The Love of Spring

The snow had melted, the birds were chirping, and the sun was shining on Spring. Aiden hated it. Spring strips the cool comfort or Winter away from her, and she will forever hate it for that. She listed in her head all the reasons she hated Spring as she was getting ready for the despicable Spring Dance her friends were dragging her along to.

Too bright

Too loud

Too hot

Too many people acting as if it can make you happy again

Aiden decided that if she’s going to this dance, she’s going not put any effort in. She looked at herself in the mirror and wrapped her hair into a loose bun, then left for the dance. When she got there, her friends immediately dragged her off to the refreshments table where all their dates were waiting, drinks in hand. I think I’m going to need something stronger than punch to get through this, Aiden thought. They all chatted about how beautiful the dance was this year and how beautiful everyone looks and how ugly Aiden’s t-shirt is. She endured another half-hour of them cheerily discussing such a horrible season, only with the help of the brightly coloured cupcakes she devoured. They then all disperse into the crowds to dance to some sappy song that started playing. Aiden wandered around looking for a quiet place to sit, or someone who looked remotely interesting. She loves her friends, they helped her through the toughest time in her life after her parents died is a car crash, but sometimes they were too much for her. As she looked around a woman about her age grabbed her by the arm and pulled her onto the dance floor. Startled, she nearly trip over, but the woman held her up and started moving her arms as if willing her to dance. Aiden looked at her offended and intrigued.

“Why did you do that? Who are you anyway?” Aiden ask pulling her arms away from her grasp.

“You looked interesting and I wanted to dance with you,” The woman responded as if she was asking a stupid question.

“No, you don’t just grab random people because you want to dance. You go up to them and ask politely, and when they say no, you leave them alone to sulk!” Aiden exclaimed, staring at the woman, her fists visibly shaking. The woman simply stood their smiling at me and extended her hand to Aiden.

“I’m Spring, ironic name, I know. Would you like to dance with me?” she said courteously after Aiden grabbed her hand to shake it. “So, are you going to dance with a pretty girl or go and sulk in the dark?” She was teasing her, but Aiden couldn’t help but be fascinated by her. A beautiful woman, in a flowy, floral dress Aiden would usually regard as disgusting, snatching her from the dark and asking her to dance, named Spring no less.

“You’re not that pretty,” Aiden mumbled as she took her hand. She laughed at the comment and set off twirling Aiden around the dance floor, agilely avoiding the other dancers. And for the first time in years Aiden was enjoying Spring, maybe not season, but she was getting there. Spinning, and laughing, Aiden marvelled at how Spring could stay balanced, she seemed so comfortable with her body and at one with nature. With her hair the colour of sunlight flowing loosely all around her and her dress speckled with all sorts of colourful flowers, she looked like Spring. Smiling at the thought Aiden asked Spring why she chose her.

“Because you weren’t having fun, and everyone should have fun at Springtime,” it was a simple answer, but it made Aiden feel uncomfortable and her smile faded. “Why do you hate Spring?” Aiden looked at her, searching her eyes, bright and green, for a reason not to tell her. She couldn’t find one.

“My parents were in a car crash a few years ago, it was the start of spring and a deer or something ran in front of their car, they swerved off the road and died. I have blamed Spring for it, it wouldn’t have happened in Winter, when it’s too cold for animals to bother you.” Aiden looked down at her feet, feeling vulnerable. Spring just looked at her, thinking. The silence painful, Aiden stopped dancing, their hands still connected.

“Spring-” she said at last. “-can be a powerful and ruthless force, but it would never intend to hurt anybody, simply to awaken the world from the harsh cold of Winter and bring warmth, and light, and happiness,” Spring said with full confidence in the statement. Aiden grasped desperately at the back of Spring’s dress, reaching up to sob into her shoulder. Spring hugged back, stunned at the sudden burst of affection and sadness. She wasn’t used to people behaving this way around her, but she liked the affection.

The day started to turn into night, Aiden, who was still talking and dancing with Spring, barely noticed. Spring did though and brought them over to the refreshments table where Aiden’s friends were waiting, dumbfounded at their friend’s company. Aiden introduced Spring to her friends and grabbed some punch for them both. Spring was easily the nicest and most beautiful woman to ever take interest in Aiden, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do, how to impress her.

Spring, after charming her friends, took Aiden by the hand and they stared walking down to the lake, that was concealed by rocks and trees. Aiden would have usually been curious about what Spring was doing, but she was so entranced that the thought barely crossed her mind. They got to the lake, which was sparkling with moonlight, and sat down at the bank behind some boulders. Aiden looked at her hands, examining her bitten fingernails, her heart banging against her rib cage.

“I like you,” Spring said plainly “and I want you to be with me.” Aiden’s hand jerked to catch Spring’s. they sat there, hand in hand for a few moments then Aiden spoke.

“Okay,” was all she said. They both stayed still, sitting under the moonlight, basking in the beauty of the Spring night. The small touch of their hands sent pulses of electricity to Aiden’s heart, her body filling with warmth, she had never felt this before. Neither had Spring, she had known many wonderful people before and captured many hearts, but none that she felt so deeply connected to. No one before had hated her with such a passion, none that she had hurt so much without even knowing it. She was sorry and she wished it didn’t have to be the way it was. I wish I didn’t have to take you, Spring silently pleaded. Aiden fell asleep against Spring, listening to her steady heartbeat, their hands still intertwined.

When Spring awoke, morning came, sunlight brightening the day. Aiden was no longer there. Spring wept over the soil where Aiden’s body was swallowed into the earth. Spring, to retain her rich life and beauty, had to take someone every year who loved her, and feed the earth with their love. Aiden will always be apart of Spring now.

A shadowy figure came around the boulders. “Oh Spring, it had to be done,” it was Winter who spoke, not yet completely melted from Spring’s heat. She came to Spring’s side and hugged her sister. Another season, another soul lost, but not as painful for Spring than it was to lose Aiden.