The Summer Anthology ✔

Story #31- Trust Me

Written by user SerenaMCiprano

The 360 (Three Sixty), that was what they called their private lookout near the bridge which connected two cities separated by a canal. Contradicting as it may be, it was not at all that private. Only a handful of people ever noticed it and they, the couple, knew of its magnificence. They named it after the platform's panoramic views it gave both, vertically and horizontally. It was where they first met, laughed, hugged, cried, fought, kissed and trusted each other fully.

Those moments lasted and they thought they would last forever but that was not the case.

Trust.

It is strong enough to forge the greatest of all bonds but the most fragile when it is lost.

There they were.

At the 360.

In the middle of the night.

The two cities shone in brilliance of white, yellow and red for as far as the eye could see. The dark waters beneath the platform rushed in and out of the sea as if it breathed. Thunder and lightning played their concert accompanied by the pitter-pattering, the trickling and the pounding of the rain. Near the edges of the canal were the dancing trees rustling their leaves to the beat. Joining them was a couple, a boy dressed in jeans and a white jersey and a girl clad in black pants and a flowery blue blouse.

Another first moment. Our first dance.

The boy, Hartley, climbed the railing of the platform and stood firmly as if nothing, not even the slipperiness could plunge him twenty feet down into the murky waters. This terrified her, Meena. She was horribly worried about his safety and begged him to step down. He would not listen to reason and spread his arms out wide. Meena would pull him down but she was afraid that she would accidentally hurt him. Hartley turned to Meena, smiling widely with an arm outstretched to her.

"Meena. You know how we always said that we wanted to rule the world?" he coyly asked and continued, "Well, I can't be King without my Queen."

There it was. The Hartley Charm that would bewitch her into forgetting her fears and worries. It won't work this time. Meena shook her head, stepping back slowly. She stared at his slightly fair face and his black, drenched hair almost covering his eyes. Oh, those warmly brown eyes were a beautiful curse.

Gazing into Meena's eyes in turn, he asked so dashingly prince-like, "Do you trust me?"

His Charm, hypnotizing eyes and those words? Meena was done for. She took his seemingly welcome hand and replied confidently, "With all my heart."

Hartley lifted her up on the railing. She slipped once and then twice but still stood right next to him. They were King Hartley and Queen Meena ruling the world. It was exciting yet scary at the same time. Heights never bothered Meena so what was she afraid of?

Drowning

Sinking to the bottom of the sea

And no one would find her

Ever.

She clung onto him tightly but he never did the same. He did not shelter her when she needed it most. There was something off about him.

Suddenly, he did not feel warm but cold.

He was not focused but distant.

He was not grinning ear to ear but was dead serious.