Story 5

It's odd how when I have a lot of things to think about, I write less about them.

On a completely unrelated topic, if you want to experience something similar to a hangover without actually drinking then go to a LAN party! Fucking hell.

Seeing as I don't really know what else to write, have some more recycled creative writing.

Five: Parting


“I’ll come,” I said quietly. She turned around quickly and stuttered “W-what?!” She didn’t seem to believe what she was hearing. “I said I’ll come.” I repeated, slightly louder. With that, a grin slowly spread across her slender face and she said “Well come on then! What you waiting for?” I walked up to her warily. I had never travelled much further than Bournemouth before and I had no idea what was going to happen to the both of us. She took my hand and led me along the sand. When we got to the edge of the cliff blocking the alcove off from the rest of the beach Ella simply turned and flew out over the dark water, hovering an inch or so above it. I had to follow suit or get wet. Naturally I chose the former. We reached the other side of the cliff face and stepped out onto the sand again. It was at this point I remembered Sarah.


I must have forgotten about her, what with Ella and the flying. I turned to look at Ella, wondering what to do, or indeed what to say. My thoughts were still fairly mixed up and I managed to mutter “Err... Wait here. I’ll be right back...” before running off over the sand towards the cliff. When I reached the cliff I looked back to check on her. She was watching me with her big blue eyes, but she didn’t seem to mind my sudden departure. She was standing perfectly still in the spot where I had left her. Oddly enough, it even seemed to me like she was waiting for my return. I turned back to the rocky cliff face before I got too mesmerised by those eyes and was about to start climbing when I remembered. I could fly. I began to feel the air flowing past my hands almost as soon as I had the thought. I was getting really good at this. I started to hover at a comfortable pace straight up next to the rock. It felt different this time though. Somehow flying wasn’t as exciting without Ella by my side.


I got to the top of the cliff and looked back again, expecting Ella to have at least moved. But she looked the same as before, seemingly fixed in position. I shook my head and turned back to the cliff top path in front of me. Beyond where it ended, lights from houses twinkled gently in the distance. They seemed to be a long way away. With this in mind, I started off down the bumpy path at a quick pace. After about 10 minutes I reached the end of the path and turned onto the main road, leading into the outskirts of the city. I passed by ornaments of my home on the pavement; an old lamppost here, a cracked sign there. I wouldn’t normally have paid attention to seemingly normal things like them, but I didn’t know how long I would be gone, or when I would see any of Bournemouth again. I hesitated. The adrenaline rush from before had dissipated a while ago, so I could think a lot more clearly. Could I really trust Ella? Besides that, what about Sarah? Would she be alright without me? Come to think of it, would I be alright without her? I was filled with uncertainty. I couldn’t just abandon my home of fifteen years. Or could I? I hadn’t led a very interesting life at all so far, and I’d pretty much achieved bugger all in Bournemouth. There was a part of me, a small part of me, which yearned for adventure.


My mind was so occupied with all these questions that I didn’t notice when I walked up in front of my own house. Sarah and I lived in a little cottage in a quiet part of the town, liking to keep to ourselves. It was a nice little cottage, with a picket fence and a messy, unkempt lawn. Sarah liked it that way. So did I. I walked up to the front door, painted a plain white. I raised my hand to knock, but then considered otherwise. It was very dark by now, and I checked my watch. It read twenty to ten. Sarah was probably asleep by now, she liked her early nights. She was used to me being back late and she didn’t seem too bothered by this fact. She just trusted me, I suppose. I was very grateful for this, and felt guilty about leaving her. I rummaged around in my long coat pockets for my keys. They always proved a challenge to find at the best of times, and this was why I usually knocked. I eventually managed to find them, and entered the house as quietly as I could. The lights were all off; as I suspected, Sarah must be asleep. Sure enough, I could hear faint snoring from upstairs. I walked down the hallway to the small kitchen. Unlike the garden the kitchen was pretty tidy, aside from a few bits and pieces scattered around the room. I turned the light on and found a scrap of paper and a pen on the side. I scribbled a short note, hoping Sarah would understand:
“I’ve gone away for a while.
I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I definitely will be, one day.
Don’t worry about me, I’ll be alright.
See you soon, much love,
Alex”
I folded it and put it where she would see it, and crept out of the house, as quietly as I’d entered.


I flew as fast as I could back to the cliff. The night wind chilled me to the bone and swept the tears from my face. I felt absolutely terrible about what I’d just done. But I couldn’t turn back. Not now. However, I silently promised myself I would return one day. I had to. I floated gently down to the beach and looked up to see Ella, still waiting for me in exactly the same place. She glanced up at me as I approached her, and smiled. “Sorry about that...” I said, my voice cracking with emotion and my eyes tearful. Ella didn’t say a word. She just took my hand gently and led me away from the waves towards the grass at the bottom of the cliff. There she lay me down on the ground, with her lying next to me. She looked at me in silence, our faces mere inches away from each other. Slowly she wrapped her arms around me, and embraced me. I felt her warmth, and held her. All the grief and remorse within me slowly sapped away and I was finally at peace. We fell asleep like that, in each other’s arms, under a blanket of shining stars. She didn’t even say a single word.