Her Moonlight Prince 2

Sixteen years ago

White fluffy clouds dotted the azure blue sky as the sun beamed beatifically, casting a golden glow upon the earth. Little Anna, who was supposed to go to the academy after school, lurked out and ran to the playground near her house. She despises studying and complicated mathematical formulas. She prefers drawing to mathematics. She dashed to the playground, leaving her backpack behind. She needs to run faster before her mother catches up with her.

She enjoys running, but she was not aware that there was a brick separating the playground from the roadside. She was so enthralled that she didn't even look around. Little Anna tripped over that brick and fell by the roadside. The friction between her knees and the asphalt was quite rough, and she could feel the sharp pain. Her knee is bleeding, and it hurts so much that she burst into tears. She cried so hard that drew the attention of a boy standing near the playground.

“You're bleeding.” He saw Anna’s wound, the boy looked a little worried.

Little Anna is still crying as the pain worsens. “It stings.” She said in between her sobs.

The boy used all of his strength to help her to stand up. “There's a basin about ten steps away. I will help you clean your wound. To reach the top you have to stay strong. Can you do that?”

Little Anna looked up at the boy with her wet face. Her tears stopped flowing for a moment when that boy embraced her as he helped her in walking to the top of the basin. She may only be ten years old, but she appears to be at ease around this boy.

“It might stink a little bit,” said the boy as he took several sheets of tissue from his bag and wet them with water from the basin.

Little Anna sat on the bench, her knees squatted in front of her. He gently pressed the wet tissue against her wound. “It stings.” Little Anna almost burst into tears again.

The boy chuckled. “You shouldn't have run that fast. It could take several days for the wound to heal.” He said and dab the wet tissue gently on her wound.

Little Anna remained silent and let the boy do his thing. He pressed the tissue against the wound to stop the bleeding and gently cleaned it before applying a medical plaster. He gently tore the packaging and placed it on her wound.

The boy smiled as he looked at Anna. “It's finished. When you get home, tell your mother to apply antibiotic ointment and bandage it.”

Little Anna is embarrassed that the boy helped her in treating her wound. He is right. If she shouldn’t have run that fast, she shouldn’t have tripped herself on the brick. Anna, you're so silly!

“Thank you very much.” The pain in her knees blazed up again when she was about to stand up, and she would have tripped herself for the second time if that boy hadn't caught her. Her mother had repeatedly warned her not to approach strangers, but this boy’s forthrightness melts her little heart.

“Where is your house? I will help you walk home.” The boy offered.

The little Anna shook her head. “Mom will be angry at me.” She looked down, feeling a little guilty about sneaking out just to avoid going to the academy.

That boy's eyebrow creased. “Why?” he asked.

“Because I lied to her. I told her I was sick, but instead I ran out of the house. I don't want to go to the academy because I hate mathematics.” Little Anna said fiddling with her dress.

The boy laughed out loud. He couldn't stop himself from stroking her head. “You are so funny.”

“Do you enjoy playing piano?” the boy asked.

Little Anna shook her head. “What is piano?”

The boy took her hand in his, and helped her to stand up. “There's an old piano in that back alley. Since you've said that you don't want to attend the academy, I think I can play you a song to cheer you up.” He said brightly.

Before little Anna could give an answer, that boy had already taken her hand in his and led her to the alley he was referring to. He is right. An old brown classic piano can be found at the back of the alley. There is no one there. Only little Anna and that boy.

“Please take a seat.” He said and looked around for something they could sit on. He found an old stool and placed it in front of the piano.

The boy cast a glance at Anna. “This is what we call a piano.” He said and patted the piano in front of them. “I like to express myself through music,” he added.

That sunny day a beautiful melody could be heard all the way down the alley. It may be an old piano, but it still works perfectly. Little Anna is enthralled by the boy's fingers playing and dancing with the piano keys. It's breathtaking. His play seems to have enchanted her. She didn't say anything except to enjoy the harmony of the piano. Along with the song, she feels as if she's drowning in happiness.

When the boy finished his play, Anna excitedly clapped her hands. For a brief moment, she believes her energy has returned and the pain in her knees has subsided. It looks like magic happened.

“It's so beautiful.” stated little Anna.

The boy gave her a friendly smile. “Do you have any idea what the song is about?” He inquired.

Little Anna shook her head. She has no idea what a piano is. How could she possibly know the classic song?

“It's called Clair De Lune.” Said the boy.

Because it was a foreign word, Anna still looked perplexed. “What does that mean?” the little Anna asked.

 “It refers to moonlight.” The boy said and smiled.

Little Anna was fascinated by his play, it was love at first sight. “Moonlight?” She asked as she unpinned the small brooch, she had pinned to her lavender color dress earlier.

“Is the moonlight the same as this moon?” Little Anna showed him the crescent-shaped brooch. It's the moon.

The boy nodded. “That is the moon I was referring to.”

Little Anna approached the boy and pinned the brooch to his shirt.

The boy looked confused as to why the little girl suddenly placed her brooch on his shirt. “Are you going to give it to me?” He asked, looking at the brooch she pinned on his shirt.

