Carrier of Heartbreak Chap.1

  Birds chirped happily as the silent breeze spread over the landscape, spreading the clouds of purple and bright red so that the day's final rays of sun could embrace the hills in beauty. The smoke from the end-of-the-day fires caught the rays of sun and illuminated them so wonderfully. The hazel and golden leaves scattered across the dirt paths, giving the pebbles the appearance of movement. Tired men and woman put away their tools and clothes and wash bins so that they could get ready for bed.
  As the sun slowly sank out of the sky, the houses in the little village closed themselves up tight so that the people inside could stay as warm as possible during a cold autumn night like this. In an hour or so, most of the hard-working villagers had gone to sleep so that they could work well for another day. The only figure that remained awake was a young farm boy, around 15, that lived alone, completely without family. His name was Jonathan, and he was a farmer.
  Not just any farmer, though, this boy was the son of the Great William Press, a world-famous farmer that had been known to have been able to grow anything, in any soil, at any time of the year. Sadly, he had died along with wife and daughter, leaving his eldest child, Jonathan Press, to grow up trying to survive and live up to his father's reputation. That was three years ago.
  The accident was terrible. They left town, Jonathan staying behind to watch the farm, in order to buy more seeds. Little did they know about the horrible storm that was quickly approaching, bringing with it lightning, hail, strong winds and a possible tornado.  They were just returning with the seeds when they were caught in the middle of it. They never reached home. No bodies. No trace.
  Gone. Jonathan, losing weight from depression. Nobody helping him with the farm. Until he met a girl: Summer. A girl around 15, the daughter of a successful merchant and skilled silk-maker. She helped cheer him up and helped with the farm. In a few weeks, he was strong, healthy and happy. As long as he was with Summer, the sun always shined brighter, the cold always seems less bitter.
  Still, he was too young to recognize love. She said she loved him many times during her visits, but the love she gave him he confused with sibling love, lie how a brother should love his sister. But, in time, he began maturing and returning her feelings for him. Happy. Older. Strong. In love.
  So, on the 25th day of October, 1795, during a cold and bitter night alone in his little cabin, Jonathan found a sheet of parchment and spilled his guts, feelings, and his container of ink all over his shirt.
He wrote, "Dear Summer,
  I know that the past few years might have been dotted with sadness and depression on my part, and I know that you are going through a very busy time right now, with the trading season and all...so I thought I should say this now so that you have something to look forward to after all of your work. Well here goes...at first, I saw you as a really good friend, and maybe closer to a sister. I do know that you felt something different for me over the years, and it was difficult for you when I didn't feel that way back for a year or so...but then, I got older, felt things. And since about six months ago, we've been as close as an unmarried couples could get, and closer than a married couple. But I want the 'unmarried' thing to change. Yes, that's correct. What I'm really trying to say here is...well...Summer, would you marry me?
    Love, Jonathan"
  He sealed the letter than stood up, his heart beating fast and his face flushed. He tried drying the ink stains out of his shirt once more before he wrapped the letter in a package and put his big coat on. Throwing on some boots, he stepped outside and started walking on the night trail of dirt and pebbles. The trail was dark, and the only light available was of that of the moonlight.
  A cold breeze swept over his form and chilled his bones, as if the coat wasn't even there. But, after walking for about 30 minutes, he reached Summer's big log-cabin and looked around for the mail-slot. He found it next to the door. Carefully sliding the letter into the box, Jonathan smiled at the thought that Summer was sleeping in her underwear only a few feet away, separated by just a log wall or two.
 
  Behind him, hiding behind a large maple tree, a young man watched Jonathan angrily. Did that little fool write her a love letter? It couldn't be to Summer! Summer, in his mind, was his. Even though she hated him. His name: Dominoque. A sleazy pretty-boy with a troublesome, unlikable personality. Stalked Summer. Hated Jonathan for liking Summer. Hated him even more for the fact that she liked him back.
  When Jonathan left the porch, Dominoque snuck up to the mail-box and slid the letter out again. Glancing at it, he realized that it reeked of teen angst and strong emotions. Grinning evilly, he stuffed the letter into his pocket and walked away.

