The fallen tree leaves swirled on the yard’s lawn, the autumn chill was already there and everyone had taken out their coats and jackets. Everyone in the house was busy
with their respective chores, and whoever wasn't doing their business was planning something for the thanksgiving dinner. They were so much into their doings no one
realized at all that 15 year old Alice was sitting looking out the window at the slow movements of the trees. She just sat there, lonely, listening to the whistling sound of
the wind. Her face was quite cold, the wind blew directly on it sliding fancily through her red curls. She sighed.
Suddenly a loud creek broke the room's silence. It was Tim, a little boy who would do anything for you if you gave him cookies in exchange. Despite being such a sweet-
tooth, he was rather a very skinny 8 year old boy.
Startled, Alice exclaimed "What took you so long?"
"I’m sorry I had to leave my bike at home, but don't worry here's your message!" Tim said while panting.
"Don’t just stand there, give me the letter please!" said Alice in an exited voice.
"Here it is!" exclaimed Tim while taking it out from one of his pockets and handing it over to Alice. He had to stand on top of an upsidedown bucket in order to reach the
window, and yet he had to stand on tiptoes.
Alice opened it quickly, her hands were trembling with joy. In a small piece of paper bag she read:
"Let's meet on Thanksgiving Day at the lighthouse, same time as always.
Love,
Forest".
Alice clutched the letter against her chest. She was desperate to see him again, but she had to be careful so no one would notice or else her parents would punish her
severely. She would have to wait one more week before she could see Forest again. She thought of his sweet honey colored eyes staring at hers, and his soothing voice
wispering in her ear.
"Alice? ALICE!" Tim yelled making her jump. "I'm still waiting for your mom's delicious chocolate cookies!" said Tim impatiently.
"Here you go Tim, that's all that matters to you isn't it?" said Alice in a joking way. "I have to leave now". Alice said good bye to Tim and then left towards the library.
Maids were walking from here and there making a lot of noise.
"Does anyone have an explanation of why my cookies keep disappearing?" yelled Alice's mother, but no one even heard, for they were concentrating so hard on their
duties. Except for Alice, who just ignored it while trying to hide a guilty smile.
It was Thanksgiving Day and Alice checked that everyone was distracted enough in order to sneak out of the house. Once outside, she ran over to the road as fast as she
possibly could and headed towards the shore, where she took off her shoes and felt the almost icy sand scraping her bare feet.
She was breathless when she reached the lighthouse, her long locks where loose and messy, and her cheecks where scarlet from the cold. She looked around her, but
saw no sign of Forest nearby, so she sat on a rock an waited. Suddently, she felt someone pull her shoes from her hands. When she turned around Forest gave her a
kiss that warmed up her cold lips while he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug.
"I missed you so much" said Forest in a whisper while caressing a side of her face, carefully placing a flower on the back of her ear. They stared at each other for what
seemed like ages to them, they found it so pleasing. They talked, joked, and played around the beach, they looked for seashells and fetched each other around. They
enjoyed so much that day they just wanted it to last for ever.
The sun was setting though, and it was time for Alice to go home, Thanksgiving dinner was soon to begin, and people would realize her absence.
"Alice, wait!" exclaimed Forest while searching in his bag. Alice turned around and saw him holding a package in his hands. "I wanted to give you this, so you'll always
remember me. I worked hard all summer to get it". Alice took it and unwrapped it, it was the most beautiful porcelain doll she had ever seen. "It's lovely Forest, I don't
have words to thank you, I'll always keep it, I promise". She gave him a hug , kissed him and left.
Alice was sent to a foreign country to study, which made her very sad, for she was so far from her beloved. Years past and the pain slowly disappeared until any memory
of Forest was gone. She now was an educated girl and assumed he forgot about her too. She thought it was for the best because he wasn’t educated enough for her.
One day, the postman brought her a letter. It was from Forest, the first one. Her heart trembled when she read it, his words were the sweetest, as always. She couldn't
believe she was still in his thoughts, she couldn't believe he would love her forever and would wait for her no matter how long it had to be. Ignoring the letter, but keeping it
with the doll he once gave her, she never replied.
She went back with her parents after some years. Forest was waiting for her but she ignored him, and never even talked to him. She lived her life as if he just wasn't there,
close to her. Years past, and she left again to live in another country, leaving a heartbroken Forest behind.
Remembering this, a tear ran down the face of a 28 year old Alice, when she came back home for another Thanksgiving Day with her family and saw a married Forest
playing with his child on the beach where they used to see each other.