Maadwoa's POV

My aunt went out again about 20 minutes ago to go to the market. So I used that as an opportunity to walk around the village.

I slowly walk towards nowhere in particular, taking in the environment and people around me. Little girls are playing jump rope together, while the boys are playing football. When one of the girls falls and skins her knee, her mother who was standing to the side, quickly runs over to her daughter and cradles her as she cries in her arms. The mother picks up her crying child and consoles her, as she places kisses on her cheek, and carries her back into their house.

The sight is bittersweet for me. It's makes me feel jealous that I never had a mother figure to care for me tenderly and lovingly like that when I was growing up. Even now, I'm older and I still don't have that mother figure in my life. Sometimes, I dream of how my life would be if my mother survived the birth process. How happy I would be. How easy everything would be. I wouldn't starve, she would have made sure I always had something to eat and was always comfortable. I would have someone to look up to and talk to. In those dreams, I feel happiness for once in my miserable life, but when I wake up, sadness overcomes me again as I realize my fantasy can never become reality.

I let out a deep breath and pass through the trees, towards the small riverbank in the depths of the small forest we have.

The riverbank is my place. I go there whenever I need to clear my head or think about things. I accidentally stumbled upon it a while ago when I ran away from home in tears. It's hidden in the forest and I don't think anyone knows that it exists because people are afraid of the forest, but something about it being secluded makes it comforting for me.

I look behind me to make sure nobody is watching, before I bend below the tree branch and enter the forest. I turn to the right, and approach the river, but I come to a halt when I see a tall figure sitting on the grass, gazing out into the water. I open my mouth in shock that someone is actually here. Nobody ever comes here, except me. It almost makes me frustrated that someone knows my secret place.

I quietly approach the person, by of course, my clumsy self steps on a twig, and the cracking noise makes the person quickly whip their head around. I stop when I see Prince Danny, and his eyes become wide when he sets his eyes on me. Prince Danny? In the forest of the village?

I notice the look on his face, and it is not his usual, joyful face. He looks gloomy and stressed.

"Maadwoa, hi. Are you following me now?" he asks, trying to lighten the mood.

I bow and shake my head with a smile.

"No, Prince Danny."

He chuckles and shakes his head at me.

"I asked you not to bow when you see me."

"I'm sorry, Prince Danny." I apologize, playing with my fingers.

He pats the ground next to him, looking at me with a smile.

"Please, feel free to sit here."

I nod and slowly walk over to him. He continues to gaze out into the river and I cautiously lower myself to sit on the ground. I leave a space between us, just so he does not feel uncomfortable or creeped out. A silence falls between us, as he looks ahead of us, with his aloof eyes and a sullen look on his face. I can easily see the sadness in his eyes behind his smile. The sight makes me feel sad for him, and I can't help but question him. He helped me the last time, and now it's only kind to do the same.

I clear my throat quietly and turn my body to face him slightly.

"Erm, Prince Danny?" 

He looks at me and gives me a half smile, with his eyebrows raised.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, playing with the hem of my shirt.

He scratches his head and chuckles, before looking over at me. The stare he gives me causes my face to heat up unexpectedly. Wow, how did that happen?

"I'm fine. What makes you think I'm not?"

I look away and give him a shy smile.

"You just seem down. Usually, I come here when I'm not in the best mood, so I just thought you might not be okay if you're also here." I reply.

"I just came here to think about things, but I'm okay. Thank you for asking." he tells me, and I nod with a smile.

I decide not to pester him with any more questions because it might be something personal. But, I don't want to stop talking to him because there's something about talking with him that is comforting.

"I thought I was the only person that knew of this place. I guess not, though." I tell him, trying to start a conversation.

Danny turns his body towards me and I swear, I see him scoot closer to me.

"Nah, I got lost here when I was younger while I was visiting my uncle here. Looks like we've got something in common." 

I smile at him and play with my fingers, shyly. I sigh and look back at the river, where I see the reflection of us sitting together, both looking aloof and stressed. I guess even royalty can have bad days. I am broken out of my thoughts to his voice again.

"Do you want to play a game?"

I nod excitedly like a little child.

"What game?" I ask, a wide smile on my face.

He chuckles.

"Well, not really a game. But, let's ask each other questions and get to know each other. Is that okay?" he asks me.

"Sure, can I start please?"

He nods and gestures for me to start.

"You're going to hate me for this, but what is your favorite colour?" I ask, with a nervous giggle.

