the now, this moment in time. It’s all I had, all I could count on, and all that was assured to me in my time with Jack.
When we left his home, I convinced Jack that I was fine to go for a drive, though we both knew I was pretty worn out. I just wasn’t ready for the night to be over. There was so much beauty in his town that I could at least enjoy looking at again, and we drove from place to place in the early evening. The scenario was identical; the sun was setting as it did on our first date together. What was once majestic was now bittersweet, as the sunset cast its color array on my blood stained cast. My designer white skirt was replaced by a one of a kind plaster cast. My red belt, meant to be a little daring, was now
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On a summer’s night, I’m sure there were crickets, but I heard nothing but the silence. No magic happened, only the veil of what the darkness hides, or diminishes, as shadows cast dimly on life’s harsh reality. We both knew what lingered in this darkness, so we remained quiet and reflective.
Before the drive back to my house, Jack had brought a shirt along that he tossed into the backseat in case I got cold. He knew I loved the car windows open during our drive. As it became later, there was a chill in the air. At about a hundred pounds, it was easy for me to get cold. When I started to shiver, Jack found a place to stop and presented to me his treasured yellow sweatshirt. I was honored, and I reminded him of how he was wearing it when I met him. He was both flattered and surprised I remembered such a simple detail about him. He put the sweatshirt on me in the night air, and the yellow grew pale in the twilight sky. Jack chuckled at how his form fitting favorite top enveloped my petite stature. His shirt instantly felt like a warm embrace. I needed that warmth and security as this night grew colder and darker.
The date was ending as we were. We found ourselves again in the same starry night sky, driving to my house. I felt a bit apprehensive, I have to admit. I trusted Jack in theory to make a safe journey back, but my subconscious had its own scars. I was warm, but I began to tremble in fear, and I hoped that Jack didn’t notice.
The streetlights reflected red on our silhouette-looking faces and flooded the 11:37PM sky. His much-too-nice truck hummed over the cracked foundation of the road, luckily distracting his oceanic eyes from the prominent goosebumps on my forearms. Ashes flew and faded onto my black, cotton hoodie from the cancer hanging from his chapped lips. Chapped lips that curled into a grin when I sat inches away from his blonde hair brushing against my cheek. I convinced myself that he was finding other focus points like the illuminated radio screen or the coffee cups shaking in their holders or the seatbelt light blinking on his dashboard, yet my eyes remained fixed on those chapped lips. Although, it was dark. We only ever made eye contact
Memories of the night before became a vivid memory in the recesses of his dimly lit mind, underneath the sunlight's intruding yet blissful gaze and the sensation of silk against his bare skin felt like a euphoria, a river of midnight encased his slender figure and with the scrunch of his refined nose and furrowed knit of his thin eyebrows, he rose from his slumber. Delicate fingertips leisurely danced across the silken sheets which lost its assuaging warmth only to discern that he was gone, Padding through the spacious house far too big for two alone to fill, and too much of a burden for one to find comfort in. To see his lover, clad in a suit that managed to take his breath away immediately
“Well I would say goodnight, but I don’t like you.” I pulled out and she sat back down, with tears streaming down her face. I drove through little communities listening to the radio and eating the food I saved. I arrived in Reno, Nevada at 7:00 a.m. My bloodshot eyes told me I needed to rest, even for a few hours, but I’m going to see my daughter. I was low on gas, but I decided to take the risk of going up the mountain on the way to Tahoe. The tree’s became a blur as I pushed the pedal. The warm summer light beaming onto the road before me. The pine trees smell blessed my nose.
We kept our path on the road and eventually we made it past a couple of days, me being scrunched up between boxes in the backseat of the car and . I sat there looking at the dark sky with the even darker shadows of the big evergreen trees surrounding the parking lot of the motel. I was sitting alone while my aunt checked in and you would expect me to be anxious of such a foreign place. Time went by and you’d still find me sitting there, pondering that
It was refreshing to go out into the world after staying in the house with Jean for so long. The gentle caress of the rain was calming. The rain whispered sweet nothings to me as I watched him drive away in his Volkswagen to her.The pure rain water mixed with my salty tears this was not alarming nor surprising, I expected such. It's hard to watch past lovers thrive while you're struggling, isn't it? Even though I am struggling, I have yet to give up. For I am still left with one thing he has yet to even fathom. Mercy and Memories. Jean and I had grown up together, he had pushed me around in the red wheelbarrow, oh how I loved that rusted old toy. When my night terrors would strike in fierce blows against my young mind, he was there to read me a story and calm me down.
