Me Before You
Chapter 1

Joshua Spencer stared at the large windowpanes in his apartment. His mind was filled with burdens held above his shoulders. All this time he thought too much about others until he forgot himself. Joshua forgot that he also needed to relax his mind. He has hope for tomorrow. Hopefully, when tomorrow comes, all the problems in his mind can be resolved.

The man sighed, then went to the balcony to see the sparkling world from above. During this life on the twelfth floor, never once did Joshua get anything 'enough' felt like there was always something lacking.

Especially the deepest side of his feelings.

Lately, his break has been a little disturbed at the thought of something. Whether it was thought or intentionally thought. Sometimes it interferes with their activities. He even went to the doctor several times or just to the psychiatrist to talk about his health problems. It felt really disturbing, until Joshua was upset himself.

Fortunately, the people around Joshua understood the man's situation. And they also gave good advice to Joshua.

And tomorrow is the only hope for Joshua to come back to life, to be himself. And it brings something new that is surprising.

...---...

"O, Ferdinand!"

Joshua immediately exclaimed when he found out who called him. In the middle of a vacation that he took some time ago, this friend is the most understanding because he keeps calling her, whether it's asking about work progress or talking about things that are not important.

"Where are you?" joshua's brows immediately furrowed hearing that.

"And I told you, I want a vacation."

There was a sound of breathing at the end. "I mean where you're on vacation, man."

"Ah.. I'm in. hmm...." Joshua looked beside the minibus window, trying to figure out where he was now. "Let's go. I don't know the name of the village, but I'll make sure I come back. It's been a while, huh? I'm about to arrive. Bye."

After talking to his friend, Joshua Spencer put his phone back in his pants pocket. Joshua was very confident that if the phone was forwarded, Ferdinand would tell the things that made his head throb. For example, work that must be completed within the specified time. Oh.. thinking about it made Joshua massage back his temples. Joshua's holiday should not be ruined by anyone, including his friend.

It's been a long time that Joshua wasn't this free to enjoy life. During this time his life was full of deadlines that made his head split. But, now he decided to take a short break in the countryside. Gibbston Valley is the place that will be his resting destination. Well, that wine village seems to be perfect for a place to relax, find inspiration and start a new story. While in Wellington, Joshua was frustrated by the difficulty of thinking amid his work piling up.

For a while Joshua asked permission for several weeks on the boss to take a break from his work. Fortunately, his boss allowed and recommended a good place for Joshua to rest. In fact, he also found lodging for Joshua during his stay in the village.

After getting to the destination by travel vehicle, Joshua immediately dropped off his luggage and other belongings to immediately head to the inn. He had already all day booked an inn belonging to the Frances Family that was adjacent to their vineyard. It would be beautiful to wake up in the morning and be greeted with a fragrant wine.

As soon as all his belongings had gone down, Joshua went straight to Frances's house to retrieve her room keys. Everything still looks beautiful here, no steam full of pollution. There are only green plants, fragrant wine and cheese. Joshua was getting impatient to taste the wine and cheese here.

"You're Joshua Spencer, right?" ask someone who made Joshua turn his head and see a female farmer harvesting wine.

"Yes, I'm Joshua." Joshua's eyebrows dropped slightly.

"Oh, meet me, I'm Michelle Frances. Joan Frances' wife, the innkeeper." said the middle-aged woman as she approached Joshua.

"Mrs Frances, nice to meet you." Joshua shook the woman's hand.

"Let's follow me, I'll show you your place."

Joshua followed the woman. The house is not far from the garden. Oh. wait a minute. The place is surrounded by plantations. Green land is visible throughout the eye. Even the smell of the air was smelled to make Joshua complacent. Along the way, Lady Frances told me every detail of the place. Starting from the vineyard, cattle farm, processed wine, cheese, and lodging. Oh, Joshua was quite flabbergasted when Lady Frances said that her inn was very close to the house of the Frances Family. He said his inn was in front of the house. At least it will be easy for Joshua to ask the hosts for help.

"This is your place and this is the key" said Mrs Frances, offering Joshua the keys to the house and room, when she reached the inn. "Your room is upstairs. I'll get my son to bring you your things." continued the middle-aged woman.

"thank you. No need, Madam. I can do it myself."

Mistress Frances smiled, "it's okay. We have to treat our guests well." Frances said.

Joshua also gave up. If this is the policy, yes. At least he was helped by the help that Miss Frances offered. Afterwards, Madam Frances circulated her gaze all over like she was looking for something. And when the sought object was found, Mistress Frances smiled for a moment before calling out, "Monica!"

