today was her day, we lay her blanket at the spot and together as a family we ate her favourite food, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches on white bread, maple syrup flapjacks, truffle and black pepper crisps and rose lemonade. On the cream blanket we also had a bouquet of her favourite flowers, white peonies. Every time I see them I am instantly reminded of her and their sweet fragrance, they were like a breath of fresh air, so simple but held such grace and beauty with each petal.
In a circle we went round and shared our fondest memories of Misty, my favourite being the time when we snuck out and went to visit Matcha as a pup when she was just eight weeks old. We played with all the puppies but Matcha was that tugged at our hearts, when we bought her home we put our heart and soul into convincing our parents to welcome her into the family, finally they did.
River reminisced about the time they went to a concert and ended up muddled in a mosh pit, River came out with a twisted ankle and Misty wore multiple bruises, but they wouldn't have done it any differently.
Mum spoke beautifully of when it was just the three of them and they use to visit the farm at the end of the road and how Misty would be at one with the animals. Dad agreed with this statement, not really saying a lot but he was still suffering with her loss, it never gets easier.
The sky turned lilac as the golden rays from the sun saturated the horizon, voluptuous clouds imposed on the sky, but there wasn't a storm coming, it was a glorious evening and I could only imagine that Misty had put on this sunset just for us.
I watched the clouds whimsically,trying to piece them together and create different objects from them, just like Misty and I use to.
"That one looks like a swan" River pointed out, I tried twitching my eyes but I couldn't make it out. "the most elegant of them all, just like her," he beamed as he began to fold up the blanket and place all our empty food packaging in the nearest bin. My family called out to me, but I told them I was happy to walk back home, I wanted to dwell in this moment for just a little bit longer.
They left with a wave and I breathed in the fresh air, looking down at the soothing waves and how they curled up upon the sand, caressing it as it went back out, it's hard to believe that they're capable of such devastating things.
"Shiloh," I heard my name called out, as if Reece couldn't time it any more perfectly. He didn't know today was her day, I don't know if I wanted to tell him either. I felt like I wanted to keep this a secret, so I could hold onto this moment a little bit longer. If I told him then it would make it real, and I wasn't ready for that.
I simpered a smile at him and he pulled me in close, using his bomber jacket to swaddle me and keep me cosy.
"I'm sorry, you know," he nuzzled into me, I nodded. I didn't want to talk about the incident today, or really ever again, but especially not today.
"Reece, not today please," I spoke softly, he looked around at me, a quizzical expression on his face. I don't think I had looked at him since he arrived, my eyes just focused on the vast sea below us.
"Talk to me Shiloh, what's on your mind?" he asked, his hand placed on my knee and gave it a gentle shake. I looked up at him, his eyes held the pain that I too was feeling. I felt my eyes gloss over and my bottom lip stuck out. No matter how much I wanted to keep it from me, the tears exposed the hurt I was feeling, the same hurt I was feeling almost four years later. "Shy!" he exclaimed, moving in front of me and gripping ahold of my shoulders.
"It doesn't get any easier,' I wailed, I couldn't bare to look him in the eyes, I think my heart would swell up even more.
"Shiloh is this still about the mark?" he said stupidly stumbling his words, but I shook my head, I owed him an explanation as the tears run down my cheeks, I felt like I was crying an ocean. Reece held me in his arms, swaying me softly. He knew. He stayed silent as we listened to the waves and my weeps. His fingers ran through my blonde hair and he began humming in my ear.
I looked up at him to find him staring out wistfully, watching the sun seep into shore.
"she's looking down at us from the clouds Shiloh, she made this evening as beautiful as you made her anniversary," he whispered, I looked at him through puffy eyes. Crying is a a way to cleanse the soul, it's needed when you've got a tsunami of emotions that you need to let out. I was just grateful that I finally had someone to pull me through and tell me it was all okay.
"thank you Reece," I bashed playfully into his shoulder, drying my eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. "I really thought this was the year I wouldn't cry, but I guess not' I said with a shrug in an attempt to lighten up.
"hey it's okay to cry, you shouldn't be ashamed about it at all, you've been through a hell of a lot Shiloh, there's people out there that wish they were as brave as you, me included." Reece's cheeks were stained red too and I wondered if he'd shed a tear as well.
"have you been crying?" I sniffled and he smiled with a nod, his left dimple showing.
"I was thinking about you and your family and all the pain you'd been through, seeing you like that just made me wonder what else I can do to make sure you're okay," he sweetly spoke, i clutched onto his arm, I don't know what I did to keep someone like Reece around for so long.
"oh I'll be okay," I spoke but I felt my eyes go glossy all over again.
"Let's get you home Shiloh" he said tapping me on the thigh twice before arising.
I didn't want to leave though, no matter how dark the night sky was getting, I was frozen in this spot and had no intention of getting up, I'd camp here until I felt okay if I had to, but I knew my family would want me back home to continue her anniversary. I knew they were waiting on me to put on Misty favourite film whilst getting lost under mounds of blankets. I had to get back. Reece's hand stretched out and I delicately placed my hand on his place, he clutched on tight and helped me up, his fingers laced between mine.
"Goodbye Misty," I sighed biting against my bottom lip.
"You'll never be forgotten," Reece chimed in at the end. I smiled in awe of his actions, the littlest things speak volumes about someone, I wanted to grab ahold of him so tight and never let go, I wanted his touch engraved in my mind forever. I wanted to tell him I loved him, but maybe I'll keep that as a secret from him, maybe that's something I'll hold on to until I'm ready to say it out loud and make it real.
YOU ARE READING
beach//reece bibby
Romance"You're like a daisy; you've been trod on and become so closed up with every gloomy day that passes, you need to focus on the brighter ones so you can bloom," he spoke as he twiddled a daisy between his fingers. "A daisy?" I questioned, my voice hoa...
