"Ughhh"

I leaked out a groan from the pain I felt coming from my right foot.

I am Harry Maxworth, a highschool student, and I am in this pathetic state due to an accident, I slipped from the stairs and twisted my ankle which I used to support myself.

Right now I have to use crutches to prevent further damage towards my foot, though I would be able to leave the hospital tomorrow, I still have to take care of my injury since I'm a sportsman. You see, I'm a member of the soccer club in my school.

Right now, I'm in the garden in front of the hospital. It is a place where you can see other patients like me relax and waste their time. It has quite a variety of plants, the nurse said that it was a hobby of the director of the hospital.

*Whoosh*

Feeling a gust of air touch my skin, I looked to direction the wind took, only to see fabrics fluttering on the third floor of the hospital, the room next to mine. Curtains swayed to the tune of the wind through the open windows of my neighboring room. Inside the windows, which seemed like a picture frame, was a girl of my age.

"!!!"

The occupant of the room noticed my stare and immediately shut the window close in panic.

I was shocked. I was breathless. I wondered whether I was dreaming, as the person whom I just saw was astoundingly beautiful. Seemingly a white flower, serenely blooming on the lonely snow.

My mind was assaulted with a barrage of questions. Who was she? Why is she here? My face reddened as blood rushed into my head after wracking my brain with various thoughts. I would have continued mulling over that girl if not for the nurse calling my name and complaining how I shouldn't move around too much yet.

-O-O-O-O-O-

The next day.

I was walking to my room from the restroom while grasping on my crutches, I definitely wouldn't hear the end of it from the nurse if she were to find out that I sneaked out again, but as an active athlete, I really don't like being cooped up in a room, unable to move around.

After calmly taking my steps towards my own room, I stopped my feet after seeing something.

'Room 304', the room next to mine. If I was right, that girl should be in there. I was only able to take a glimpse of her appearance, but boy. She was definitely the prettiest girl I ever saw.

I took a step closer to read the door's sign. Below the room number, I saw some words. 'Michelle Snowflakes'. I see, so this is her name eh? Her name is quite beautiful as her... But Snowflakes? I wonder where I've heard of that before...

-Should I get inside? Or should I not?- I asked myself whether I should just go for it and enter her room without permission to introduce myself. Before I could decide properly, a nudge on my back pushed me forwards. Some people carrying a stretcher rushed through my back causing me to get forcefully pushed into the room, which was coincidentally open for some reason.

"Ms. Nurse! You're back alrea---!!!" A melodious voice echoed in the room. She looked at me with a shocked face, which was appearing to be turning into fear slowly.

"Ughh, umm! Sorry! Wrong room!" I hastily made an excuse. I turned around with my face as red as beet. So that was why the room was open, her nurse just left outside and forgot to lock it.

As I walked away awkwardly towards the exit, with my face still red with embarrassment, a voice called up to me.

"W-Wait." She told me.

I turned around with cold sweat forming on my forehead. Crap. Is she angry at me?

"Y-You were that person from yesterday, right? I saw you looking from the garden... I'm sorry, I was rude yesterday for suddenly closing the window... It's just, I'm not good with strangers..." She managed to stutter it out. Phew, at least she wasn't angry at me.

"Is that so? Anyways, my name is Harry Maxworth, you're Michelle, right?" I spoke to her with the best smile I could make on the spot. Damn, I just blurted out her name didn't I? Wasn't my excuse that I entered her room by mistake?

"Yeah! Nice to meet you, Harry!" She replied somehow cheerfully. Good thing she missed my mistake. I thought to myself as a sweat drop trickled down my cheek.

-O-O-O-O-O-

One way or another, the two of us got closer. The two of us talked to each other about various stuff. I talked about my dreams, and my career as a junior soccer player, in which she listened excitedly with sparkling eyes. Apparently, she was isolated from the society inside her hospital room because she has a case of a rare disease, Acute Cerebral Cognitive Disorder, an illness which causes her to randomly lose her memories.

