The marsh was filled with a peaceful quiet, the only sound to really be heard was the soft chittering of birds and the small bugs that lingered on leaves. Your attention was fixated on a specific butterfly that was sat upon a leaf, a sketchbook in hand as you detailed it onto the paper in pencil.

The sound of a boat arriving at the dock made your head perk. You weren't expecting any visitors and hadn't had any for a long while. You liked it that way, the quiet and isolation was once something you were ashamed of, but after finding yourself ridiculed by the public, you preferred it.

You quickly stood, taking an unstable step backwards as the stranger approached. He was handsome, dark hair and light eyes. You could see the surprise across his features as he took you in, a sharp intake of breath.

"Sorry- I didn't mean to startle you. I didn't think anyone lived up here, especially a girl as pretty as you." A charming smile curled at the edge of his lips. His stance was almost reserved, as if he wanted to step forwards but was holding himself back. "I'm Chase Andrews. You're the marsh girl, ain't you?"

You weren't sure what to do. You wanted to run back into the house, get as far away from him as you could. Something about him screamed danger, but you couldn't place what exactly. So, you stayed. You felt self conscious about the state of your appearance. Your disheveled hair, your dirty overalls, your old shoes.

He let out a soft chuckle, aware of your cautious behavior around him. "You don't need to be afraid of me, I ain't gonna hurt you. I just wanna talk to you."