When There Is Nothing Left But Love

The two bags of fruit were heavy but still manageable. I was lagging behind the rest of the group as I was walking slowly with the heavy load.

It had rained, so the road was muddy and wet. My shoes were caked with mud, making the walk a slippery affair, full of near misses. I planned to take a rest after crossing this muddy stretch, as my arms were almost breaking under the weight of these heavy bags of fruit.

Unfortunately, all of a sudden, I slipped and sat right into a pool of mud.

Slosh! The mud splashed onto the fruit I was carrying as well.

Oh my god! Where am I going to find clothes to change into?

I was tired and frustrated, so I just sat in the mud pool, stoned.

“Throwing in the towel?” I heard a voice mocking me.

I looked up to see Ashton. He was standing a distance away, looking amused. I instinctively wanted to get up from the ground.

On second thought, I gave up and just sat there. “It’s none of your business,” I retorted. He had already seen my embarrassing fall, so who cares?

“It is not about you. I am worried about the fruit. It was hard work harvesting them. You are not going to waste them like that, are you?” he mocked as he walked towards me.

out the muddied fruit to him and pouted, “There you go. Are

looked at me with a tickled expression, seemingly

did not take the muddied fruit from me. “Get up. Mr. Oberick is still waiting for

showing any intention to help me up. Apparently, he

reach the base. Leedon was resting on the steps when I approached. When he saw me, he gaped. “Ms. Stovall, did you

of.” I could not bother

“There are shower facilities at the base. You don’t have any extra items of clothing with you, do you? If you don’t mind, you can use mine.” It was

did not have other options and

at all. Hurry on,” he

went, people turned to gawk at me. I don’t blame

a set of clothing in hand. “Mr. Fuller gave instructions

saw him trying to

for sending me clothing. It was his fault that I

for you,” he said. Joseph was trying his

for Joseph’s offer to stand guard. This base had no bathroom for ladies as all the staff was men.

some clean clothes for me. “Thank you