When I became sad, thinking about how she would forget about me, she showed me a little book with a smile. It was a small sky-colored book with a huge snowflake as a design. Apparently, it was her day-to-day journal. According to her, she somehow doesn't forget whatever she writes on that journal, and even if she did, she would simply read her diary to remember everything.

We talked tirelessly and was happily laughing together until...

"Sir Maxworth of Room 305! Get back to your room now for your check up!" An angry voice of the nurse echoed inside the room, causing the two of us to be startled. She looked at me with pleading eyes in which I answered with soft 'sorry' as I quietly returned to my room.

After returning to my room and seeing the seething anger of the nurse with my doctor wearing a calm demeanor, I was notified that my days in the hospital was extended for three more days because of me moving around too much, causing my injury to worsen.

Well, if any, I was quite happy as I could be with Michelle for longer than I thought.

-O-O-O-O-O-

Days passed rather quickly with talking to Michelle added in my daily routine. There were a few close calls where I was almost spotted by the devil nurse(Weren't nurses supposed to be angels in white?) while entering Michelle's room sneakily.

Even after my release, I still visited Michelle in the hospital. There were times where I encountered her nurse, which was actually rather nice in fact. She even helps keeping our secret talks from other people as I apparently made Michelle more cheerful than before.

One time, in our discussion, I mentioned how the town square was holding a big christmas event for the people during the eve, which made Michelle down somehow as she would be unable to experience it herself. After an idea floated in my head, I recommended sneaking out and visiting the town in secret. She was interested, but was afraid to actually sneak away from the hospital.

After half-forcefully making her agree to my idea, our operation began.

After making an excuse for people not to bother her for the day, we sneaked our way out with her carried on my back. I got her a change of clothes which consists of a wool hat, a flower-patterned sweater, and other garbs with a light-colored designs, that was somehow a perfect fit for her fragile appearance, like a flower that would snap at the slightest touch.

Like that, we made our covert escapade, though, I'm pretty sure the nurse secretly knew all along but was playing ignorant. Either way, I'm thankful for that nurse for keeping her mouth shut in most occasions.

After making our exit from the hospital, Michelle was eagerly looking left and right with a joyful expression. She was clearly unable to restrain her excitement with the way how her eyes roamed everywhere while asking me about various things. Of course, I truthfully answered all of her questions while wearing a smile.

But once we entered the town square, the atmosphere surrounding her changed completely.

From an honest excitement, it turned into complete befuddlement. Her jaws ostensibly touched the ground with the way her mouth opened from the shock she received from encountering that spectacle.

Vibrant colors from all directions could be sighted, happy noises of cheers and songs resounded the entire place. The hustle and bustle of the place was astronomically different from the hospital's tranquility. In short, it was a world completely unknown to her.

"W-What is this place?" She muttered in amazement in which I only returned with a knowing smile.

-O-O-O-O-O-

We've done tons of things ranging from eating various sweets to visiting a karaoke. The day was nearly ending as we rested in under the shade of an oak tree. We watched the orange sunset as the night nearly began.

I noticed her as she wrote on her journal about the day. I tried peeking on her work, on which she hastily closed the diary and stared at me while pouting, which caused me to laugh at her childishness.

As the day was nearly finished, she became gloomier by the second. We decided to wrap things up and go home before the evening arrives. Michelle decided to walk our way back. After all, even if Michelle had a weak constitution, it doesn't mean she necessarily had to be carried all the time.

*Peeeew, Bang!* Firework sounds entered my ears as I looked upwards. The management of the event secretly planned to shoot some fireworks by the end of the day. Colorful lights illuminated the dark sky as the two of us watched the heavens in amazement.

As took our time with each step, I suddenly felt a tug on my sleeves. When I looked back, I saw Michelle looking at me with wet eyes. Before I could say anything, Michelle shakes her head and gave me a smile, with tears welling in her eyes.

"Harry, ------------- you, Tha ------------------ing..." She said with the most beautiful smile I ever saw in my life. Though, most of her words were muffled by the ear piercing noise the fireworks created.

