Map: Part IV
Rosie had the map in her hand, and seemed to be wandering aimlessly through the park. Now that Aaron had gotten her on board with this treasure-finding, it seemed she wanted to be the leader.
He didn’t mind.
“Find anything yet?” he called out. She was a good ways ahead of him, staring at the trees in a determined sort of way. He liked the way the midday light danced across the tree branches and the discarded leaves and her. It was almost like they had walked into some mystical forest. He imagined that she would be some sort of angry elf.
“Not yet!” she yelled back. “Where are you? Keep up, will you?” She didn’t even turn around.
He smiled and kept walking at the same pace.
x x x
Some time later, Rosie stomped her boots to a stop, crinkling the leaves underneath her. “I knew I knew this symbol.” She stabbed a finger at the map, and Aaron finally did catch up with her so he could look.
There were three symbols on the map: a crescent, a circle with an X through it, and the one Rosie was pointing at: a half circle above a horizontal line.
Aaron looked around in confusion. “So that spot on the map is... here?”
Rosie stepped forward into a close circle of trees. “In here,” she said, turning back and looking at him.
He followed, and saw what she meant. The circle of trees were surrounding a small bench, one he had never seen before. And on it, the symbol was carved.
“I’ve never... how did you know this was here?”
Rosie tucked her neck to her chest, as if she was cold. But it was too nice of a day for that. She sat down and ran a hand over the engraving. “I used to drink out here,” she said, her voice hard. Her brown eyes were harder, almost glaring at him through her hair.
What did she think, that he would judge her for that? After what she’d been through? Aaron sat next to her, right on top of the symbol that led them to this place. He tried to think of words that wouldn’t offend her, would bridge the chasm between them, not widen it. He had just gained her companionship again, and he didn't want to lose it.
He waited too long; Rosie spoke again. “I don’t anymore. I can’t stand it anymore.” She looked away from him, watching the wind blow leaves across the ground. “Anyway we found the symbol, so... what now?” She stood, making all kinds of loud noises, kicking leaves.
Aaron sighed and stood up as well, then looked down at the symbol. “I don’t know,” he admitted.
Read part I: https://theprose.com/post/243841/map