It was a long emotional war. I had fought tooth and nail. I had conquered grade 10 and gotten a girlfriend and real friends all in one year and as bittersweet as it was it was finally over. Now I can focus my time on Alaska, Ophelia, Vanessa and whatever my passion is. Yikes. This all sounds like so much work. But they’re all worth it.
I went on to celebrate barely passing the grade by vegetating alone in my cave occasionally messaging Alaska whenever she was free to talk. And we lived this routine until the Thursday of the second week of holiday.
It was a blistering summer day . I planned to spend it with a giant fan 2 cm away from my face but Alaska had other plans for me. My phone suddenly rang that Thursday night.
“You free tomorrow?”
“Ya’ know, normal people say hi first?”
“Ugh. Hi. Are you free tomorrow?”
“Yes but why are you so impatient?”
“I don’t wanna get my hopes up...and I miss you.”
I was still so new to this relationship thing I forgot that I need to set out time for her specifically. I knew I loved every moment we shared but I had spent so much of my life in isolation it was if I had never considered that there were alternatives to the life that I was living. Possibly even one where I was happy. This one…
“I miss you too. I just tend to get lost in myself and I’m sorry for that. I should’ve been more considerate of you.”
“Thanks. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 12AM.”
“Wait where are we going?”
“The beach. We’re gonna spend the day together.”
“I’m not a huge fan of the beach, but for you I’ll sacrifice my desires.” I said with a chuckle.
“You better but don’t worry I’ll make sure that tomorrow will be very memorable.”
And with that we put the phone down and gathered our beach gear but Alaska being Alaska I was going to need to bring extra funds along just in case.
I met her outside in a really nice rented car. She was driving again. I really wish she’d follow the law sometimes but oh well, this is the girl I love and Imma accept her. Infringements of the law and all.
We drove for a few hours in our towns typical summer traffic that got worse the closer to shore you were.
“So where we going Alas?”
“Twin cliffs beach.”
“But it's always so full. You know what I’m like with crowds.”
“Lucky for you my dear boy, I know a pathway further up in the mountains that leads to a private beach hidden by the cliffs only known by locals.”
I looked around to realise we were in the mountains and the only car for miles it seemed. We then made our trek down to our secret beach.
“Since when are you a local here?”
“I grew up in twin cliffs and moved to our town to be closer to my mom's work.”
“I completely get beach house vibes from you. It all finally makes sense. I finally understand Alaska.”
“Or so you may think.” she whispered alluringly as she marched on forward to lead me astray.
Alaska pulled back a few branches to reveal a private lagoon that we would have all to ourselves for the day.
‘’Oli. Did you know we’re nestled in the pool that forms an integral part in the water cycle as the water from the mountains flowed down her to the lagoon where the twin cliffs meet.”
“Is the geography jargon for its pretty because nature?”
“Yup.”
“Well, enough chit chat let’s set up.”
We set up a makeshift veranda. We'll running material and rope from sides of the cliffs near the entrance to make plenty of shade. It'll keep us and our belongings cool for the day. We sat on our towels and ate a light lunch as to not get bloated and ruin our hard earned summer bodies. Ah the struggles of youth. While our lunch settled we sat together and watched the waves roll in.
“This is so relaxing. I’m glad we could get away from it all. This will definitely be a day I won’t forget with you Alaska. We’ll remember this when we’re old and grey as part of our golden nostalgia.”
“Ugh we’ve been dating for 6 months and you’re talking about marriage? Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?”
“Nah. I don’t think so. Or I’d at least like to think so. I don’t think I’d wanna be with anyone else.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re not you. It’s disgustingly cheesy I know but I love you Alaska…”
She looked down and sat quietly.
“What's wrong you look like I just broke your heart?”
“Nothing. I’m just shocked. I’ve never felt like anyone's loved me before. When you said it I savoured the sound as it met my heart. It felt like I heard those words for the first time when you say it.”
“Well I hope you know it and never forget me or this date, 14 December 2016. It’ll be a gem amongst the stones.”
“Hmm…”
“What?”
She shook her head before she replied, “Nothing. I’m just wondering if our lives are piles of mundane stone with gems scattered within them hidden and forgotten unless we truly search for them.”
“I don’t really follow... You really should stop judging me for reading Shakespeare before bed when you’re probably reading William Wordsworth, with your beautiful romanticism of terra?”
We both chuckled bore she sternly replied, “What I mean is, are our lives going to really be this bleak? As if we're just trying to scrape pass the stones. Just hoping that we’ll find some gems along the way, if any and have a few good memories like this?”
“No! Remember what I told you before the exams and I walked you home?”
“Not really?”
“I said we’d be daylilies. I said as long as we’re together we’ll live every day as if it were the day we finally bloomed and we’d wilt when the sunset. To live without regrets. Making every day a special but obviously some are more special than others. Like our wedding day…”
“You romantic idiot. You’re so sweet. What am I gonna do with you?”
“Marry me of course?”
We laughed together as we cuddled up to each other enjoying our lover’s lagoon. I mean it was a beach but the alliteration makes me seem like more of an art hoe.
A few moments passed and I checked my phone. It was 5PM. We got here at about 2PM. Crazy how it’s already been 3 hours and we’ve done nothing but laze around in the shade. Then Alaska suddenly asked “Wanna go for a swim?”
“Sure. I’ll race you to the water.”
We both bolted. Alaska came up from behind and playfully gestured to trip me. In anticipation I freaked out and ACTUALLY tripped. I quickly stumbled to my feet.
“I’m so gonna get you!”
I heard no reply.
“Alaska?” I shouted as I looked up scared to death that I heard nothing from my rambunctious girlfriend.
When I looked up. My jaw locked. I couldn’t utter a sound. All I could do was run towards her in fear almost faceplanting as I scrambled to her. I looked down and I saw her glowing body now pale and convulsing as life poured out of her. My mind screams, “WHAT? WHY? What’s happening to her? What can I do? Why am I so powerless to help the only thing I love…”
It seemed like an allergic reaction or something. Maybe she ate something and it started to take effect now? That’s it. I turned and ran at the speed of light to our bags and rummaged through her bags for an epipen or something. Nothing all i found was her wallet. She was always prepared for something to go wrong. Why not this? I turned to check on her.
And suddenly her convulsing stopped. I approached her slowly my mouth clasped in disbelief. Her body had turned cold and lifeless. I dropped in agony near her body. To reveal the murderer. It laid there tormenting me. A blue bottle. Normally harmless but they can be deadly if you’re allergic to the venom. It must have been hidden in the sand and when she ran to the ocean she stepped onto death’s path.
“No. NO! It should have been me. If I hadn’t have fallen, I could have gotten stung. I’m not allergic. I could have just gotten hurt. She didn’t have to die…” I pleaded to the sky to ask whatever god heard my please through my illegible sobs.
I fell silent and sat up and hugged my knees and let out silent cries. Shunning the very universe I lived in now. The empty universe without the warmth of Alaska’s flame.
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