wave and blew a kiss. She tried her hardest to stop the tears that continually rolled down her cheeks, but the tears were inevitable. Emile had disappeared and Alexis knew he was gone, at least for now.

***         

The odd elderly woman hobbled up onto the steps of the Beck's house. Her tiny bony fingers formed a fist and rapped on the door, "Hello Mr. Beck, may I see Alexis?"         

"How dare you come to this home and ask such a question, especially with my wife around to hear you! You very well know the answer to that question and it isn't a great answer or a wonderful situation to have to live with!" Mr. Beck shot back at the woman.

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Publication Date: 06-09-2013

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