The one who was called immediately looked. Fortunately their place was not far away, so Mistress Frances did not need to let out her voice loudly.

"Please take this young man upstairs! Bring me the stuff, too, okay?"

The girl then took down the scissors she used to pick the wine and basket she had been carrying. "Good, mom!"

...-οΟο-...

"Alex! Let's go to the river!"

Shouted little Monica, as she exited the house and headed off into the garden. While Alexander Frances－ who was twelve years old at that time－ popped his head among the vines, in order to see the figure of the little brother who was running towards the garden. Since morning, Alex has been helping his father and mother water the plants.

"Slow Monica!" exclaimed the brother, seeing Monica's small legs are very good at running. Alex then put a water-filled padlock down, he immediately approached the sister. The younger brother smiled at Alex.

"Alex, yesterday had promised to go to the river." The seven-year-old girl increasingly showed her smile, until her little teeth were seen.

Alex smiled, "tell me and mom first, okay?" then Alex took the little fingers of his brother and linked him between his fingers. Alex invites Monica to go to their parents, to ask permission to go to the river. After getting approval, the brothers went to a river not far from their garden. It's just over there and over a solid wooden bridge.

When they arrived, Monica immediately jumped up and down in excitement. He even let go of the elder brother's hand and ran small to the end of the bridge. Alex also followed the steps of the sister so that nothing happened to the little girl.

"Alex, the water is cool." the girl giggled, as she was hit by a splash of clear river water. Well, in summer the river water is so soothing.

"Yes, don't you come down, okay? Danger. Later dragged." then Alex again holding Monica's hand. "Want me to show you something?"

Monica nodded. Alex again leads Monica to the other side. Not far from the place, there is a large tree－pine－ tree that stands firmly. The tree still looks fresh even though summer is underway. They are standing in front of the tree. The curious Monica looked at Alex next to her. He wondered why his brother stopped at a tree, not near a river.

"It's called the tree of hope." chirped Alex, noticing his curious sister without asking.

"Tree hopes?" repeat the little girl.

Alex nodded with a smile. He also lowered his body, to be equal to the height of his sister. "The tree of hope. When I was a kid, I used to make wishes here by putting a letter."

"Letter?"

"At that time I asked that I have a sister and my request was granted." she ruffled Monica's hair, anxious. While Monica laughs typical giggles of small children.

"I want to make hope too!" monica said spirit. "I want to meet the white equestrian prince."

Hearing Monica's words, Alex laughed immediately. Understandably the name of a child, such fantasy things must be in their minds. Monica was inspired by her favorite Barbie series.

Since then, Monica never knew that the incident would end and be replaced by a cry that made her scream.

...-οΟο-...

Joshua and Monica arrived in front of the room. The girl took down Joshua's belongings.

"Mr Spencer, this is your room. If you need anything, you can go to our place."

Joshua looked around the inn. All the ornaments are made of wood. Walls, doors, stairs, and ceilings. Almost everything is from wood. The form of the inn is also unique. The architect must be very experienced.

The stay is shaped like a flats, but very elegant and wider. It would be impossible to find something like this in the city.

Joshua's daydreams were renewed when someone mentioned his last name. Well, that's Monica's voice that still stands in front of Joshua.

"Mr Spencer? You okay?"

"Yes." Joshua said quickly. "I'm just amazed at this place."

Monica smiled at him.

"Ah, yes, Miss." Monica looked directly at Joshua Spencer, right in both eyes. Monica had actually accidentally met Joshua. But when he saw those eyes, Monica's memory of the past opened up again. It felt as if when he saw those eyes, Monica became very relieved, comfortable, and peaceful. "May I know your name?"

Monica shook her head slowly, trying to wake herself up before daydreaming even longer.

"Monica Frances's. Just call me Monica."

...-οΟο-...

Joshua recalled the incident earlier this afternoon, when he was delivered by Miss Frances's son to his room. Her name is Monica Frances and she loves helping her family in the garden. When girls his age compete in school abroad or vacation around the world, he chose to help his parents. And he was the only child of Lady Frances.

Joshua praised Monica as an attractive girl. If Joshua sees it, Monica is not like most westerners. His skin was white, his irises were black, his hair was ebony, and his face resembled that of an Asian. Joshua doesn't think Monica's a real person here. Maybe the girl was a mixture of her father. Think Joshua.

But, if you remember, after hearing the name Monica, especially with the name Frances behind her, Joshua like to have heard that name. As if he was no stranger. Then he thought, Monica's name is a lot. It's not just him. Then Joshua dismissed his strange thoughts.

