Freedom [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 29: THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN PAST AND PRESENT COLLIDE

The sudden absence in noise woke me from my slumber as the heavy pattering of rain crashing against the canopy above had halted. Despite this I still couldn't open my heavy eyes but nevertheless I felt as he gathered me closer in his arms before his muscles flexed and he rose up from the ground. His easy gait lulled me back under as he hummed an unfamiliar tune. I felt so safe in his arms that unconsciously I refused to let him go when I felt him lay me down in the warmth. Moaning in my sleep as he tried to pull away I stopped when his arm pulled me against him, head resting against his chest. Smiling softly I snuggled closer to get more comfortable and wished that things could have been different. In that moment I could pretend that everything was perfect until I slipped into sleep filled with pleasant dreams.

I couldn't remember when I had slept so peacefully which is why I ignored the shaking which tried to wake me what felt like only moments later. When I didn't respond his hands slipped down and started tickling my sides. I did my best to not show that I was awake but when he touched my sensitive spot just below my ribs I couldn't help but try and wriggle away whilst pushing his hands away.

"I knew you were awake!" Sean chuckled as I continued to try and avoid his dancing fingers.

"No I'm not!" I said stubbornly refusing to open my eyes when he asked, "and stop tickling me."

"Not until you open your eyes Ri."

Grabbing a travel pillow from where my head would've lain I whipped it around into his face. I smiled as I heard it make contact, peeking open an eye when Sean gasped exaggeratedly.

"Oh no you didn't," Sean said in a voice that had me burst out laughing.

He grabbed a pillow himself and hit me lightly in revenge. His eyebrows raised and I gripped the pillow tighter as I launched another attack, raising up to gain advantage. We traded pillow blows laughing harder than I had done in years. All the aches and pains were driven from my mind in one childish act.

I pouted as the pillow burst and hundreds of beads sprayed everywhere. As the beads scattered across the floor, the sound eventually stopped only for me to realise our compromising situation. Lying on top of him, mouth only inches away from his, I breathed in deeply as he tucked hair behind my ear. His warm eyes drew me in and I felt myself leaning forward, eyes closed. My lips had barely brushed his when the image of Matt was emblazed onto my closed eyelids. A tear dropped onto his face and I tore away, speeding out the door as the tears dropped as I ignored his calls.

I knew I couldn't outrun him so I grabbed the keys on the way out and shoved them into the motorbike, not needing to glance behind me to know how close Sean was becoming. As the engine revved into life Sean's calls became even more urgent and his feet fell more heavily on the ground as he sprinted after me but I stopped listening and kicked up the stand. Putting it into gear I allowed myself to glance back only once as I rounded the corner of the dirt track that was once a well-used road.

The bike wobbled dangerously as my tearful eyes took in him dropping onto his knees. I don't know how I managed to stabilise the bike especially considering I'd only been in the back of one which was very apparent by the grinding sound when I tried to change gear. Somehow I managed to get to the main road and followed the directions till the big metal gates stopped me from going any further. Quickly hiding the bike behind some bushes on the off chance he tried to follow me, I then glanced up briefly at the metal lettering above that declared it as Saint Claire's cemetery. The gate creaked open and my feet led me along the familiar route among the graves. So much pain, so much suffering in the world and all these people who lay mere metres from the surface could no longer feel it. As my destination came within sight I bent down and gathered some daisies from the ground and drew them together into a bunch. Collapsing to the ground I lay the small bunch against the grave my tears falling more heavily. I traced the lettering on the simple grave and my sobbing made me hiccup repeatedly. 'Matthew Bartholomew Goode. Much loved and missed.'