What a night. She thought as she looked over the balcony railing. Below her was a straight drop to the bottom of the cliff, stretching out from there were other houses, a hospital and maze of stop lights and shops. And even still with all the light the stars were so bright. How beautiful.
"What are you doing out here?" The voice broke into her thoughts. She turned and smiled at her ex-husband.
"Just looking at the stars. It's so pretty out here, I can never get over it." She tossed her hair lightly over her shoulder and watched as his eyes travled the length of her body. Her heart skipped, it was almost as if they had never been married the way he looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time. She caught her reflection in the windows of the french doors behind him. Well I guess when we were married I never looked like this. She studied the smaller toned body in the snug fitting red backless dress. It hugged her in what she now called 'all the right places'. Her black hair fell in soft waves down her back, accented with blonde highlights. The face looking back at her was slimmer with perfectly waxed eyebrows and smokey eyeshadow. Yes, I'm different now.
"How have you been?" She asked softly. Suddenly it hit her that this was the first time in months they had spoken.
"All right. You?" His voice was the same soothing tones it had been all those years ago, when things were better. He took a step towards her.
"I'm good. I've been really busy, with work and everything. But it's been going well." She smiled slightly glancing up into his eyes.
"That's good..." He slid his hand into his pocket. This time it was her that let her eyes roam. She took in his white dress shirt with the front tucked into the belt on his crip jeans. She smile remembering a time when they would have been dying to leave the party so they could tear eachothers clothes off. "I miss you." Startled she jerked her eyes back to his face. His eyes were misted and pleading.
"I...I miss you too." She managed. He smiled slightly, he licked his lips and then pulled his bottom lip in showing a small line of white teeth. Her heart fluttered and it must have shown on her face, because in the next instant he had closed the space between them and she was in his arms.
He kissed her softly at first as if she might break, then more passionately as she returned the kisses. One hand ran up her back and tangled in her hair, while the other pulled her closer to him.
"Baby, I want you back." She leaned back slightly and looked into his eyes. Everything in them told her that there was something different about him. "I love you." He said staring deep into her eyes. She bit her lip unsure how to responed. She wanted him, wanted to be with him. Her eyes misted a bit, tears threating to spill down her cheeks. As one escaped and made its way down her face he reached up and brushed it away with his thumb. "You won't cry any more. I'm sorry baby, I am and I want you back." He stepped back from her then knelt in front of her. She looked down at him her brain not putting anything together except that he loved her. He pulled a small box out of his pocket. "Will you marry me...again?" She couldn't hold the tears back anymore, with them spilling down her cheeks she grabbed his arm.
"Yes." She said smiling as he stood. "Yes I will." He pulled her too him and kissed her softly.
"I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too."
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
K
The salty air caressed her face softly, billowing her hair out behind her. It was almost like a welcome. A welcome home. She smiled stretching her arms out to her sides and ran towards the water, turning just before her feet touched the waters edge then ran back.
“When I was younger…” She started, but her friend shook her head.
“A sea gull…I know.” Her friend smiled. “It’s nice to be back.”
“Yeah…” There wasn’t much that needed to be said. They both knew what this place meant to them. This was where everything was ok, this was were mermaids existed, going to the dock at midnight just to see the stars was normal, where you could just be you. Here was where you knew who you really were. She smiled again wrapping her arms around herself.
“Pictures?” She asked looking towards her friend who was sitting on the sand watching the waves.
“Really K, not like I have a choice.” Her friend replied smiling.
“Nope, now don’t move.” She ran to the spot in the pier where they hid all there stuff. They had found it years ago, a spot in the boards that over hung just enough to hide car keys and their dry clothes. She grabbed the camera and ran back. Smiling she set it up.
“Ok now move this way just a little…” For the next thirty minutes she repositioned her ever willing friend until she was satisfied.
“Lets sneak up on the pier.” Her friend said jumping up and brushing the sand off her jeans and sweatshirt.
