The Day Our Promise Breaks

As she thought back to their reunion a year ago, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache seeing how her daughter looked back then. She wanted to steer clear of anything that might upset Evelyn. Pushing aside her own feelings, she continued her tale.

"Charles... or as you call him, your Iceman, was even cooler than this little guy," she started. "He always had this serious look, barely spoke to anyone, and kept people at bay." Charles, in the beginning, was so defensive, pushing everyone away.

When Evelyn heard the name "Charles," she just assumed he had one of those common last names and didn't think much of it, listening intently as her mom went

on.

"But even the coldest ice can melt when it meets a little ray of sunshine like you," she smiled. "He wouldn't eat, and you kept bringing him what you thought was the best food ever."

No matter how many tantrums Charles threw or how many things he tossed aside, Eve never let it get to her. She just kept on being her warm, cheerful self around him. Her mom worried, not wanting Eve to keep putting herself out there with Charles's chilly attitude. But Eve had her own perspective, "Mom, Iceman must have gone through something really sad to be like this. His eyes are crying."

Charles hadn't shed a tear, but Eve was convinced he was crying inside, feeling his hurt and sadness. Concerned about Charles's defensive reactions, her mom always accompanied Eve when they went to bring him food, constantly reminding her not to approach him alone.

Eve agreed, but when Charles hadn't eaten for a whole day, she went into town the next day to find a doctor. Eve said she'd rather stay and play with the kids next door. Her mom didn't push it, but for safety, she locked the door to Charles's room.

Unexpectedly, after she left, Eve sneaked a freshly-baked sweet potato from the neighbor's fire, tucked it into her jacket, and climbed up to the window. The window was too high, so she used a little stool to reach it. She managed to climb up but couldn't get down.

Her mom had just found the doctor and was on her way back when she saw the surveillance footage on her phone, and her heart skipped a beat. The window height wasn't too bad but a fall could've been serious. She sprinted home as fast as she could. As she rushed inside and peeked through the window, she saw Eve sprawled on top of Charles. Clearly, when Eve jumped, Charles had gauged the noise and caught her with his body.

Her mom quickly unlocked the door. Eve was still so young, blissfully unaware of the danger she'd been in. Seeing Charles there to break her fall made her smile even brighter. She climbed off him and, with a proud grin, said, "Iceman, guess what Debbie brought for you?"

As she spoke, she reached into her jacket, adding a bit of TV-style suspense. "Ta- da! It's a baked sweet potato! Smells amazing!"

But what came out was a squashed, mushy mess of sweet potato. Eve's little face fell, pouting immediately.. Seeing her mom return, she complained, "Mom, the sweet potato I baked for Iceman got all squished, waaah... Debbie baked a bunch, and this was the only one that wasn't ruined, but now it is."

She was so disappointed that Iceman didn't get to taste the special treat. Just as her mom was about to comfort her, she saw Charles, reaching out, taking it.noveldrama

Though he didn't say anything, he brought it to his mouth and took a tiny bite. Clearly, he'd never tasted something straight from the fire, biting into the ash-tinged potato. His brows knitted together immediately.

"Iceman, is it good?" Eve asked eagerly.

"Yes," he replied, with a small nod.