The Everlasting Effect 💖

Chapter Four: Denara

I sat on a rock, in between the beach and forest. The serenity and therapeutic sounds calmed me as I did my toes in the water. The icy waves soaked away my strains, worries, and unease. Letting the small waves of water wash on shore, colorful ripples reflecting in the sun's rays. My mother has been on my case more than ever lately. It feels like she's suffocating me with her legacy and learning new and old business ventures, her dynasties.

Ever since dad left, all she does is drink and work. Perfection becomes her everything, her goal, her strife..., so much so that being anything else other than me was considered a sin, an imperfection. I was to live in her image, and any resolution I had for myself had become intolerable. Part of me wonders if she is like this because my dad's an artist, and she doesn't want me to turn out like him, or is it because I remind her of him at every turn that she takes? She's reminded every day that I look more like my dad and take after him than her.

There is a slight lowering of the sun's rays, and the sky is slowly turning. The perfect setting for what's coming and why I'm here instead of at home, trying to avoid my mother. I suppose that's one reason I gravitated towards Arawn. We had similar struggles internally, one that composed our entire being and way of living. I kick my feet in the water, enjoying the warmth of it as I lean back on my hands and watch the last few rays of light slip away. The smell of musk, flowers, and the sea's briny makes it an odd combination, but sensational at the same time.

I feel a hand cover my eyes, and before I can open them again. I think their body is close to mine, nearly encasing me against the rock I'm leaning against. I hear his gentle words and immediately imagine the soft and boyish expression he must be adorned with as well.

"I thought you would be here; you weren't answering my calls and figured."

"You wouldn't answer too if it was my mother trying to get a hold of you, but nothing a little scenery can't fix," I say in response, and he gently chuckles at my words. This was his way of asking if I'm okay without trying to pester me to talk or being insistent. He understood that sometimes we just need a distraction, and that's exactly what he brought. He leans against the rock beside me, letting comfortably overtake the silence; at least, that's what I thought.

Arawn takes something out of his trousers pocket and pulls out two tickets. I squint slightly at the tickets and look at the ticket strip that was illuminated by the light. Those are tickets for Green Bay's famous music festival. Various artists would play, and Arawn talked about this day for weeks, and I completely forgot about it.

I feel guilty as I think about all the times he boasted about his passions and music. He always came up with a way to support my dreams, and I couldn't even remember an event he was so excited about. I was so busy with my mother's itinerary that it completely slipped my mind.

"Remember, this is the big date that you wanted to go on? "He says, a smile adorning his face.

"AH Huh" I guess we're just going to ignore the fact that this was his version of a perfect date, maybe in not so many words, but I think we're going to pretend that this is what I "want."

"I remember, but I never said that it was going to go with you," I say cheekily and move slightly away to gauge his reaction. His smile drops and his eyebrows pulled upwards, and his mouth pulled up in a frown. I can't help but giggle and want to pinch his cheeks.

"Hmm, that is quite the predicament. I'll go on one condition: that you buy me a t-shirt, and we get to listen to a playlist that you made especially for the event." I say in consideration.

"Deal," he says quickly, throwing his arms around my shoulders and showing his pearly white teeth and dimples, making an appearance. It's an odd sensation, but he hates I suggest paying for everything, and despite the monetary difference, he tries his best. Instead of paying for us, I ask Arawn too, because it makes him feel compatible and appreciated.