To Be Me

Andrew

"I actually found it on my 9th birthday. I wanted a beach party. To bask in the spectacular sunset as I blew out the candles on my cake." He smiled to himself before going on.

"Getting close to the time to blow out the candles, I wondered away looking for the perfect spot you know and I found this.

I watched as the sun began to set. This was it. I hurried back excited to show it to everyone else."

His voice suddenly became extremely calm at this point. Somewhat pained. Almost like to utter the next set of words took all the strength he could muster.

"I sighted my elder brother not too far off. It wasn't really safe for him as strange incidents had been occuring. His car having brake problems, he said he always felt as though someone was trailing him, almost getting hit by speeding cars, so he was advised to limit outdoor activities and stay safe till it was all sorted out. I asked him to come knowing all these but I didn't care. I wanted to see the sun set with him."

His voice began to crack.

"Making my way towards him wearing a big, bright, happy smile feeling like the best adventurer in the world, so excited to show him this perfect spot..."

Breathing in the cool night breeze he shut his eyes tightly. Almost as though he were reliving the same memory.

"The next sound I heard was a gunshot and I saw my brother's body fall to the ground before my very eyes as he lay there in a pool of his own blood. The sand around his body seemed to slowly turn red. I guess I was next on their list or they just decided to go for two. I heard another but was too engulfed in what just happened to notice as men in black suits swarmed round me. The next thing I felt was a sharp pain in my leg accompanied by a warm feeling slowly moving downward. All I remember were screams as I fell to the floor and blacked out."

He opened his eyes still looking into the night sky with a serene look on his face.

"Few weeks later they found the man who took the hit. It didn't take long for him to spill the identity of his boss who turned out to be somewhat a rival family to ours. It would seem. He got what he deserved but it really didn't matter. Andrew was long gone and there was nothing anyone could ever do or say would bring him back..."

He was suddenly startled by the next thing that happened. Emma was hugging him closely as tears ran down her pretty face. Was she crying... for him?

She suddenly realized and quickly let go but his hand swiftly flew to her back and gently rested on it keeping her close.

"It's alright." He brushed his hand up and down her back comforting her as the tears continued.

"No." She gently pushed him away.
"No this isn't right. I'm sorry I ever asked... You shouldn't have to relive such a painful memory because of my dumb question and here you are comforting me instead." She sniffed, her hands still on his chest as the light let him see her face clearly.

"It's ok Emma. Really." He responded in a calm voice cupping her crying face with his hands before cleaning her tears.

"Don't cry ok?" He gently rested his forehead on hers and took a deep, heavy breath before pulling away. Shifting his attention to the water moving back and forth.

"It's better now actually. It happened almost eight years ago so I can at least talk about it now can't I." He gently brushed her with his shoulder now wearing a faint smile.

They sat in silence for a little while before Emma spoke.

"You know it's not your fault right?"

Suddenly gust of wind brushed by.

"I know. I mean it's what I've been hearing since that day so..."

"Truly." She softly laid her hand on his. "He wouldn't have wanted you to blame yourself for what happened. To carry all that guilt Ryan."

"I know." He took in another deep breath and turned to her with a smile on his face.

"Are you still crying?" He teased.

"Why wouldn't I?" She chuckled lightly cleaning the tears.

"If I didn't then that would confirm I was some crazy psycho robot sent from the future so..."

"Well we can never be too sure." He said with a chuckle.

"Hey. I'm human." She pointed out giggling.

"You were up all night weren't you?"

"What?"

He drew circles round his eyes. "Dark circles. I saw them earlier today. That's actually the reason I thought up this entire adventure." He chuckled saying.

"Don't get me started. I had a very much lot to do." She cleaned the tears that threatened to leave their mark on her face she spoke.

Smiling playfully she turned.

"Have I already thanked you for today?"

"I believe there was some admitting earlier on but I don't think I heard thanks did I?" He joked around as they both laughed.

"Thank you. For stealing me from all the work I had piled up, for not reminding me when the hour was up..."

"You're welcome."

"And... For showing me this spot. I'll treasure it."

"I'm glad you had fun today." He said softly getting up almost immediately after.

"I think we should be heading back now." He offered a hand to help her up.

"Right." Emma took hold of his hand and stood up looking round like it was somewhere new she stepped into.

"It's gotten really late now. It seems to be a whole other scene once the sun goes down. Yeah Natasha would freak out."

She said jokingly dusting what remained of the sand from her feet.

"That had got to be a scene to look forward to." He responded jokingly.

"It is. She's like my mum sometimes but like a younger version." She added laughing.

"She just be stressing over everything."

"That's surprising but in a very nice way. You don't get a lot of that over here."

Looking down, he got a glance of her feet. His brows suddenly furrowed and eyes narrowed in as though he was trying to figure something out.

"By the way, your footwear."

"Hmmm?"

"Can I know where you got them?"

"Why? They're pretty aren't they?" She stopped walking and stretched one leg out to give him a better view."

"Very."

"I really don't know where they were bought to be honest. Someone gave them to me.Yesterday actually. I totally forgot to take them off when I tried them on today. They're sooooo comfy." She made sure to stress the so saying it with an Australian accent just like Blackpink's Rose'.

"Wait..." She turned to Ryan who looked deep in thought.

"I feel like I'm rambling on here. Am I? Cause if I am I can stop."

"Hmmm?" He snapped out of his thoughts and looked to her briefly.

"Was it perhaps Oliver?"
He stuffed his arms into his pockets as they were now somewhat close to his car.

"Yes. How.. how did you know?" She was clearly surprised. To the best of her knowledge, she didn't really tell anyone about any details concerning yesterday actually.