“Ok.” She put the camera back in it’s case and made sure it was securely around her arms. Then they headed up. It was trickier this time then it had been years ago. Years ago there had been a huge sand dune to help out, but not now it was flattened to keep people from climbing up on the pier instead of paying the dollar to get out there. The girls ignored the fact that their dune was gone and grabbed for the lowest plank, boosting themselves up, they climbed from one to the next until they were right near the piers gift shop. Hoisting themselves up then dropping low so they wouldn’t be seen by the owner through the huge bay window.
“Ready?” Her friend breathed lightly. She checked the straps on her camera bag.
“Ready.” They crept by the window, until they couldn’t be seen and then bolted towards the other end of the pier. They reached the end laughing and out of breath. She looked over her shoulder, no one had followed them.
“That was so much fun!!” Her friend laughed pulling her own camera out of her pocket and taking a few pictures of the ocean that stretched out before them. “Dolphins!” They both leaned over the edge to take pictures of the group of dolphins playing lazily in the waves. Her friend leaned, stepped back putting her camera back in her pocket and sitting down on one of the benches.
“You seem more like the old you.” Her friend commented softly. She turned to look at her.
“Yeah…I feel a little bit more like the old me. But it doesn’t matter as soon as I go home it will all go back to how it was.” Sadness flickered across her face. She shook her head slightly.
“It doesn’t have too…” The sentence was left unfinished, the meaning already well discussed.
“I just can’t, I’d like to don’t get me wrong but there is just too much going on right now…” The old excuses fell from her mouth before she really had time to think about what she was saying. But this was what she always said.
“That’s what you always say! If you don’t get out of there soon you are going to end up stuck there and miserable!” It was almost as if her friend could read her mind. Could make a good story… She shook her head.
“That’s just the way things are.” And this was the typical ending to the conversation. This was one they had been trying to avoid since they got here. The topic was as worn as the cover of an eighty year old mans favorite book.
“I just…I just don’t want to see you fall back into…I want to see you really happy K that’s all.” Her friend finished with a shrug of her shoulders. “Is that so bad of me?”
“No.” She said softly. “Lets just have a good time while we are here ok? I don’t want to think about leaving we just got here.”
“Alright.” Her friend said, finally relenting. She blew out a breath relieved that her friend wasn’t going to push it anymore. Then she laughed softly to herself, yeah right, she was going to bring it up again, if her friend was anything she was persistent.
The next few days passed without much thought to the conversation from the first day. They had taken the boat out and got some amazing shots of the little islands around the shore line. They had laughed and giggled about things that had happened on their trips before. It had been a really nice vacation, but as it came to a close that familiar disquiet settled in her stomach.
They packed up their cars and headed back towards town. The whole drive back she found herself lost in thought. Everything in her wanted to pull a u-turn and hall ass back towards the beach, back to where it was simple. But then it couldn’t just be as simple as that.
They reached town, and stopped at her parent’s house. They hugged goodbye with promises to see each other again soon. Her friend left. And after about an hour of saying goodbye to her parents she left too. Is this what I want? She pulled up to her apartment hours later. Is it?
One Month Later
It was a simple letter, but it said everything.
Hey! So I keep thinking about our conversation on the pier last month. You were right; I got home and was miserable. I could feel myself slipping back into the zombie way I was before. So I took your advice. And you know what? Italy is amazing! I’ll send some pictures soon. I think I’ve finally found what makes me happy. Thanks for believing in me. You have to come visit!!
Love,
K
“When I was younger…” She started, but her friend shook her head.
“A sea gull…I know.” Her friend smiled. “It’s nice to be back.”
“Yeah…” There wasn’t much that needed to be said. They both knew what this place meant to them. This was where everything was ok, this was were mermaids existed, going to the dock at midnight just to see the stars was normal, where you could just be you. Here was where you knew who you really were. She smiled again wrapping her arms around herself.