  The next day, Summer was scheduled to show up and help Jonathan with the farm work. She never showed.
  Scared, Jonathan started wondering if he had done something terrible. Was asking her to marry him a smart idea? Would she ever talk to him again? But then he realized that the work with her parents took up a lot of time, and it took priority over her visit days with him. She'll be here when her work is done...he hoped. For now, all he could do was work on his own.
 
  Dominoque read over the letter once and gagged to himself. Too mushy. Jonathan must be taught a lesson. How dare he ask Summer to marry him. He laughed cruelly as he began writing a fake letter back to him, posing as Summer.
  As he admired his dirty work, he laughed at how Jonathan would react
  "He'll probably go throw himself into a storm so he can go see his mommy and daddy!" he laughed.

  A knock on the door. Jonathan shot out of his afternoon nap and raced toward the door. But when he opened it, nobody was standing there. Only a small letter. His heart raced as he picked up the letter. No marking on the outside to hint at the contents inside. He took the letter to his table and stared at it for a few minutes. Then, he realized that she wouldn't hurt him; she loved him first.
  Smiling, he opened the letter and began reading. He heart sank as he read to cruelest, nastiest letter in his life. She told him that she couldn't believe that she had taken her joke seriously, that she had just done it to be funny for the past few years. As he read on further, his stomach flipped and his world went dark, just like after he was told that his parents were dead. Depression. Darkness.
  Dead. Pain. Welling up inside, wanting to burst out crying but couldn't produce the energy to make tears. Moping. Moaning. Nothingness.
  He had nobody left to turn to, his life was meaningless. Pointless.
  Three days. Pain. Torment. Fear of life. Like maggots crawling inside his body, trying to escape. Couldn't take it anymore. Pulled out rope. Tied rope.
  Nailed rope onto ceiling and put the loop around his neck. Stood on stool.
  Jumped off stool.

  "Summer, are you almost done?" shouted Summer's father. She closed up the last of the day's earning, marking the end of the trading festival. She and her father sold so much of her mother's silk that they could now be considered rich. She planned to give a bunch of it to Jonathan for seeds, tools, water, etc.
  "Just finished," she shouted back. Her father nodded happily and picked up a big box full of cash. She picked up her own and followed her father home.
  When they got home, Dominoque was waiting there, smirking evilly. She put down her box and glared angrily at him.
  "Domidork, why are you here? I thought I told you I wasn't interested the first 10 times you tried to get with me."
  Dominoque chuckled. "You have a letter. It's veeery mushy."
  "A letter? That must be from Jonathan! Oh, I hope he hasn't missed me too much! I have to write back right away!" she said happily, snatching the letter from Dominoque. He grinned even wider.
  "Write back? That won't be necessary. I have taken the liberty of doing that for you!" he laughed harder. Summer's face went white.
  "You....you ASSHOLE! Jonathan is very sensitive! He has an emotional problem! If you hurt him....you....you...." she stuttered, angry and frightened.
  She took off with the letter in her hand and tears streaking down her cheeks. Her father saw her suddenly start running and took off after her.
  "Summer! Summer!!! SUMMER!!!" he yelled as he ran.

  As Summer neared Jonathan's little Cabin, she searched for him in the fields, Nothing. He wasn't there. or was he in the tool shed; the door was still locked.
  She burst through the door and searched the house for him. She was about to search out side when she turned around and saw him.
  He was swinging from the ceiling, stiff and cold. She stood, stunned. She fell to her knees, tears flowing like a waterfall down her face.
  "J-...john...JONATHAN!" she yelled, sobbing openly. Her father just ran in and heard her scream. He stood and stopped in his tracks when he saw Jonathan's body hanging from the ceiling.
  "What...in the name..." he started, then saw Dominoque's fake letter sitting at the table next the body.
  He read the letter and noticed that it said it was from his daughter, yet it had Dominoque's handwriting on it.
  "That...prick!" he shouted. He knelt down and forced himself to drag the distraught Summer from her would-have-been husband.


To be continued...