Chapter 8

Sooner than later, winter comes out to chill the air and cover Flowerbud Village with a blanket of snow. The villagers are now in their homes more often to keep warm and spend time with their families. Lots of family related festivals take place around this time of year; Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Fire Festival, and Starry Night Festival. Not to mention the many birthdays that take place in this season.

In Pete's Farm, much of the crops have already died and the trees do not give him any produce. All he has are the animals to take care of. Naturally, this means that he has much more time to himself than any other season. This would normally be his least favorite season, considering that he would be bored most days. But now that he met Dia, he now has somewhere to be.

In the Sanitarium, Dia looks out the window. The beauty of winter is unmatched to the city where she once lived. The nights are longer and get filled with sparkling stars she could never see in her hometown. At night the snow on the ground glisten from the moonlight. She so wishes she can play in the pure white snow, if her condition only let her. She can only watch the young children play in the snow instead.

She does feel a little envious, but there is always one person who can make her feel better. On the ninth day of Winter, Pete pays Dia a special visit. He walks up the same stairs, and finds her sitting by the window like she does most days. He walks up to her with a proud smile on his face.

“Is this seat taken?” he asks jokingly pointing on an empty spot next to Dia.

Dia smiles warmly and answers, “That seat is reserved for you my good sir.”

Pete nods then sits down. They both look outside to watch the children play and take a moment to see how much has changed. It was just Spring when they first met. The snow outside reminds them that when it all melts, it would have been nearly a whole year since she came to live in the village. And almost a year that they've known one another. They sit next to one another proudly. The villagers who walk by smile and wave at them. By now, everyone knows that they are happily together in a dating relationship.

“By the way, I heard that today is your birthday. Happy Birthday,” said Pete.

Dia blushes and says, “Thank you. I usually am alone on my birthday. But I feel happy that you came over. Will you be staying for some cake? Gina is buying some from the shop.”

“Sure, but before that, I want to give you a present,” answers Pete.

“You got me a present?” asks Dia. Pete nods, and goes down the steps to the first floor. Moments later, he brings up a large white box with a green ribbon tied around it.

He rests the gift on the ground in front of Dia and says, “go ahead, open it.”

Dia hesitates for a moment, then she undoes the emerald colored ribbon and opens the box. After looking inside the box for a moment, she pulls out a stuffed bear.

“Wow, it's so cute!” said Dia cheerfully. “I wonder if it has a name.”

“Why not give it one?” asked Pete.

Dia takes a good long look at the bear. She then smiles and hugs the bear happily saying, “I think I'll call it. . . Daachan.”

Seeing Dia smile like that holding her present makes him happy as well. Just like the seasons change, so do they. Pete was once a lonely farm boy who would work only for himself dreaming of being with someone. Dia was once a cold lonely girl who lacked the trust and faith in others. Together, they are happy and smiling as they spend their days with one another.

Pete visits the Sanitarium almost on a daily basis during the winter days. Most of the time, Pete sits with her by the window, and talk with her about what is going on outside that ice cold glass. Other days, Pete takes her out on his horse and allows her to take a look around the village. Pete and his horse has become her communication to the outside world, seeing things she would never be able on her own. She visits many places, meets many people she couldn't before, and sees many breathtaking views she had only imagined before.

Just as predicted, the snow melts and the crops begin to grow once again. Pete now has to return to work and spend less time at the Sanitarium; mainly because he has to prepare the soil that had rested all winter long. Tilling dirt, planting seeds, watering large fields takes up much of his time. It isn't until mid Spring that he is able to visit Dia once again.

The young couple are not very happy at this time. They both have gotten used to the idea that they could see one another every day all winter long. They spend hours talking to each other, and went to every festival together. Now Pete's job has put some distance between them. And with distance comes longing to see one another. Dia naturally feels alone and abandoned. Some nights she would cry because she didn't get to see Pete that day. She has Daachan now, but it's not the same. She would sometimes wait for hours holding Daachan for Pete's visit. She knows that Pete has to work, but it doesn't relieve the empty hole in hear chest.