After hours struggling with the laptop, Joshua then turned to the wall clock, it turned out to have entered midnight, at half-twelve. It's midnight, but he hasn't felt sleepy. Joshua thinks he will experience insomnia like before. Even though he is currently on vacation, he should enjoy relaxing time instead of thinking about work. Being a perfectionist like Joshua is difficult, he always thinks about work even during the holidays.

Feeling difficult to sleep, Joshua also chose to get out of his room briefly－seeking fresh air at night, may be able to help him to quickly fall asleep. After picking up the jacket he put on the seat behind him, Joshua walked out of his room, down the stairs and then reached the main door. The air tonight is not too cold because it is entering summer. A breeze approached Joshua as he came out of his resting place, to make his hair fly.

Joshua decided to take a walk around the vineyard not far from where it is now. Perhaps by smelling the aroma of wine at night will make his sleep become sound. To be honest, Joshua was very fond of grapes. He also likes wine. It is not wrong that his boss advised Joshua to go here.

Not long after, Joshua's eyes suddenly saw a girl coming out of Frances's house. His eyebrows were furrowed, wanting to know who came out in the middle of the night like this, let alone that she was a girl. Joshua saw the girl close up her jacket and walked towards him－more precisely towards the vineyard. Slowly but surely, Joshua was able to see the figure of the girl after the spotlight was hit by yellow lights installed around the garden.

"Monica?"

The girl stopped afterwards, and stared at the source of the voice before her. "Mr Spencer? You're that?"

Joshua approached Monica, "what are you doing in the middle of the night?"

In her heart, Monica keeps a sense of relief because of the person she met Joshua. He thought there was a bad person who infiltrated his home area.

"I had a nightmare, so I decided to take a walk for a while" Monica said.

Joshua was surprised to hear that. This girl is so brave. After having a nightmare, a person will usually stay still in his bed or walk for a while around the room, but Monica... Joshua was unrelentingly shaking his head, not trusting this girl before him.

"You should stay indoors, not go out alone in the middle of the night." Joshua advised. He's a little worried about Monica. How could he let a girl go from her house at night even though it was near her house.

"It's okay. I'm a regular."

"Do your parents know?"

Monica smiled faintly, "no." Said. "If they had known, I would have been lectured."

Unknowingly Joshua laughed. He thinks Monica is getting more interesting. Attracting others to know what he looks like. Like a puzzle that must be solved, so Joshua's portrayal of the figure of Monica.

"If you are doing these nights?" ask Monica at last.

"Ah. i..." Joshua was silent for a moment, then he said, "don't call me master, just call me Joshua. It seems our ages are not much different."

"Oh sorry. Joshua what are you doing in the middle of the night?" reset Monica.

Joshua let out a slow sigh, then said, "i'm insomnia, so I'm going to catch a cold."

"You're insomnia? Since when?"

"Long time. Before I came here I had it."

Monica nodded, then she looked at the night sky that was crowned with stars and the moon. "Insomnia is dangerous."

"I know." said Joshua.

Monica looked at Joshua, "indeed you never checked it out?"

"Often. And the solution is always a sleeping drug."

The girl grimaced, "why sleeping pills? You could have lost it by drinking milk. You weird doctor."

Joshua laughing. It turns out chatting with Monica was exciting. The burden he felt seemed to disappear after meeting this girl before him. It was a great first impression to know Monica Frances. Joshua hopes after this, he and Monica can get along. At least as friends who can fill each other.

Afterwards, they spoke while sitting on green grass accompanied by moonlight. They talked about Frances's family garden, Wellington's city life, and Monica's desire to meet her favorite author. Joshua was a little surprised to hear Monica who really liked the novel by her favorite author. Originally the novel was given by Monica's cousin for the girl's birthday present, but Monica loved the story and asked her cousin to buy the novel again. Joshua smiled at him, too. Unexpectedly, a very simple thing was able to make the girl feel happy. For this reason, Joshua wanted to be closer to Monica Frances.

About half an hour into their conversation, Monica began to get sleepy and she wanted to return home to continue her sleep. Likewise with Joshua, although the sleepiness that strikes is not as Monica felt－the girl has yawned many times since they spoke earlier. As he was about to leave the place, Joshua turned back and saw Monica's back almost away from him. Right at that moment, Joshua directly called out to the girl.

"Monica!"

The girl turned her head, as Joshua called her. He turned back to face Joshua, despite their distance.

"Tomorrow to accompany me around this place, will you?"

Hearing Joshua's request, Monica immediately inscribed a smile that fascinated Joshua for the first time. Afterwards, the girl said, "of course." And continued with the girl's departure, leaving Joshua who was still pensive staring at Monica's back from his place.

...---...