He playfully rolls his eyes and looks away with an amused look on his face.

"I really do hate that question, but since it's from you, I can tolerate it. My favorite color is green."

I blush after he finishes his sentence. If I wasn't already seated, my legs would have buckled and I would fell from being so flustered. I giggle, and scratch my hair.

"Erm, I like yellow. It's just really pretty, and it makes me happy."

His gaze falls on me and lingers for a while. His eyes hold an unreadable expression, and I internally freak out, thinking I just said something weird.

"Yeah, you wouldn't understand--"

He shakes his head.

"No, I get it. Sometimes it's the little things that make someone happy."

Wow, someone who gets me.

"Okay, now you ask me a question."

He nods and thinks of one, looking up at the sky. He finally stops thinking and looks back at me with a cheesy smile.

"Alright, so since food is life, what is your favorite food?" he asks, and I giggle at the question.

"Erm, that's a hard question. Can I just say everything?"

He shakes his head, amused. "Nope, pick one."

I playfully sigh in annoyance and think again.

"Hmm, maybe awaakye, but without the noodles because I'm picky." I say, with a laugh.

"What, why? The noodles bring it all together." he complains, with a shocked look on his face.

"No, the noodles are just there for no reason and they serve no value in the food. Period" I say with a straight face.

He raises his eyebrows.

"Wow, I don't think I can continue to talk to a noodle-hater."

"I don't hate noodles, I just don't need them on my rice." I say, with a giggle.

"Fine, that's fair. Next question."

"Okay. Erm, what annoys you the most?" I ask him, and he immediately rolls his eyes.

"Easy. People feeling as if they cannot talk to me just because I'm a prince. I mean, am I intimidating? Am I scaring you?"

I shake my head vigorously.

"No, no. I think you're really nice to talk to. I think people are just unnerved by your status." 

He sighs, and shakes his head. "That's what I mean. I'm just a normal person like anyone else, there is nothing special about me."

I look at my skirt and trace the yellow flowers on it. 

"You are special, e-everyone is. You're just a tinny bit more special."  I respond with a  light giggle.

"Well, I'm flattered, but I wish people would just realize that I'm a normal guy."

He scoffs and looks at the ground. He picks up a tiny stone and throws it into the river. The stone 'hops' two times before sinking. He then sighs and looks at me.

"If you were given one wish, what would you wish for?"

My eyes linger on the river, as I immediately know the answer to this question. I think about it everyday. I let out a shaky breath as I look up to stop any tears from falling.

"I would wish for my mom back. I never got to meet her, but I really want her here." 

He immediately puts his hand on my shoulder in a soothing manner.

"I-I'm sorry, Maadwoa. I shouldn't have asked that."

I shake my head and turn to give him a tight smile.

"No, it's cool. I like talking to someone about it."

He gives me an apologetic smile and continues to rub my shoulder. My heart starts beating faster as I realize he still has his hand on me, so I glance at his hand. He quickly retracts his hand, letting an awkward silence fall on us.

A tree behind us rustles and we quickly whip our heads around to see what caused it. Danny's guards stand behind us with the same, stern looks on their faces. I smile at them in a polite way, but they just face Danny.

"Prince Danny, the King wants you back home immediately." one of the guards announces, and I see Danny groan and clench his jaw.

"I'll be right there."

The guards step back as Danny stands up, wiping the dust off his pants. As I stand up, he holds out his hand to pull me up, and I gratefully thank him.

"Erm, thanks for playing that game with me. I enjoyed talking to you, it was nice making a friend." he says, with his hands in his pocket.

I widen my eyes. Prince. Danny. Just. Called. Me. His. Friend. I am shooketh, and of course, my face decides to blush without my consent.

"We're friends?" I ask him awkwardly.

"Of course we are. How could I not be friends with someone whose favorite food is awaakye?" he playfully remarks, and I giggle.

I nod and cross my hands behind my back.

"You should go before you get in trouble."

He dismisses me with a wave.

"I'll be fine, do you want me to walk you home?" he offers and I immediately remember that my aunt might be at home, waiting for me with a broomstick to pummel me.

"N-no. I'm fine, thanks. I just remembered I have something to do at home. Bye Danny." I quickly say, before giving him a quick bow and running off.

From behind me, I hear him call out, "Bye! And I told you not to bow down when you see me."

I chuckle to myself as I skip home in a hurry.