Summer's Past

Summer's Past- Chapter 1

One foot in front of the other. Look, wait and cross the road. Walk. Just walk. Summer was going through the motions. Like they have been programmed into her. She walked, not jogged and surely not ran. She walked as there is nothing wrong with her life.

No one outside would see anything wrong with her face or her motions. She was just another girl walking back from her work to her house in a city like San Francisco.

But she was cracking, splintering inside. She just had to hold off long enough. As she walked, she checked with her brother where he is. If he is at home, then Summer cannot go home. Nik would figure out something is wrong, and he will switch into brother mode.

So, sending a quick text asking where he is. Summer continued, just a little more. What will she do now? How will she find another job so soon? she will not be able to make rent. She has little savings, so food and other necessities should be good for a week or so. All this because she was ready to quit her job before giving her creep of a manager a blow job. It is not the first time a perv tried to come on her.

She could have handled it better? Avoided him rather than making a scene?

No. No, it is not her fault. She did the right thing. At least other females will be wary around him.

The vibration in her hand made her realize that she received a text message. Swiping, she read her brother's reply that he came home early from school. Summer knew she was close to a breakdown, and she cannot do that in front of her brother. So, Summer cannot go home now.

But she can go to the beach. Yes! She made her mind and started walking towards the shore.

It was almost sunset. It was her favourite time of the day.

But, even the sun setting and lighting up the sky in the most vivid and vibrant colours did not help her relax. She left like everything was closing in on her. She kept walking towards the coconut trees lining up the shore and found minor cropping of rocks to sit on.

The wind blew in her face, and loose hair came in front of her eyes.

She was missing her parents right now. Ever since their death 4 years back, Summer had to take care of herself and her brother. She took whatever little they had and left their birth town behind for a new beginning. Lost in thought, she did not realize when the tears started leaking from her eyes.

Another gust of strong wind blew on the shore, making her wild hair flutter all around. They blew in her eyes just as a silhouette stood in front of her.

She looked up, and her heart started beating fast. Standing in front of her was her childhood friend Alan. Oh, he was more than that. Alan was Summer's best friend and crush since kindergarten. All she wanted was to hug Alan and cry out, but what is he doing here!

'You done running, Shine?' he asked. No hi or hello, that is Alan. Hearing her nickname from him almost made her smile.

Her mind had stopped working. That is why she did not realize what her body was doing until she stood up and pushed Alan hard, away from her. He staggered but did not fall, and she started to run away from him. She had left Alan and all his memories with her old life. What is he doing here?

How did he find her? If Alan found her, will he as well?