As much as I want to keep pushing this venture. I know both me and Owen would need to find a place to sleep now. The moon is right above our heads; shining its light in a very brilliant state. Chilly air brushed past us, making us shudder at every weak and slow step that we take. I began to pull Owen to my side, bringing him close as we kept walking with our bodies close to the brick wall, in hopes of pushing the cold away.

"Owen," I began as I shivered through gritted teeth. "We'll continue this tomorrow. Let's find a room to sleep in the inn nearby."

I lowered my gaze to look at him and see him nodding as he shivered along; his hands kept protectively in his pockets, probably in hopes to warm himself up.

Poor thing.

I contemplate whether it was right for me to give him my jacket or not but I decided that I shouldn't when I spot an inn coincidentally very near to where we stood. We walked over to the inn and upon walking in, feeling the heater fill the room the moment the door closed, a warm relief filled me, making me exhale a comforting sigh. As I gazed at Owen, I know he feels the same too for he began to relax in his spot.

Walking to the counter, I greet the worker and rent a room for both Owen and me to share. I do think it was better to buy Owen his own room when it comes to privacy, but I didn't have a lot of money on me now and who knows how long I had to stay here for now. It was best not to waste it. Besides, I don't think it's safe to let him have his own room in this foreign city anyways. Who knows what may happen if he was out of my sight for even one measly second; I dare not think of how Jo would greet me if I did in fact take my eyes off him and let bad things happen to the little boy. It would be far too frightful to even think about.

When we made it to our room, it was not much. Though that can be expected since I was just paying for a regular room. It's just a room with a bed and bathroom. I placed our stuff on the wooden floor, urging Owen to get a head start on the bed while I went and get myself cleaned up. It wasn't long before Owen was asleep. I heard shuffling on the bed but it was just silent after that and when I got back into the room, he was already peacefully sleeping.

For a moment I contemplate if I should lie with him or not but I really don't wish to sleep on the floor. Who knows when was the last time it was even clean from dust and sickness? Slowly, I lifted the blanket up and slipped myself onto the bed carefully, feeling the comfort of the bed, pulling me slowly into my sleep. And just like that, we both ended up giving in to both our fatigue and drowsiness. Even with the heater on and the provided blankets, the cold night was still a silent torture as we both twist and turn in our sleep.

I might be cold and suffering on the outside, but in my mind, I was peaceful. I was once again in that lovely meadow, lying my back on the comfortable grass. The sun shone its golden light on us, gifting us with its warm and cosy embrace. She was the prettiest when she was under the light of the sun. Even without it, she was still very beautiful.

"Henry," she uttered sweetly as she approached me.

"Yes, Eline?"

Eline was a special cause. Though she was not an orphan, she was always here. She always comes here to play with us and she was always around to meet me, at whatever time it is.

"I now had another dream besides marrying you," she beamed. Her perfect teeth shine brightly my way.

My cheek can't help but flushed red at the mention of her previous dream. Immediately, I sat up from my position, coughing a few dry coughs once more. "W-what was it then?"

"We can build a garden together! Make it beautiful and lovely, just like the love we have for each other!"

"A garden?"

She nods, still grinning very brightly. "And when we have kids, they are gonna be amazed at our beautiful work. We'll call it Bloomsdale, a name that would mean my love for you will forever be blooming."

Then she giggled in a shy manner. And just like that, the dreamlike memory ends pulling my subconsciousness into the darkness of nothing.

When morning came, the sun shone its rays, hitting my eyes with its gentle kiss. I can hear ruffling by my side and for a moment, hearing such a foreign movement beside me, I froze and jolted up.

I turned to look at who was by my side and when I did, I saw a little boy with his hair covering his eyes. The little boy was breathing slowly and steadily, and after a moment of shock, I gaze to take in my surroundings and only then did I remember. I'm not at home now and because of Jo, I ended up having a kid stuck to my waist.

I got off the bed and started fixing myself up, getting myself ready to look at least a little bit presentable. My morning hair is soon gone, as well as my morning breath.

When I was sure that I looked fine, I went back to the bed and shook the boy up. "Owen, buddy. We have to get going."

He jerked up as he rubbed his eyes, taking in his surroundings, probably had the same morning confusion as I did just a moment ago.

"Clean yourself up and then we'll go."

Looking down at his own attire, he got off the bed and slowly made his way to the bathroom. I can hear the pipes opening and the sound of splashing water.

Did he even bring a spare cloth to change into?

The boy then came out, wearing his clothes from last night. His face was wet and so is his hair. I handed him a towel, which he took gratefully before he started wiping his face and hair dry. Then his motion stops after a while.

The towel still covered his face, and he looked up at me, one eye gazing my way. As if to mirror his doubt and fear and once more, his timidness.

"Are you done?" I asked the boy as I stood up from the bed, walking ahead to my piles of items on the floor.

He only nodded at that before walking right beside me.

Feeling his presence beside me, I nodded as I crouched down over the items."Alright, let's go and find the garden then," I announced, carrying all the load on me.

We went out after asking the woman in charge of the inn, if she had ever seen Eline while pushing a picture of Eline to her desk.

Her eyes shine and glimmer. "Why yes. That's the lovely lady who has a garden down the street. She's a sweet gal, I tell you." she spoke before quickly adding, "But I haven't seen her lately. She hasn't come to tend her garden for a while."

"Is the garden across the inn?"

She nods, pointing her chubby fingers to a place covered with a brick wall and a tall gate, in front of the inn.

After thanking the lady, both Owen and I walked up to the garden. Knowing Eline, I knew a spare key must be somewhere. Somewhere around the entrance. I checked every nearby pot and brick and not long after that, I found a silver key from under a flower pot. I brought it up and tried it on the gate. Twisting it in and turning it.

It worked.

Walking in, I was amazed at all that I saw. It's beautiful. Her love for me, Bloomsdale, was indeed beautiful. Flowers and trees, even ponds and beautiful decorations are all my eyes fall on.

But there was no Evangeline.

This is one infuriating trip. How is it that now that I'm here, I still can't find her?

"Henry?" a deep voice sounded behind me. I know that voice. I hear it almost every day at home.

"George." I've never been happier to see him before this. To see the old friend which I've treated quite coldly these past few years. I'm happy to have seen the red-haired George all the way here, far from home. I'm not even going to question it.

Not if he can tell me how to find her.