“Pictures?” She asked looking towards her friend who was sitting on the sand watching the waves.
“Really K, not like I have a choice.” Her friend replied smiling.
“Nope, now don’t move.” She ran to the spot in the pier where they hid all there stuff. They had found it years ago, a spot in the boards that over hung just enough to hide car keys and their dry clothes. She grabbed the camera and ran back. Smiling she set it up.
“Ok now move this way just a little…” For the next thirty minutes she repositioned her ever willing friend until she was satisfied.
“Lets sneak up on the pier.” Her friend said jumping up and brushing the sand off her jeans and sweatshirt.
“Ok.” She put the camera back in it’s case and made sure it was securely around her arms. Then they headed up. It was trickier this time then it had been years ago. Years ago there had been a huge sand dune to help out, but not now it was flattened to keep people from climbing up on the pier instead of paying the dollar to get out there. The girls ignored the fact that their dune was gone and grabbed for the lowest plank, boosting themselves up, they climbed from one to the next until they were right near the piers gift shop. Hoisting themselves up then dropping low so they wouldn’t be seen by the owner through the huge bay window.
“Ready?” Her friend breathed lightly. She checked the straps on her camera bag.
“Ready.” They crept by the window, until they couldn’t be seen and then bolted towards the other end of the pier. They reached the end laughing and out of breath. She looked over her shoulder, no one had followed them.
“That was so much fun!!” Her friend laughed pulling her own camera out of her pocket and taking a few pictures of the ocean that stretched out before them. “Dolphins!” They both leaned over the edge to take pictures of the group of dolphins playing lazily in the waves. Her friend leaned, stepped back putting her camera back in her pocket and sitting down on one of the benches.
“You seem more like the old you.” Her friend commented softly. She turned to look at her.
“Yeah…I feel a little bit more like the old me. But it doesn’t matter as soon as I go home it will all go back to how it was.” Sadness flickered across her face. She shook her head slightly.
“It doesn’t have too…” The sentence was left unfinished, the meaning already well discussed.
“I just can’t, I’d like to don’t get me wrong but there is just too much going on right now…” The old excuses fell from her mouth before she really had time to think about what she was saying. But this was what she always said.
“That’s what you always say! If you don’t get out of there soon you are going to end up stuck there and miserable!” It was almost as if her friend could read her mind. Could make a good story… She shook her head.
“That’s just the way things are.” And this was the typical ending to the conversation. This was one they had been trying to avoid since they got here. The topic was as worn as the cover of an eighty year old mans favorite book.
“I just…I just don’t want to see you fall back into…I want to see you really happy K that’s all.” Her friend finished with a shrug of her shoulders. “Is that so bad of me?”
“No.” She said softly. “Lets just have a good time while we are here ok? I don’t want to think about leaving we just got here.”
“Alright.” Her friend said, finally relenting. She blew out a breath relieved that her friend wasn’t going to push it anymore. Then she laughed softly to herself, yeah right, she was going to bring it up again, if her friend was anything she was persistent.
The next few days passed without much thought to the conversation from the first day. They had taken the boat out and got some amazing shots of the little islands around the shore line. They had laughed and giggled about things that had happened on their trips before. It had been a really nice vacation, but as it came to a close that familiar disquiet settled in her stomach.
They packed up their cars and headed back towards town. The whole drive back she found herself lost in thought. Everything in her wanted to pull a u-turn and hall ass back towards the beach, back to where it was simple. But then it couldn’t just be as simple as that.
They reached town, and stopped at her parent’s house. They hugged goodbye with promises to see each other again soon. Her friend left. And after about an hour of saying goodbye to her parents she left too. Is this what I want? She pulled up to her apartment hours later. Is it?
One Month Later
It was a simple letter, but it said everything.
