Water and Desert

20-Our Story

Camila reluctantly stepped in the apartment following Shawn. It was dark before Shawn switched on the lights and turned off the security alarm.

"Sit here, I'll bring you water." He said leaving Camila in a living room. Wearing blue denim shorts and a white loose straped top, she took a seat on a couch. Her eyes wandering around looking at the furniture and architecture of the apartment. She dropped her bag aside, moving it's strip from her right shoulder making strap of her dress fell in the process. Hearing Shawn's footsteps, she quickly fixed the strap back on her shoulder.

"Here it is." He said taking a seat next to her and put the water bottle and glass on the table. Then poured water in a glass, offering her to drink it coz she told him in his car that she was thirsty.

"Thanks." She said putting the glass back on table.

"Your welcome." He chugged the rest of the bottle in his throat. "Do you like my apartment." He started the conversation.

"Yeah it's pretty cozy." She told him.

"Not more cozy than my Toronto's apartment, you would love it when you'll see."

"Really..but I would never see it coz I live in Miami, there's no way I'll be in Toronto with you." She chuckled.

"Why? When there's a will, there's always a way."

"So you want me to go there."

"Maybe someday I'll take you with me." He knew he was trying to make this girl fall for him but the words escaping from his mouth were actually his own desire deep down somewhere. The sweet words he wanted to convey was to make her soft for him and trust him. She didn't responded, just laughed shyly and looked away.

"Camila." He said seeking her attention. She turned her face to look at him. "I know it's little bit soon..but I wanted to know the truth."

Her expression turned from soft to tense.

"I know it's hard for you but I wanted to know before it's too late."

"You are right but.." Her brows frowned and eyes trying to hold the tear."It's just brings back all those harsh memories which I don't wanna remember...they keep me awake all night."

Shawn looked at her like she was very relatable.

"Did they become your nightmares."

She noded. Shawn knew this feeling when a bad memory becomes a nightmare and haunts you all night.

"It's ok." He said taking her hands in his and moving slightly closer."Let's have a deal.....like you did to me."

"What?" She looked at him in confusion.

"I will tell you my memory which doesn't let me sleep at night and then you'll tell me yours."

"O..k." She said unsured.

"So my father died when I was 7.."

"Oh.." She said drifting her full attention to what he was gonna say. He let go of her hands and adjusted comfortably on couch, putting one arm behind her on couch."How did he die?" She asked curiously.

"He had a blood cancer." He sighed. "My mother got married to another man after a year. She took me with her and my step dad took my responsibility but.." A pain covered his face. "He hated me because I wasn't his own son and never ever accepted me from his heart. He was always trying to find a reason, so that he could beat me up. I even stopped playing so that he wouldn't blame me  for breaking something in his house and then beat me with his stick. I was so afraid of him."