"What?" I could only dumbly ask what she said, in which she only answered back with a smile after wiping her tears with the hem of her sleeves.

As we began walking again, white snow began to fall. Michelle regained her usual smile, innocent and pure, just like the snow that slowly fell to the earth, enveloping my skin with coldness.

Our day ended silently, all the way to her hospital room.

-O-O-O-O-O-

I entered the hospital the next day, bringing some white roses as a gift. I'm still so excited about yesterday that I almost couldn't sleep. Even today, the snow still silently fell, making layers of snow on the streets, as if painting the world with white. In that manner, I happily made my way towards her hospital room.

"Hello, are you Mr. Maxworth?" A deep sounding voice entered my ears as I turned around in response. There, I saw a largely built man wearing a suit and black sunglasses with a strange microphone near his mouth. He was accompanied by another man who have a similar appearance to him, and a rich-looking man who was angry for some reason.

"Y-Yes, Yes I am Maxworth." I answered back in a stutter. I was quite taken aback with the strange people that suddenly started a conversation with me.

"YOU! You're the one who made my daughter rebellious!" The rich-looking man angrily shouted at me. Daughter? What daught... No way, don't tell me---?

"Y-You're Michelle's father?" I spoke with fear in my voice. I hope that I was wrong, or else things would surely be bad. Our secret was exposed if that was the case.

"Of course, you damned mongrel! Because of an insect like you, my daughter's condition became worse!" The man, blazing in anger, screamed at me uncharacteristic to his dignified appearance, he was also uncaring to the curious gazes the people at the hospital was giving us.

"Condition? You mean ACCD(Acute Cerebral Cognitive Disorder)?" I asked in disbelief, I was still unable to believe the things that were currently happening. Just who is Michelle? How come such a distinguished looking man was her father? Now that I think about it, she never told me anything about her father, or her family for that matter.

"So you don't even know about the full extent of my daughter's condition? YOU!!!" The man shouted at me angrily, seemingly about to lunge at me at any given second. On the other hand, I could only stand there, rooted on my position, as I tried to decipher the real weight behind this person's words.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The two large men--- his bodyguards, calmed him down. The three of them entered the hospital room but not before glaring daggers at me as he entered her daughter's room.

After some time, Michelle's nurse appeared and told me the details of Michelle's condition.

Michelle was born from the Snowflakes family. A huge enterprise that sprouted back during the world war two. Damn, how couldn't I notice that?! I should have been suspicious the moment I saw her name on the door.

Michelle's mother was born with AIDS, which was unfortunately inherited by her daughter. Because of this, her immune system was relatively low and she was prone to diseases. Even so, her mother always tried her best to become a great mother for her child. She cooked, she took care of her and she cherished Michelle as much as she could.

Sadly, this brought unwanted consequences. Michelle's mother caught an illness which costed her, her life. When the young Michelle saw her mother on her deathbed, she screamed an ear piercing wail until she lost her consciousness. When she woke up, she wasn't the cheerful child they always have known anymore. Her trauma had also became the cause of her memory lapses.

"Wh... What...?" I muttered unintelligibly. What on earth?! How come I never knew any of this?! I felt betrayed. I trusted her! I trusted her, but she never trusted me back! In a fit of rage and sorrow, I dropped the roses I firmly grasped on as I held my head in disbelief.

As I wallowed in despair, I walked home with ghastly silent steps which was somehow heavy, seemingly carrying the burden of the world. The cold snow dropped from the sky as if the gods were sympathizing with me.

-O-O-O-O-O-

I cooped up in my room for a whole day, thinking about what to do from now on. After intently deliberating upon the situation, I noticed how much of a fool I was. Of course she couldn't tell me about her mother's. It was a memory she would surely wish to forget ---or rather, a memory she DID forget. She wouldn't tell me about her family, of course. If I was her, I would also keep my family a secret so that the two of us wouldn't feel distant, after all, I was probably her only friend of the same age...

I really want to go back in past and hit myself in the head. I'm sorry Michelle. Truly, I'm very sorry.