Hey! So I keep thinking about our conversation on the pier last month. You were right; I got home and was miserable. I could feel myself slipping back into the zombie way I was before. So I took your advice. And you know what? Italy is amazing! I’ll send some pictures soon. I think I’ve finally found what makes me happy. Thanks for believing in me. You have to come visit!!
Love,
K
Saturday, November 29, 2008
In the Dark
The street light is out up there, it’s so dark…this is scary movie material right here. I thought as I continued down the street. The wind picked up almost on que as I got to the edge of the darkness. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, the wind was biting at my cheeks and nose but I didn’t want to put my hood up. Can’t see what’s coming at you with the hood up. The small voice in the back of my head whispered. I shook my head trying not to scare myself more than I already was. Oh it’s too late for that. I thought miserably, cursing the fact that my car was broken and that I’d taken so long feeding my friends dogs.
The road ahead was pitch black, huge trees lined the road and hid a very small graveyard that was in the middle of the nothingness to my right. My skin crawled and I tried not to think about the graveyard. Grabbing my coat again I took my first few steps into the long stretch of shadows. It felt as though I had stepped into another world. My ears were straining for the faintest of sounds, and of course when you are listening you hear them. Maybe I should walk faster, I debated, no then I’ll get to the graveyard faster. Fear won and I slowed just a little, not wanting to make that gap between me and the resting souls smaller. I could cross the street…no there is water over there, great, which is worse getting killed by the ghoul hiding in the graveyard or swamp thing in the water? Maybe I could out run swamp thing…I shook my head again. This is ridiculous, what am I so scared of? There is nothing out here, and I’ve walked this way a hundred times. But never with the street light out. My mind seemed determined to fight against me. Every small comfort that I could try to lie to myself, my logical mind stepped on it, crushed it into little pieces and threw it out.
I was walking down the middle of the road to afraid to commit to one side or the other when I heard it. Faint foot falls behind me. I spun around but there was nothing there. My heart was in my throat thudding loudly in my ears. See you scared yourself now you’re hearing things. There is nothing there…nothing. I tried to slow my breathing, turned back around and stopped dead in my tracks. There ahead of me I could have sworn I saw a shadowy figured dart into the graveyard. Oh this is too much. I have to get out of here, do I go back or keep going? What was that? It must have been loose pieces of my hair. There is nothing out here! My mind was now trying to save me, but it was too late for that, fear was starting to take over. I looked behind me, I was half way from either end of the darkness. It made more sense to run towards home. There was light not to far up ahead. Scary things don’t get you in the light…yeah right, just run, run until you can’t any more. But what if it’s faster then me? Well then at least I tried. Don’t fall like the stupid horror movie girls, you’ll die for sure then. My feet seems to start moving without my conscious effort. I was walking quickly, not running not yet but walking very quickly.
I’m not quite sure if it was the movement or the noise that scared me into running, I didn’t really have time to think about it. A black figure zipped by out of the corner of my right eye, and the clear crunch crunch crunch of feet moving quickly over dead leaves was all it took. Run! Run now! And I did. I tore of down the street running full speed with no intention of stopping for anything. I didn’t dare look behind me. That’s when you fall. My brain offered helpfully. I pushed myself harder. The light was just ahead of me. If I can just make it to the light I’ll be ok…I’ll be ok. My lungs burned, and my teeth hurt from the cold air. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as the wind slapped me in the face like a cold brick wall. Almost there, almost there…