Little Anna nodded. “You can have it because you helped me treat my wound. It's a gift.”

“Present?” the boy didn't understand. He had no other intention than to genuinely help her. He didn't want anything from her.

“You cleaned my wound, applied the bandage, and even sang me a beautiful song. I should give you something as well.” Little Anna said excitedly.

The boy chuckled as he observed the innocence of the little girl in front of him.

She may appear young, but she speaks and acts like an adult. “Are you sure you're going to give it to me?” He inquired once more.

Little Anna excitedly nodded. “Mom has always advised me not to be stingy. The brooch comes in a pair, and I have a spare one at home.”

The boy looked intrigued by this little girl's action. “Really? How come there are two brooches that are the same shape?”

“Because happiness always comes in pairs.” Little Anna replied. She's simply repeating what her mother said.

The boy gently stroked her hair. “I appreciate your small gift.”

Little Anna responded with a big smile. “I really want to hear more songs. Will you be back here tomorrow?” She inquired, her eyes pleading to look at him.

The boy's expression became solemn. He made a shaky motion with his head.

Little Anna felt a sharp pain in her heart as she looked at him, shaking his head. She was disappointed. “Why? You don’t want to be friends with me?” Little Anna asked. She was on the verge of crying.

“I will not be here from tomorrow. I have to go somewhere.” The boy said with a sad smile.

Anna’s chubby cheeks were flushed red as tears streamed down her cheeks. Why is she so unhappy? “Then how can I find you again?”

With his thumb, he wiped away her tears. “If fate has it, we'll meet again, and since you left this brooch with me, I will return it to you one day.” The boy said.

“Really?” little Anna looked expectantly at him.

The boy confidently nodded his head. He has no idea why he began to like this little girl. He's only sixteen years old and knows nothing about love, but he's sure that he likes this little girl.

“Promise?” Little Anna extended her little finger to him.

They clasped their little fingers together.

“Promise,” said the boy.

“What is your name?” little Anna asked.

The boy gave her a friendly smile. “Dalmohr.” He spoke. It's his new name, given to him by his foster father, who told him to use it immediately because they're moving to Paris the next day.

Anna appeared to be perplexed by the foreign name. “Dalmohr?” She has difficulty pronouncing it, but she kept repeating it in her head so that she would never forget the boy’s name who helped her with her wound and played a beautiful song for her.

Before Dalmohr could ask her name, Anna could hear her mother's voice screaming for her.

“Anna Rae!” Rachel Rae screamed and widened her eyes in surprise when she finally found her daughter. She has been in a state of panic since her daughter went missing.

“I have to go. Mom is coming.” Little Anna rose from his seat. She walked towards her mother, but she stopped to look back at the boy.

“Goodbye. Please keep your promise, okay?” Little Anna waved at Dalmohr and took her mother's hand in hers.

Dalmohr couldn't take his eyes off the little girl who was clutching her mother's hand. He, too, yearns for the love of a mother. He stroked the crescent-shaped brooch she had left on his shirt. His lips curled up as he caressed the crescent-shaped brooch she had left him. “One day, I’m going to find you.” Despite the fact that he has no idea what her name is.

Anna walked back to her house with her mother. Her knee pain disappeared in an instant. Weird? It is, indeed.

“I tripped on the playground, Mom.” When they got home, she told her mother.

Rachel sighed as she looked at her mischievous daughter. “Anna. I will be furious if you flee like that again. Do you enjoy seeing your mom crying?” She inquired. She was concerned after learning that her daughter had gone missing.

For a while, Anna felt guilty. She despises seeing her mother suffer. “No. I'm sorry, Mom. I’ll not do it again,” she expressed regret.

Rachel's heart melts when she sees her pleading gaze. She knelt in front of her daughter to inspect the wound on her knees. “It's bandaged. Did you do it on your own?” She inquired.

Little Anna shook her head. “It was the moonlight prince that bandaged the wound for me.”

Rachel's brow creased slightly. “Who is this Moonlight Prince?” She doesn't understand.

Little Anna smiled broadly as she remembered the song her moonlight prince had played for her. “He has small eyes, a pointed nose, and chubby cheeks. He washed my wound and played the piano for me. He explained that the song is about moonlight.” She told her mother with glee.

Rachel looks amused when she sees her daughter's joy as she tells her about her moonlight prince.

“Did you say thank you to him?” Rachel asked.

Little Anna nodded once more. “Is it okay, Mom, that I gave him the moon-shaped brooch?”

“But you liked that brooch so much that you wore it every day on your shirt.” Rachel said.

“Mom stated that the brooches are sold in pairs. I wouldn't mind sharing it with my moonlight Prince.” She responded in a cheerful tone.

Rachel couldn't help but smile, seeing her daughter happy like that.

“Do you like the moonlight prince?” Rachel asked.

“I like him, and he promised me to find me again and return that brooch one day.” Little Anna responded. She also left her heart with him. She may be too young to understand love, but all she wants is to see her moonlight Prince again.