After mustering my courage, I decided to meet with Michelle to apologize. I have to meet here at least once, even if it was the one last time. With that in mind, I swiftly ran, ran with all I had. It didn't take too long to reach the hospital. After all, I was a soccer player. Luckily, the sun was now brightly shining and the only trace of winter were the snow layered on the ground.

I sneakily went past the front desk of the hospital. Michelle's father would definitely have asked the receptionist not to allow me in. Money makes the world go round, as people says.

I almost reached Michelle's room when my hand was suddenly pulled into another room.

"Shhhh!" My assailant said with a finger placed on the mouth. I hastily observed who it was, only to see Michelle's nurse.

"Don't stop me. I have to go to Michelle!" I protested as I tried escaping her hands, only to have my arms grabbed more tightly. Just how was a girl capable of restraining an active athlete?

"Don't!" She looked straight into my eyes. "Her father is still inside there." She calmly explained. Once she mentioned 'father', I unconsciously shuddered as I remembered that man.

After calming down, I gave her a word of thanks and waited until the man leaves Michelle's room. And when he did, the two of us walked into the entrance of the room.

"Are you sure you want to do this? Michelle is... not the same as the girl you saw last time." The nurse asked me with a concerned tone.

"Yeah, I want to... I have to apologize to her." I answered back, in which the nurse replied with a short nod.

*Creak*

The creaking sound of the door broke the silence in the air. What I saw when I opened the door was the same girl as before, the flower-like beautiful girl. With that sight, I was filled with joy and happiness. But, that feelings were utterly crushed by the next words this girl spoke after seeing me.

"Who... are you?" A soft voice rang in the silent room. A melodious voice. Yet, the words itself caused a sharp pang in my heart. When I understood her words, I was hit with grief.

"Wh-What are you saying...? It's me, Harry... Harry Maxworth! I was with you three days ago, don't you remember?" I responded with an almost pleading voice, wishing that my last string of hope wouldn't snap.

"N-No... I don't think I know anyone with the name 'Maxworth'." She said, completely destroying my wish. My mind froze up until an idea sprung up my mind.

"The diary! Surely you would remember once you've read your diary!" I tearfully said. I was just grasping at straws. It was the only thing that would prove my existence in her life.

"Diary...? I don't have a diary..." Michelle softly answered the thing I hoped not to hear. I fell to my knees as I thought on how to make her remember me. Without a single clue, I began to lose hope as tears unknowingly fell down my cheek.

Suddenly I felt warmth. Hands enveloped my cheeks. When I looked up, I saw Michelle with a smile, a smile comparable to the ones she had shown me before, a beautiful and pure smile.

"Don't worry, mister... Surely you would find what you are looking for." She told me with a sincere smile. My heart which was past its breaking point suddenly pumped again. My heartbeat pulsed quicker as various thoughts filled my head. When I finally found light in the darkness that clouded my mind, I stood up in a jolt and bolted to the door. It felt like I saw Michelle smile one more time filled with satisfaction and regret, but I guess that was my imagination.

I went outside and travelled through the melting snow, to search for the diary. To revisit the places we went on the eve of Christmas Day.

-O-O-O-O-O-

"Damn it!" I cursed through my ragged breathing as I continued my search. I looked on most of the places we visited on that day, but a lot of the places were already gone as the celebration of Christmas was already finished. Sadly, the night was nearly here. The sun is also beginning to set...

Wait, Sunset! If I remember correctly, she still had her journal during sunset! Then surely, it must be over there, on the shade of that tree!

I ran as fast as I could, without a care whether I tripped or not, just to reached there a minute... a second faster. When I reached the tree, I looked around near the roots, and sure enough, a sky-colored book with a snowflake design was under a layer of snow.

With it in hand, I ran back to the hospital. People left and right were staring at me, with my ragged appearance and anxious expression, I became the center of attention. I didn't care about that as I waded through the crowd so that I could reach Michelle quickly.

