Deja Vu

Curiosity taking the best of him, Adam followed the voice. He neared the lake, and the closer he got to the voice, the more pleasant it sounded.

The harmony in the woman's tone was as smooth as the running water of a river and caressed his ears with the melody it had.

In the distance, he saw a woman, standing on the shore, next to the water.

She was hugging her thin coat to herself against the cold night, and as she faced the lake, she sang.

"Irene?" Adam muttered to himself, and suddenly felt his heart beating faster.

He slowly walked toward the woman, whose golden hair was dancing with the breeze.

The woman ended the song in a beautiful low rhythm. "Good evening, Adam." Said Irene in a soft voice.

"What do you got there?" Adam asked and pointed at the cup Irene had in hand with his head, trying to look casual, keeping his hands in his pockets.

"Hot chocolate." Irene looked at Adam and grinned. "You were right. It truly helps the mood."

"Yeah– hang on. Where did you get it? Were you– were you in the house?"

Irene didn't answer, and after flashing him a smile, she looked away, gazing at the lake again.

"I didn't want to bother you. But I– I couldn't do it anymore." Irene said and her face dropped into a worried frown.

"What's wrong?"

Irene slowly sat down on the ground and placed the cup away, playing with her fingers on her lap.

"I had to run away."

That was when Adam realized that she was at the verge of crying. So he bent down next to her as well, and threw a hand gently around her shoulder.

"You can trust me."

By that, a tear slowly left Irene's eye. She raised her hand and whipped off the tear with her thumb slowly.

"It's my father– he's abusive. And– and compulsive!" She said between low whimpers. "He was just like that as long as I remember him... That's why my mom left us..." More tears escaped her green eyes.

"Oh, my," was all Adam could get himself to say.

What did that girl went through? He thought.

"You can– you can stay here as long as you want." Adam said with a smile, for that was the first thing he could think of.

"But I don't want to be a bother to anyone–"

"–Irene!" Adam interposed her and then placed his hand gently on her cheek, making her to look up at him into his eyes. "You're not a bother. So don't think that for a second."

"I–" but she didn't complete that sentence. She just pulled him slowly into a light and calming hug. "Thank you." She muttered.

"Say what," Adam started, pulling away with a sympathetic smile. "How about we lighten your mood a bit more? Hot chocolate is good, but I know something else that would completely do the trick."

"What's that?" Irene asked with an amused smile on her red lips.

"Follow me."

Adam stood on his feet and raised a hand to help Irene up as well. And so, he lead her toward a small wooden boat that was floating on the lake.

He helped her in the boat and loosened the rope that held it to the shore, and went on, on the lake.

Irene stared up at the moon as Adam paddled with the shovel. The way her skin shined under the moonlight and the way that the blue lake had reflected in her eyes, made his heart beat.

And as if that wasn't enough, Irene started singing again, not removing her glance off the moon.

She then closed her eyes, and sang her heart out.

In her voice, you could hear everything she'd been through; the pain, the fear, and the love she was capable of. It was enough to make the stones cry.

What was that woman doing to Adam Peterson's pure heart?

She was surly stealing it.