Two Camellias

My name is Damon Hope

        She always sat on the rock by the shore, a spot that would become so familiar to the two of us as the years came and went. If she wasn't home I knew where to find her, and I was lucky enough to be the only one who would be welcomed into this sanctuary of hers. Her secret was safe with me, never told a soul in fact. The shore I speak of was a short fifteen minute walk from her house, hidden behind an abundance of trees that disguised a beautiful piece of land virtually known to only the two of us. Pure isolation. The terrain was a bit rough at first, sand filled with shells and rocks that led directly into the ocean, but the special part about it was the peace and quiet. The feeling she got from this place was unmatched by anything in the world. It was sort of like when someone has something totally unique to them and it becomes special in a way that no one understands, that's how she felt. It was comprised of mostly rocks and shells until you got about half way to the sea. The halfway point was one of natures miracles, it was as if someone drew a line and split the ground into two different styles. The half closest to the ocean was covered in sand smooth as silk right up to the foamy, gentle waves that brushed up against your toes... The area was just a sight to behold, truly and utterly magnificent. And then just at the point where the sand went from filled with rocks to something like a fluffy pillow sat a big black rock that she would always sit on. Right there in that very spot she'd spend endless nights watching the sunset while the birds danced in the sky to the sound of the waves like synchronized swimmers, a sight almost as beautiful as she was.

   Let me take you to the day that I found the shore. It was a chilly autumn day, sometime in Mid-November if I'm not mistaken and it just so happened to be the same day that I found her. This was sometime just after my eighteenth birthday and there I was all on my own supporting myself entirely. Being on my own was such a drag, although it did leave me plenty of time to venture out and explore the places I've never been before. During my spontaneous expeditions into the unknown I happened to come across hundreds of people in hundreds of different places, all of them being so diverse and unique enough to make a lasting impression; However none made more of an impression than the girl I met at the place they'd call Blue Birds Bluff. This little spot of ours earned it's name on the map because of it's abundance of majestic Blue Birds living in the vicinity.

    One particular day I happened to be walking back from a florist's shop with a bouquet of Camellia's, my personal favorite, and I was able to pick up on the sound of sorrow filled cries in the distance. Of course I was curious as to where they were coming from alas... I could not see the maiden in distress as there seemed to be nothing but a few woodland creatures scurrying around. The cries grew louder as I moved left towards a patch of trees and as I came closer the sound of birds happened to increase with the crying. Like anyone searching for something I'd follow the clues and walk towards the sounds in hopes of finding what was tugging at my heartstrings. Beneath my feet came the crunching sound of twigs until eventually even that began to grow faint in comparison to the cries. But I was indeed wrong, the sound grew faint because the twigs were long gone; They'd have been replaced now by the sounds of rocks and shells sliding beneath my sneakers. I took a long look at the scene I had stumbled upon, a serene vision of beauty and peace. That's when I noticed something out of place in such a scene; It was a girl was sitting on a rock where the shore split. I couldn't stand idly by as it just occured to me that this girl was the source of the tears that led me here, I had to do something to help her. That's when I made my way over, offering my companionship as I placed my hand on her shoulder without thinking twice.

    She jerked her head around as I must have startled her. Her tears created a black line of makeup running down her rosy cheeks, however her sobs grew softer in my presence. Now that I look back on that day it's hard for me to believe I noticed anything about her tears and sobs; I was completely overtaken by her beauty at the very first glance. She had this long flowing hair, black as night with a hint of auburn at the tips while her eyes would catch you in a glassy gaze filled with a mysterious sense of insecurity hidden deep within. I learned in time that the eyes of a woman could tell you a story of who she was, where she's been, and how she'd been hurt; Her eyes were the very first that I saw filled with pain and loneliness. Her mouth was still formed in a tiny pout and her eyes were puffy still from all the crying. On that day she was wearing a baggy gray sweater that was clearly too big for her as the sleeves would hang further down than her hands, the left of which was pulled up in front of her mouth. She sat there quietly with her knees pulled up to her chest as we locked eyes and stared deep into one another; I was absolutely breath taken.

    “Who are you?” A shy voice that was still broken and filled with the tears from before. This would be the first time she spoke to me and it'd be the first time I'd fall in love...

    “Oh, I'm incredibly sorry. I'm Damon, Damon Hope. I heard you crying and I just had to come out here to see what was wrong. What's someone as astonishingly beautiful as you doing all the way out here alone and crying?” I gave her a gentle and compassionate look in hopes to show that I was trustworthy. She stared down at the ground for a few seconds before lifting her gaze up to the ocean, cracking a smile of sorts before turning her head back in my direction.

    “Damon Hope... What a lovely name.” She was incredibly soft spoken, as if she was afraid to be heard. She was fighting back the tears as I had noticed she'd struggle making eye contact with me.

    “I know you don't know me just yet, but you can let out your tears. My mother used to tell me that if we cried it was just a sign that we were being strong for too long. Emotion is what makes us human after all.” I offered her my hand and she just stared at me like I was crazy... But then it happened.

        She motioned for me to sit next to her, and then without hesitation I did as such. Next thing I knew I had held her in my arms as she began to slowly start sobbing again; Right in the arms of a stranger. I held her for what felt like eternity until the crying ceased and she was able to compose herself. This was the first time I saw her stare off at the birds flying into the orange glow of the sun setting over the coastline. It was strange; I didn't want to let go of her because in that very moment I finally felt like I had someone.

    “I've got to go now, Damon. My mother must be worried sick about me by now.. Thank you.” She grabbed me and pulled me close into a tight hug. In her arms I felt like I had cheered her up and made her feel secure in a moment shrouded with insecurities. She let go and began to make her way to the treeline, but before she did that she turned back to me and kissed me on the cheek out of nowhere. "By the way, my name is Raine... Raine Melody."

        She darted off behind the line of trees and out of sight as I remained there in that moment. And you know, to this very day she never did end up telling me what she had been crying about but perhaps that's what was best. It finally appeared like it was time for me to head home as well, so I took the bouquet and headed back to the empty apartment that was waiting for me back home.

   It had been quite sometime since I met someone captivating enough to remember on my excursions like that, but then again I'd later find out that everything about Raine was fascinating to me. I knew instantly that I wanted to see her again as soon as possible, although I was left knowing nothing but her name. I had a lot of thinking to do after that encounter, I was filled with this crazy idea that I could find her and get her to fall in love with me somehow. I started feeling like it was fate.... As I did whenever I had something overtaking my mind I would find myself glaring out into the starlit sky, gazing past the big dipper, Orion, Polaris, and the many other constellations. She was the only thing I could think about, the only thing I wanted to think about. I was infatuated with a girl like never before... This was something very new to me and I think I liked it.