Pete also feels the pressure brought from the distance. The beginning of Spring means long work days. By the time he finishes, Dia is long asleep. When he finally gets to see her, Dia becomes a bit sour. She knows it's not his fault, but she misses him that much. She can't help but to feel that maybe Pete enjoys his job more than her company. The thought that Pete has met a more normal girl does cross her mind every now and then.

Summer rolls in, and Pete was able to mend his relationship with Dia. They got back into the weekly visits like they did before. But they both feel that it's not enough. Pete has to work, but he wants his relationship to Dia work too. It's much more difficult when you've developed feelings for someone who cannot visit you. Dia is rooted at the Sanitarium, and Pete is mostly rooted to the farm as well. The farm and the Sanitarium are on the opposite sides of the village, so they can't even hear each other's voices if they call out.

By fall, enough is enough. Pete wants Dia to be a part of his life, even if it means making the ultimate commitment. All fall long, Pete plans and works as hard as he can to do what any man in love does. By winter, he will ask the girl he loves to marry him. That way, they can live together and never be apart for the rest of their lives.

On Christmas Eve, Pete takes Dia out of the sanitarium against Doctor Alex's orders. It is a cold night, and Pete takes her up to Starry hill where a full moon shines brightly. At that moment, Pete presents her the symbol of marriage in Flowerbud Village; a blue feather.

Dia is familiar with this tradition, but she didn't know that they still practice it. Although old fashioned, her heart still rushes as the man she loves is asking for her hand in marriage. She doesn't know what to say, let alone answer. Should she take it? Will she be a good enough wife for him? Can she even be a wife with her illness? How will her family react?

Dia looks hard at the feather not knowing if she should take it or not. She cares deeply for Pete, but she is not sure if she'll make a good wife for him. So she looks at Pete in his blueberry eyes, and asks, “Are you sure you want to marry me? Even though I am not healthy? Are you sure I won't be a burden to you?”

“I know all about your health, but that doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you so much, and I don't want to be with anyone else but you. I'll take care of you, and make you the happiest woman in the world. So, will you marry me?”

Dia feels scared, but she feels the same way he does. So she decides to accept his feather, and become his wife. They then share a kiss as a newly engaged couple.

Back at the sanitarium, Alex and Gina are both unhappy that Pete took Dia out at night, but their moods changed after they announced their engagement. Alex and Gina both look at one another concerned about their engagement, but they know that Dia has every right to get married just like anyone else. So they congratulate them, and start the preparations for their wedding.

That spring, the very same date that Dia arrived, the whole village gathered to celebrate the wedding of Pete and Dia. Even Dia's family came to the wedding as well. Pete is nervous to meet the family that day, but they accept him with open arms.

The wedding takes place at Starry Hill, the same place Pete proposed. Both Dia and Pete arrive at the ceremony riding on the same horse that usually carries Dia around the village. Pete dismounts first, and helps his bride off her steed. Pete wears a typical white wedding suit, but Dia is wearing a special custom dress she designed herself. Most of the dress is white, except some green patterns in the shape of vines. Blue dots around the vines are small blueberry patterns. The dress is a symbol of Pete and Dia's love. The vines are Dia's green eyes, and the blueberries are Pete's eyes. Together, they are one life, bound by love.

After the mayor recite the vows, Pete places the ring he spent nearly a month to buy for Dia. He then kisses his bride, and they are now pronounced man and wife. The whole village cheers as they mount the horse once again with a sign “Just Married” hanging of it's tail. A funny gesture, but memorable.

Dia immediately moves into the farm with her husband Pete. She freshens up the house to be very cozy. Her very own home, she never imagined the day she could live outside a hospital setting. The sanitarium was the closest thing, but not the same as what she has now. She used to feel like she was in a cage. Now she has more freedom. She can walk out the house, and see the whole village instead of looking through a window. She cannot leave the farm on her own, but she is very happy that she can be with the man she loves. Doctor Alex and Gina must make frequent visits every now and then, but she can tolerate it.

She still knows that she cannot live a normal girl's life. She cannot do what most girls can do, like cook, clean, and move around too much. But Pete and Dia are happy together. But no matter how happy she is, she wonders how long this happiness can last.