I smiled and made my way to the lobby where I met my mom and aunt. As we walked out of the hotel, I felt tears well up in my eyes. I remembered how I had almost cried because I was frightened to come, and now I wanted to cry because I didn’t want to leave. I was shy and quiet at the beginning of the week, and I had gotten comfortable with those in my group and on my bus, and I had made quite a few friends I didn’t want to leave. I knew that week was going to be one I would remember for the rest of my life, but I didn’t know to what extent. I knew then, that it was going to be one of my most sacred
It was a summer’s night. A Friday if I remember correctly. A humid shower glazed over the town with musky, pink skies. Oscar, Brad and myself packed the car with our tents and supplies. The roads were wet but we were eager to reach the camping grounds up in the hills. Oscar assured us he would drive. I knew the roads were dangerous so I sat in the back. With tents either side of me, we took off. The air conditioner drifted in fumes which smelt of petrol. It was a rough, jerky ride along the dirt roads. Two hours in, I suggested we stop for a short rest. I could see Brad’s eye lids closing uncontrollably. He turned around to look at me. His hands were firmly gripped on the steering wheel. As he turned towards me his hands followed.
She touched the little box inside her pocket and smiled. She remembered all the adventurous days she spent with her chivalrous husband. She recalled traveling around the world, going to stunning, beautiful places. She remembered all the days they spent exploring new cities, trying new restaurants, and creating memories. Her husband passed away 6 months ago, and the pain was as fresh as the day it happened. He had been her best friend, her support, and her lifeline for 25 years. They built a beautiful life together, always traveling from city to city to find out what the world had to offer.
I laid awake that night thinking, while the moon lit night light bleed through my shades and onto the wall. But this story should be told… from the beginning. Trudging down the stairs, I could smell the aroma of cinnamon and maple syrup growing closer. That’s how I knew it would be a good day. But a scientist doesn’t always have the right hypothesis. Then I scarfed down my breakfast like a sword fight, quick, noisy, and satisfying. After the delicious breakfast, I grabbed my bookbag and bolted out the door to catch the bus. When I took my first step out the door, I felt the cold crisp autumn air brush up against my face.
The muffled chokes masked my father's words as he spoke to me over the phone. He struggled to speak, signaling me to leave my dorm room occupied by multiple close friends. The overnight lacrosse camp I was at was on its final day, and the dorms were bustling with excitement and final activities. I was drawn out of this by the despair in my father's voice, I knew what he had to say was serious. The laughter from inside the dorms grew quiet as I shut the iron door of the dorms behind me, stepping out onto the dewy grass and soaking the mid calf socks which covered my sore feet. It was a truly perfect day, as cliche as it is. The sun shone radiantly among the aquatone skies, unobjected by any sign of overcast. The phone grew slippery as clammy
"I'll see you tomorrow," I faked a smile to Ross, squeezing his hand in false comfort, he tried his best not to wince. With that, I was gone. I inhaled generously. The same chill that molded me hours before, disfigured me now. The sky had darkened from the familiar grey to a severe sable. The night air was crisp, beating harshly against my neck. It's temperature had dropped, comfort was nowhere in sight. The murky clouds were thick and heavy, blotting out every star. The relentless shadows tapered off into the sharp horizon, holes where the decorations of the heavens should lie like glittered jewels.
A bright sunshine spanning across the long horizon awakens all with open shutters. I awoke with the birds chirping in my ears, a bright shining yellow beam of light glistened the black dark sheets of which covered me during the ice-cold night, not as though they did much for warmth, during the coldest night of which I rest within these doors, shutters slammed back and forth awakening me from my rest, the dark night crept into the room with its unwanted cold breeze alongside with it. The icy, bitter wind pierced through the bed sheets like a pin through a leaf leaving a sharp numbing sensation through my body. Although a horrible night, a beautiful morning. I stood up and walked over to the rugged light brown window ledge and looked in wonder
With the dishes washed, I change into jeans and a colored tee shirt, apply fresh make-up and brush my hair. Graydon’s Post-it note on the night table is where I left it. I read his words again and can’t wait to see him. I sneak past my mom asleep in a chair and exit the front door. I cross the street and ring his doorbell. Butterflies bounce off the sides of my stomach. What’s taking him this long? I turn ready to take off when the door opens. I jump back.
Asteria was on the final few pages of the chapter when a particular sub-heading caught her attention – constellations. Her eyes scan down to the page, stopping when they find a small diagram of Orion’s belt. It was the constellation her mother had been named after and it was tattooed across her lower back. She begins to trace her fingers over the constellation as her thoughts drift back to her early life on the Ark.
Saskia was talking animatedly with Tao when she saw Harper walking down the Winter’s Hall driveway and quickly rushed downstairs to greet her with the news.