The figure stepped out in my path. It seemed like my blood froze and then some part of my brain that remembered everything from basketball kicked in. I pivoted to each side in a shuffle then darted to the right twirling around out of arms reach. My path was clear again and I bolted for the light. Not even bothering with the last few steps I launched myself onto the lighted pavement. I stumbled just a bit but caught myself and ran a few paces further. And that’s when I turned to look. What the hell? There was nothing there, and suddenly the street light flickered on casting an eerie glow on the old graveyard. I shook my head. I was terrified for that? But there was something there…wasn’t there? I turned and headed farther into the light. A faint chuckle caught my ear, and I spun around, but there was nothing there, at least nothing I could see. I turned slowly and jamming my hands into my coat pockets and I started heading towards my house which I could see coming up in the distance. I took a deep breath. Your ok, see, there is nothing, you just scared yourself and started imagining things. A faint smile started to spread on my lips, but died midway as the street light in front of me cut out. Again the chuckle reached my ears, only this time from in front of me. Oh no…not again. I pulled in a deep breath and got ready to run again. I am going to get home. I thought stubbornly. As if in reply to my thoughts I heard the chuckle again and the street light cut back on. I paused and then something inside told me to go. I walked quickly towards my house which was now only steps away, the lights in the window lit the yard. I breathed and sigh of relief as I stepped off the road into my yard. I was almost to my door when I heard it faintly on the wind, a whisper. You get a free pass…this time…
The road ahead was pitch black, huge trees lined the road and hid a very small graveyard that was in the middle of the nothingness to my right. My skin crawled and I tried not to think about the graveyard. Grabbing my coat again I took my first few steps into the long stretch of shadows. It felt as though I had stepped into another world. My ears were straining for the faintest of sounds, and of course when you are listening you hear them. Maybe I should walk faster, I debated, no then I’ll get to the graveyard faster. Fear won and I slowed just a little, not wanting to make that gap between me and the resting souls smaller. I could cross the street…no there is water over there, great, which is worse getting killed by the ghoul hiding in the graveyard or swamp thing in the water? Maybe I could out run swamp thing…I shook my head again. This is ridiculous, what am I so scared of? There is nothing out here, and I’ve walked this way a hundred times. But never with the street light out. My mind seemed determined to fight against me. Every small comfort that I could try to lie to myself, my logical mind stepped on it, crushed it into little pieces and threw it out.
I was walking down the middle of the road to afraid to commit to one side or the other when I heard it. Faint foot falls behind me. I spun around but there was nothing there. My heart was in my throat thudding loudly in my ears. See you scared yourself now you’re hearing things. There is nothing there…nothing. I tried to slow my breathing, turned back around and stopped dead in my tracks. There ahead of me I could have sworn I saw a shadowy figured dart into the graveyard. Oh this is too much. I have to get out of here, do I go back or keep going? What was that? It must have been loose pieces of my hair. There is nothing out here! My mind was now trying to save me, but it was too late for that, fear was starting to take over. I looked behind me, I was half way from either end of the darkness. It made more sense to run towards home. There was light not to far up ahead. Scary things don’t get you in the light…yeah right, just run, run until you can’t any more. But what if it’s faster then me? Well then at least I tried. Don’t fall like the stupid horror movie girls, you’ll die for sure then. My feet seems to start moving without my conscious effort. I was walking quickly, not running not yet but walking very quickly.
