Chapter 99: A wrong way of meeting
For the next few days Ash’s days slipped by in a quiet monotony. Each morning he rose with the sun, helped Grandpa with the strawberries, and each night he would retreat to bed, burying the memories of his past deep within him. There was no sign of Elijah—no unexpected encounters, no confrontations. Life remained simple, calm, almost too quiet.
Maybe it wasn’t him, Ash thought. Maybe Elijah hadn’t come here at all. The fleeting hopes of seeing him again had stirred something in Ash that he wasn’t ready to confront. But now, as the days passed and nothing happened, he felt torn. Was he disappointed that Elijah hadn’t come? Or relieved? He couldn’t tell.
He’s not sure whether he should feel happy or sad, relieved or disappointed.
One afternoon, as Ash packed some leftover strawberries into crates, Grandpa shuffled over, pulling out a worn leather wallet. "Hey, boy," the old man grumbled, "You need some new clothes. You’ve been walking around in the same rags for weeks."
Ash smiled faintly and shook his head. "No, Grandpa, I’m fine. The clothes here are good enough for me."
Grandpa squinted at him, unimpressed. "You call that fine?" He slapped the back of Ash’s shoulder hard, making him wince. "Take this money and go to the shops on the main road. They’ve got stylish stuff there, something that’ll make you look half-decent."
Ash’s heart raced, his stomach tightening at the mention of the main road. That road led right past the luxurious hotel—the one where he feared Elijah might still be. His palms began to sweat as the thought struck him like a hammer.
He tried to sound casual as he replied, "I-I think the village shops are just fine for me, Grandpa. No need to go to the main road."
Grandpa raised an eyebrow, giving Ash a stern look. "What’s the matter with you, boy? The shops here don’t have a decent selection. If you keep buying from them, you’ll end up looking like an old farmer!" He crossed his arms, frustrated by Ash’s resistance. "Stop acting like a coward. Go on and get yourself something nice for once!"
Ash bit his lip, trying to think of an excuse, but nothing came. The fear of running into Elijah paralyzed him. He didn’t want to confront those feelings, to potentially see the man who haunted his dreams. "I’ll think about it," Ash muttered.
Grandpa huffed but didn’t push any further. "You better. I don’t want to see you walking around looking like you’ve been dragged through a hedge."