Short story

Last Christmas

Gemma Samson was thinking about Sal again. Sal was a moody 17 year old with dreams of becoming a rock star.

Gemma walked over to the window and reflected on her dull surroundings. She had always had a love hate relationship with gloomy Ohio with its many forests and rivers. It was a place that encouraged her soul to feel tired and closed in, yet at home.

Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the beautiful figure of Sal Williams.

Gemma gulped. She glanced at her own reflection. She was an understanding, sweet, tea drinker with blonde hair and short legs. Her friends saw her as an annoyed, angry 2 year old. To her though, she was just an empathetic person on overdrive.

But not even an understanding person who had the feeling of an raging hormonal teenager, was prepared for what Sal had in store today.

The rain hammered like boulders, making Gemmas heart skip a beat. Gemma grabbed a ripped jacket that had been strewn nearby; she massaged it with her fingers.

As Gemma stepped outside and Sal came closer, she could see the hurt glint in his eye.

Sal gazed with annoyance and affection in his eyes. He said, in hushed tones, "I love you and I want Closure."

Gemma looked back, even more calm and still fingering the torn jacket. "Sal, Im sorry I can't give that to you. I'm not her," she replied.

They looked at each other with unstable feelings, like water and oil walking to a dark and heavy funeral, which had talking and crying in the background and two sympathetic parents standing to the side, eyeing the casket.

Gemma studied Sal's face and dark clothes. Eventually, she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," began Gemma in apologetic tones, "but I don't know how to help you, and I never will. I can never heal this hurt for you Sal. I dont even know why you showed up. Our whole family blames you for what happened christmas eve."

Sal looked shocked, his emotions raw like a stone cutting and slicing through his heavy heart.

Gemma could actually hear Sal's emotions shatter into 8733 pieces. Then the sad, hurt and confused teen hurried away into the distance and never seen again by Gemma or her family.

Not even a cup of tea would calm Gemma's nerves tonight.

THE END