I’m not quite sure if it was the movement or the noise that scared me into running, I didn’t really have time to think about it. A black figure zipped by out of the corner of my right eye, and the clear crunch crunch crunch of feet moving quickly over dead leaves was all it took. Run! Run now! And I did. I tore of down the street running full speed with no intention of stopping for anything. I didn’t dare look behind me. That’s when you fall. My brain offered helpfully. I pushed myself harder. The light was just ahead of me. If I can just make it to the light I’ll be ok…I’ll be ok. My lungs burned, and my teeth hurt from the cold air. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as the wind slapped me in the face like a cold brick wall. Almost there, almost there…
The figure stepped out in my path. It seemed like my blood froze and then some part of my brain that remembered everything from basketball kicked in. I pivoted to each side in a shuffle then darted to the right twirling around out of arms reach. My path was clear again and I bolted for the light. Not even bothering with the last few steps I launched myself onto the lighted pavement. I stumbled just a bit but caught myself and ran a few paces further. And that’s when I turned to look. What the hell? There was nothing there, and suddenly the street light flickered on casting an eerie glow on the old graveyard. I shook my head. I was terrified for that? But there was something there…wasn’t there? I turned and headed farther into the light. A faint chuckle caught my ear, and I spun around, but there was nothing there, at least nothing I could see. I turned slowly and jamming my hands into my coat pockets and I started heading towards my house which I could see coming up in the distance. I took a deep breath. Your ok, see, there is nothing, you just scared yourself and started imagining things. A faint smile started to spread on my lips, but died midway as the street light in front of me cut out. Again the chuckle reached my ears, only this time from in front of me. Oh no…not again. I pulled in a deep breath and got ready to run again. I am going to get home. I thought stubbornly. As if in reply to my thoughts I heard the chuckle again and the street light cut back on. I paused and then something inside told me to go. I walked quickly towards my house which was now only steps away, the lights in the window lit the yard. I breathed and sigh of relief as I stepped off the road into my yard. I was almost to my door when I heard it faintly on the wind, a whisper. You get a free pass…this time…
Dinner
She looks so sad. It was as if she could hear the thought of the other people in the resturant in her own head. She caught a few glances from the diners. Poor thing I wonder if someone stood her up. No, she thought, no one stood me up because there is no one. This was why she hated going out to eat, but she was so tired of being home all the time, it felt like the walls of her apartment were closing in on her. She sighed picking at her food. She had barely eaten any of it. It wasn't as if she had gone to a really nice resturant, true it was one of the nicer ones in town but still, people go out to eat by themselves all the time. Just usually not here, she thought sullenly.
Poor thing she is so lonely looking. How sad, such a pretty girl. Maybe she is crazy. There must be something wrong with her. The thoughts seemed to pound into her head. Whatever, she thought, I don't give a damn what they think. But as she speared a pieace of already cut steak she knew she was lying to herself. She looked up again and the people who were glancing at her looked away, all but one. A guy about her age had just walked in, only he wasn't glancing, he was staring. It was bold of him, and his look said it all, he knew she was there alone. She couldn't make herself look away, and she saw him say something to the hostess and then he walked back to her table. Sliding into the other side of the booth he said softly but loud enough for those around to hear.
"Sorry I'm so late honey...I'm glad you ordered already, but you didn't have to wait for me to eat ." He smiled at her, and she found herself smiling back. This kind stranger had just saved her evening. She took another bite. Well aren't they a cute couple. How sweet of her to wait for him before she ate. She seems to happy now, what a pretty smile. The thoughts floated through her head, and she smiled again at the angel sitting across from her. Maybe, she thought, I won't have to eat alone any more.
Poor thing she is so lonely looking. How sad, such a pretty girl. Maybe she is crazy. There must be something wrong with her. The thoughts seemed to pound into her head. Whatever, she thought, I don't give a damn what they think. But as she speared a pieace of already cut steak she knew she was lying to herself. She looked up again and the people who were glancing at her looked away, all but one. A guy about her age had just walked in, only he wasn't glancing, he was staring. It was bold of him, and his look said it all, he knew she was there alone. She couldn't make herself look away, and she saw him say something to the hostess and then he walked back to her table. Sliding into the other side of the booth he said softly but loud enough for those around to hear.
"Sorry I'm so late honey...I'm glad you ordered already, but you didn't have to wait for me to eat ." He smiled at her, and she found herself smiling back. This kind stranger had just saved her evening. She took another bite. Well aren't they a cute couple. How sweet of her to wait for him before she ate. She seems to happy now, what a pretty smile. The thoughts floated through her head, and she smiled again at the angel sitting across from her. Maybe, she thought, I won't have to eat alone any more.
New Blog
I decided to make a new blog for my short stories since I plan on having a lot of them up here. And I didn't want to fill my personal blog with all my short stories lol. So I am going to repost the two that are already in there in here just to keep everything together. I hope you enjoy them and feel free to comment any time. =)
~Baby Girl~
~Baby Girl~
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