Before Me, Him

Chapter 3

     During lunch, Emily suggested that we went to the beach and, that's what we ended up doing. It was around two pm when we finished cleaning the kitchen and started heading out. The path to the beach was small, it didn't take too long. By walking at a normal pace we should be there in around twenty minutes and my memories were correct, we did reach our destination within my expected time.

     The wind was slow and steady, hitting my face with a warm and gentle touch; the sand was hot and dancing within my fingers, just like it was child's play. As I walked in the sand towards the ocean I could feel my soul getting lighter, my past starting to become meaningless and my demons dissipating, one by one. Once I reach the cold ocean water with my feet I feel a shiver down my spine while a couple of tears run to find their way out of what's left of my soul into the ocean wildlife.

     - June, wanna go swim? – I could hear Emily's voice from far away in the sand. I wipe my tears away and turn around remind myself of who I was and where I was. I leave the ocean and go back to the sand as I re-tie my hair up in a messy bun.

     - I don't feel like bathing today but go, Emily! – she frowns but ends up accepting my decision. My cousin removes her light pink dress to reveal an extremely cute polka-dot bikini. I place her dress on her bag and place both towels on the bright yellow sand, mine, and hers. She looks extremely cute. The pink contrasts with her deep blue eyes and her blonde hair was marvelous while dancing with the wind.

     She walks towards the ocean and in a glimpse of an eye, she disappears within the waves. I lay back on my striped blue and white towel while my lungs were delighted with the salty ocean air. I remember one time we were on this beach, me, Emily... And him. He was running around looking for seashells while me and Emily were playing in the water. There was even one time he started to climb the rocks around the beach and Emily was too scared to follow so I ended up staying with her.

     I place my arm in front of my eyes to cover the sun, I felt like I was turning blind by the exquisite light. It was almost like my pupils couldn't manage such light so my body's reaction was just to protect me from the darkness.

     Stop June. Stop. You are not going back. You got out once, don't place yourself there again.

     I sit back straight again and look around. The beach wasn't full but had a lot of people, especially young people. Back in the day this beach used to be almost empty and its visitors were adults with their kids or elderly people that wanted to get sunbathed. The ocean was blue and its waves were white, it was such a pure sight. The sand was a warm yellow color reminding me of the warmth of a fireplace in the winter. It was almost as if this scenery was made to make a heart stop aching with the sand reflecting the light of the sun and the ocean reflecting the deep blue skies.

     With all these thoughts ten minutes had already passed and Emily came out of the water. As she was walking back towards me three guys stopped her and started chatting. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I knew the look on Emily's face so I ended getting up. As I walked towards the trio I was able to understand the conversation topic: "You're so cute, wanna get something to drink?" or even "You are pretty, do you have a boyfriend?" and the best one "Can I have your number? You're such a cutie".

     Emily never knew how to handle guys, she never knew how to back them off. She always saw the best in people so it's really hard and troublesome for her to say the "N" word to someone. "No". That's a word she barely ever says however, with me she is different. She trusts me so she always showed me her true feelings whether they were positive or negative ones. Emily is a kind-hearted soul, she always was. Of course, she has some flaws, we all do but I'm not letting filthy guys stain her and create flaws where there are none.

     - Emily, let's go. – I say while grabbing her hand and pulling her hand. Usually, that is enough to make the guys understand that they are not welcome nor wanted but, for some reason, these ones were persistent.

     - Listen, we're just hanging out with her, it's nothing wrong. I mean, she was even having fun weren't you, Emily? – says one of the guys while following us to our beach towels.

     - Just because a girl doesn't say no it doesn't mean it's a yes. Now leave us alone before I call the police. – Emily sits on the towel next to mine while I stand between her and the annoying fellas. In my head, I just thought about how could people be this needy of attention and so full of themselves. 

     They were obviously high schoolers due to the extensive acne on their face. All of them had brown hair even though their tones would change, two of them had a light brown while the one doing most of the talking had dark brown hair. He was also the most handsome out of the three however he was wearing a pair of glasses that most definitely did not fit his face shape. I just wish they would leave, I don't want to start making a fuss because, sadly, there were times when some guys thought they stood a chance with Emily and ran after her from place to place. If I remember correctly the worst one was when we were both at a cafe, we were thirteen and, out of a sudden, a random guy comes towards us and starts hitting on Emily. As usual, she did not reply nor said no, she just kept silent the whole time. We thought the guy had given up but he started to appear from time to time on the places we used to hang out so I had to make it a public problem, I threatened to call the police if he didn't leave and, thankfully, he ended up getting the message. He was a young boy with the typical teenager lust, just like most of the people that approach Emily.

     After a long silence, the guy smiles and starts leaving. It wasn't a happy nor a kind smile. He was mocking me. That smile was telling me "Next time you won't be here, so I'll wait for my turn".

     Annoying. Annoyance. Annoyances, all of them.

     - Thank you June! You always help me in times like these, I really appreciate it! – Emily smiles at me in her adorable caring way but I do not return the favor.

     - Emily you know I care about you but I can't be protecting you like this anymore. You have to start talking. Tell them no, yell, do whatever you need to do but stop them from abusing you like this. – my eyes are fixated on hers and the once pleasant mood turns into a very closed and uncomfortable environment. – I am here now and was before that happened but how are you going to deal with guys once I am gone?

     - I have Jacob and Dean and Phil! They have helped me and they will keep helping me in these situations so you don't have to worry! – Emily smiles again, straight missing the point that I was trying to make.

     - You're missing my point, Emily...

     A few seconds after I give Emily an answer I hear a phone sound, her phone sound. She had gotten a text from her friends to hang out at a bar which of course we ended up going. The bar was alongside the beach so it wasn't far, however, on the ten-minute walk to the bar my mind was focused on her "guy friends". Honestly speaking, in the past, Emily had several friends but they were all people that wanted to get something from her: the guy's wanted to date her and that is why they helped her and hanged around her while the girls just wanted to be friends to be closer to the guys and become more popular. My anxiety was building up inside as we walked, I felt insecure about meeting them, what if they are the same as back then? What if they are people wanting to gain something from her and then hurting her again?

     They don't care about her feelings, they never did. I mean, why should they care? For most "friends" Emily is just a free pass but, once I saw that she was still how she was back then I made a decision. I won't let anyone hurt her feelings again nor will I let her continue this way. She will change, I will make sure of it.