Pain That Binds Us.

The Raven

Julia came to our island the end of Junior High during summer. The boat that transported the islanders to and from the city for emergencies had docked one late Saturday and Julia had stepped out with her luggage along with her mother.

I had never considered myself beautiful even though I had gotten compliments from most people at the island. My red hair was the fount of all the flattering remarks and I despised it for that reason. I had always felt sheltered in the background, just blending with the crowd, only happy if noticed by my loved ones. During the years however, my shield had started to crack. My stubby legs had grown longer and leaner. My mother would often point out that I could be a super model if life had been different. The swell of my breasts would always be hidden in a baggy T-Shirt from prodding eyes of boys and men at the island. Once or twice I would catch Jack's stare and the seductress in me would revel under his gaze. In fact, I encouraged his gaping. Pushing myself a little harder into our friendly hug always did the trick. The hitch of his breath and the tightening of his hands around me was evidence enough. My facial features added to my popularity among the boys. Occasionally, I would be asked out by a boy at our school and I would always decline with a polite smile. As far as I knew, Jack had my heart, body, and soul. I was his only.

Jack and I were sprawled lazily on the beach after a day of swimming and catching lobsters that we would have for dinner that evening when we saw her. I was the first to notice her pitch-black hair that blew in the calm air; her tiny shorts that barely covered her back-side and the soft swell of her bosom that was covered by a lacy Bralette. I could not clearly see her face but from the drop in my stomach, I knew she was beautiful.

"We should go help them with their luggage." Jack had stated distractedly while watching Julia and her mother struggle with their bags.

My mother had raised me to help those in need, but watching Jack ogle so openly at Julia made me not to want to help them. But before I could counter, Jack had already made his way to Julia and her mother. And so I followed right behind, whispering profanities on the way.

You could say it was love at first sight with Julia and Jack. Jack was mesmerised by Julia the moment he saw her and Julia had been enthralled by Jack. Watching them lock eyes for the first time had felt like a near death experience. The urge to cry was enticing especially when their hands purposely brushed when Jack reached out to take her bag. I had not experienced heartbreak before, nor had I ever imagined I would experience one, especially where Jack was the culprit, but my heart had never hurt as bad as it did.

Julia's mom, Lana had tried to make small conversation, conscious of my melancholy, my focus however was to the couple walking a few steps ahead of us, laughing and giggling like they were the only two people on the planet. I loathed it.

From the conversation I had with Lana, they moved from the city to the island for the adventure and the clean air. But Julia would later tell us that they moved to the island to escape her father's abuse.

Like luck would have it, Julia's house was right in the middle of both Jack and I's houses. It had slipped my mind that a month before Mrs. Rivers, our neighbour, had died of old age and her home had been left vacate.

Like all the summers before, I had thought that Jack and I would spend our days swimming and spending nights reading books from my mother's bookshelf. Julias arrival pushed those plans aside and introduced new plans that I had not been particularly fond of. It became very obvious that Julia was taking my spot next to Jack.

An extra chair was put in place at Jack's dinner table, one that I bitterly thought was too close to Jack's. Jack's bed became too small for the three of us to sprawl on, so I got the floor. Julia had amazing stories from the city that Jack was absolutely captivated by which some, I thought were a bit exaggerated but it didn't matter because Jack loved them. Id often wonder if a passer-by could read the loneliness on my face when Jack and Julia walked ahead of me, cocooned in their love haven. Did they think I was the intruder of a romantic walk between two lovers?

Julia had been nice to me to an extent. I suspected my friendship with Jack unnerved her a bit. Our conversations were cordial even though I would sense an underling tension between her laughs when me and Jack talked about one of our childhood stories. For a while, I had thought I was the one stealing her from Jack.