When I reached the entrance of her room, I held my knees and took a deep breath. After calming myself, I held the door knob for a bit and slowly opened it.

And inside, I saw a white room. The bedsheets and pillows were being neatly arranged by a nurse in white. Did I enter the wrong room? Surely not. I've went here numerous times. But just to confirm, I looked at the door which clearly shows 'Room 304'. But right below it, where Michelle's name should have been written... was left blank.

"W-What?" I muttered in disbelief. With this, the nurse noticed my presence and walked towards me.

"Why are you here, sir?" She politely asked me with a smile.

"Umm... Do you know where Ms. Michelle Snowflakes of this room is?" I managed to squeeze out my voice, albeit my voice was hoarse due to exhaustion.

"Oh! Haven't you heard, sir? Ms. Snowflakes had unfortunately passed away this morning. She was declared dead at 11:15 AM." 11:15 AM! Just a few minutes after I left her room!

"W-What...? No! That's impossible, she was so energetic this morning!" I spoke while wishing this was just a dream.

"Sir, are you okay?" The nurse asked me with a worried voice. I stepped back for a bit and turned around to run outside... Anywhere, just any place that would make my mind calm.

I ran for minutes, for hours with my tears shining under the moonlit night. Before I noticed it, the sun was already rising and I had ran for some distance already. I felt like my heart was being squeezed as I got out of breath. My eyes were almost swelling from all the tears I shed. My temperature was dropping as the cold snow was stealing my heat...

While I was beginning to accept my fate, that I would die buried in this snow, perhaps as my punishment for that snow-like girl's death... A stray thought entered my mind.

-The diary!- I remembered about the diary. I never noticed but I was grasping it tightly in my hand the whole time I ran. With my remaining strength, I opened it as I laid upon the pure white sheets of snow.

'Harry, by the time you've read this... I'm sure that I'm no longer in this world. But please, don't blame yourself for my death.'

"W-What?" I muttered softly as I tried to decipher the meaning of her words. I was quite exhausted so I couldn't clearly think... But I understood one thing. She knew that she would die. But, what was that before? Why did she say that she didn't remember about me?

--- Deep inside, I already knew why... I just, didn't want to believe it.

'Before I met you, I already knew that I didn't have much time left. The doctor said that I only have a month and a half longer to live... I'm sure by now, father already knows about our secret meetings. I'm sure he would get angry, but rather than waste my remaining time and die alone... I'd rather live my last few days at my happiest. Even if it quickens my end.'

I continued reading her diary. My hands trembled as I read and reminisced about the short time I shared with her. Tears slowly trickled down my cheeks as I read about the past from her perspective. How she liked my smile. How she was jealous of my adventures. How she likes my stories... And how she fell in love with me.

As I continued reading, I remembered everything about her. Her every word... Her every smile... Her laughter... Her tears... At that, I couldn't keep my overflowing emotions and cried my heart out.

'Harry, before I end this... There's something I want to tell you.

Thank you,

I love you,

And...

Goodbye.

---Michelle Snowflakes'

My tears continued to fall as I was overcome with my emotions. Regret, sorrow, joy, anger... and love. My teardrops fell back to the earth, melting the snow, removing the shadows that clouded my mind. Giving me the courage to take another step, towards the future.

Spoiler :

Afterword:

Hey, BBeLiN here!

It's been a while since I wrote a story for you guys, I was busy with school and stuff.

Anyways, this is the first time I tried writing a tragic story, it was used for an english project of mine. I just decided to share it with you guys to know your thoughts about it.

I also have plans for another story... So when I do get the drive to write it, please give it a try.

Sooo... Why was the title 'Melting Snow'? There are a few reasons.

First, obviously, as the Heroine's name was 'Snowflakes', and she was already slowly disappearing by the start of the series. Thus, 'Melting Snow'.

Secondly, I thought it would signify how melting snow could mean the end of winter and the beginning of spring... A symbol for new beginning.

Again, thank you for reading. Don't forget to give me some cookies. Tell me your thoughts on the comments below.

Signing out.