Poison, Love and Me

Chapter - 2 (New morning in Old town)

I checked the time in the alarm clock now by my bed, it was 4 am. It, too early to do anything but I couldn’t go back to sleep also. So I left the bed and peeked out the window. The branches on trees were swaying in the slow breeze and weather seemed pleasant and welcoming, best time to go for jogging, the only outdoor activity I still like. I went down to the bathroom and changed in to my track suit. I tied my long unruly curly hair in a pony tail. After wearing the jogging shoes I hit the road. I started walking towards my old school slowly then picking up speed I started jogging. I passed by the school and reached Centre Park. I stopped there for stretching exercise. The park was deserted but I wasn’t scared at all. This is where I played as a kid. Although I came here after 7 years but I still know this town as the back of my hand. After all this years it still looks quite the same, like time has stood still here except for few small changes.

After stretching I resumed jogging, taking a left turn I kept jogging and followed the old track I use to jog on daily with my dad. Before I realized I reached the same bridge where Seth died all those years ago. I stood there for a while arguing with myself to go ahead and cross the bridge or go back the long way I came from. After that dread full night I have never came here again. It’s been too long, I shouldn’t be scarred anymore. I am a grownup woman now. I should face the truth instead of hiding away like a terrified little teenage girl I have been. Making up my mind I stepped on the bridge and all the memories came rushing back in my brain like a movie, memories of me and Seth. We use to come here often as kids to play, as teens to talk and share dreams. Somehow I managed to reach at the centre of the bridge, tears started filling in my eyes, and I wiped them with the back of my hand. I couldn’t stop myself and came and stood by the railing where Seth fell and died. Tears started falling unchecked from my eyes as I remembered that awful night;

I was so happy from the morning on that Sunday, because I was going out for a real date with Seth Koufax. I liked him, not like boyfriend or something but just like the best friend he has always been to me.  He has been my friend from pre-school. I had known him all my life. Our parents were friends too. Koufaxs lived two blocks away down the street from my home. My mom even took our picture just before we went out that evening. We were supposed to go to the school dance. Instead we went to the riverside, just to enjoy the cool summer evening. It was our favourite spot. Whenever we had anything to talk about we use to come here. Seth was going away next morning to some other town for higher studies, where he would stay for 4 years. He said he wanted to spend his last day in town with me.  So we came here, as it is no body was going to miss me at the party. I was not famous like other girls. Most of the time they teased me for my skinny body, unruly black curly hair and my lack of interest in sweaty basket ball team boys. Seth was different, he was my only friend. A day before he asked me to be his date for the dance, and I agreed immediately as I knew I won’t be able to meet him daily after today.

We walked hand in hand by the river and talked. Like always about our future, our wishes and our dreams. Seth shared my dream of becoming a doctor some day. I knew Seth likes me and understands me. I liked him too. He was not like other boys who never looked past the makeup painted face. I have always been invisible to them.

Walking and talking together we reached on the middle of the bridge and stood by the railing watching the full moon. “Ivy… would you be my girlfriend? I know I must have shocked you but I really like you Ivy… I know that I am going away for four long years but I promise you that If you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll come back here on every vocation till you can come and join my college” He said looking at me.

I didn’t know how to reply or what to say to him. I was only 16 and Seth was 18. Although we were best friends and all but I have never thought that way about him. Well I have never thought like this about anyone for that matter, but now that he mentioned it I liked the idea. Already I liked spending every waking minute with him and it will be great if he becomes my boyfriend. At least then I won’t have to let him go. Like that we will be friends forever. I replied grinning “yes Seth I would love to”

When Seth came close to kiss me, I felt little awkward, but steeled myself and waited for it to get over. He kissed me on my lips. Within seconds it was over and he moved away. I never kissed anyone before and had no idea how long it should last, but still I felt disappointed that it ended so soon. I waited for a while for him to kiss again but he didn’t. I opened my eyes lazily and saw Seth was staring at me. His hands clutching his throat, his eyes wide with disbelieve and pain. His lips turned blue and look of shear horror on his face before he collapsed down by my feet.  I dropped on my knees and tried to help him up wishing it to be some kind of joke “Seth…! Please get up Seth, I am scarred”

“I… Ivy…” he spoke with great difficulty as if he was choking.

“Yes Seth… what happened to you? Sh… should I call your dad?” I was screaming at him, asking him what happened, what I should do.  He opened his mouth but no words came out at first then he tried again and spoke in ragged voice “Ivy… Y… You are P… Poisonous” with that his eyes rolled back and didn’t open again. I sat there quietly, too shocked to move, to cry or to even run. Slowly Seth’s breathing stopped and I knew he was dead. Knowledge sank in my brain by Seth’s last words. I am poisonous… I killed Seth… Oh God... how is that even possible? But proof lay right in front of me. Unable to think anything I ran away from there and came home. I didn’t tell anything to anyone. I hid in my room and cried the whole night. Next morning my mom came in my room and told me that Seth fell down in the river and drowned. Police wanted to know if I knew anything but I just lied that we had a fight and I came back home early, leaving him at the party.

I came back to present and stood there crying like a child for a long time. I cried for Seth, for our friendship, for the lost years of my life, for my parents and most of all for my doomed future. When I felt in control again I looked down the river and knew its the time I should say my good bye to my best friend and I did just that  “I am sorry Seth... I am so sorry... I didn’t know it would kill you… I never wanted to hurt you... You were my only friend... I miss you... please forgive me Seth”

With that done, finally I felt enogh light hearted to walk away. I wiped tears from my face and started jogging again towards my home.

Please comment or vote. it will encourage me to update soon... :-)