Parting Letters

Chapter 8 : Goodbye

I sit at a park bench leaning my tea cup against it. Absent-mindedly I drip the tea bag and pull it out repeatedly. Thankfully the park is almost empty. So do not want to be among people right now. I still couldn't contemplate what happened at the campus. My mind is swirling. All these years I thought it had to be status, education or college lifestyle that delved my rivalry with Nolan. Turns out it all leads to one point - Hanah. Nolan liked her! All this time he liked her! And I couldn't grasp it. At the village I made sure it was just me and Hanah, the two of us alone for our conversation. But it seems like Nolan was involved between us from the very beginning of our aspect. No matter where or what position me and Hanah laid in, he was always somewhere there in between, beside or behind us. I have to do this. I need to. Otherwise none of it would make sense to our current reality, connected to the past. Leaning my head back against the bench, I close my eyes trying to jog my memory. For all these years I suppressed them enough to not let them come back. To forget that they ever existed in my life. Not anymore. My memories held the answers to half of my questions. I need them to be alive for the sake of my own sanity.

10 years ago.......

June 17th, 2011

We had an uncle. His name was Freddie. He was quite distant but at the same time quite close to us in terms of relationship. The man is so insanely rich that in order to get rid of his money he buys as many plots as he can. Already I think he owns half of the Bristol village. A few years back he bought another plot somewhere situated right beside the Windy River. Telling it a plot would be a mistake ; he bought the whole area itself. It was incredibly huge starting from the riverside all the way to the hills surrounded by lakes and ponds. After finishing half of the construction, Uncle Freddie invited everyone to visit his new area.

As soon as we stepped down, the river wind hit us with a roar. No wonder the place was named Windy River Valley. First stop was his bungalow right beside the river ; a couple of steps down the porch stairs and you're standing right at its shore. There we had a picnic together for breakfast. Hanah was there, I was there, Nolan, Samson, Roman, everybody. We all were happy although none of us talked to one another. Hanah was sitting in a circle of girls, me with a circle of boys and Nolan with his siblings or cousins. Including adults, all of us wore lively colorful clothes. Everyone looked pretty. After breakfast we went for tours from one place to another. It was a great day. A great day until I heard that news.

We stopped for lunch near the hilly lakeside where opposite two areas : one containing a house and another barn house with enormous space solely for events or picnic stood. Further is a bridge which crosses its way to the woods. Everyone was sitting at the house for lively conversations.

"Oh man Freddie! What a lovely place you got here!", praised Uncle Barney, "Once constructed it will be like a mini town as well!"

"Eh, I hope so. I plan to make this my resting place to be honest. After kids are done with their education, me and my wife plan to settle here. Kids can go wherever they want but if they need us then they need to stay here."

"It's a lovely place. Say, you will rent this and the barnhouse right? The bungalow is the main?"

"Yap. Once construction is done, I will make sure to throw a wondrous housewarming party."

"Dad, dad!", called out Uncle Freddie's daughters. Hanah was with them. They looked excited.

"What's wrong?", questioned Uncle Freddie.

"Uncle, you're going to break down the hut in the middle of the barn house right?", asked Hanah.

"Well, yes."

"Dad, I believe we've come up with something that you might like.", said one of his daughters.

"Well, what is it?", he asked.