The Golden Apple

Eighteen - Magnolia

"Come on!" Jake called back to me. "We don't have a lot of time! It's almost evening!"

My breath faltered. Catching up with Jake is tough, especially since he is such a fast runner. All of those wild chases and getaways must have paid off.

I had originally planned to wear my heels, but since Jake rushed me out through my window, I didn't have time to take off my house shoes. This wasn't the best decision, because Father will get suspicious if he spots dirt on them.

I sighed. I guess that's what happens when you're not used to leaving the inside.

I stopped in my tracks, gasping for breath. Jake turned to head back towards me. As he ran, I gazed at the evening sky above me. The number of colours was astonishing from below. The daylight blue had faded to a light orange, blending perfectly beneath the thinning clouds. The clouds themselves were a variety of colours as well. Some were pink, orange, grey; some a combination of many.

I smiled. It's not like I've never seen a sunset before, because I have many times. I've just never really been outside to view one from below. It's absolutely breathtaking; an elegant spectacle hanging above my head.

Jake finally reached me moments after. He took my hand in his to grab my attention.

"Are you alright?" he asked me.

"Yes I'm fine. My shoes are just making my feet hurt."

"Well we're outside the gate now anyway," he replied. "It's all grass from here. Do you want to take them off or -?"

I shook my head. "No, I'll live."

"Okay," he murmured. He then took my other hand and led me forward. "It's just over here."

"Alright. Where is this - oh..." I trailed off.

It was a lake. It wasn't just some old lake, though. It was the lake I used to look at through my upstairs bedroom window as a little girl. I always asked to go and swim in it, but my mother was too afraid of me drowning. I insisted that she should teach me how to swim, but she told me that she couldn't swim herself.

I had told Jake all about this story a few nights before. I told him about how the movement of the waves in the wind was calming to watch, and that I've always wanted to witness it in person. Once again he took my wish into consideration, and we ventured out to do so - just like the streets!

But my excitement soon fell flat. I viewed the water cautiously as it rippled in the breeze. The lake may have looked beautiful from the window, but being directly in front of it was giving me a different impression.

My eyes widened. The movement of the water no longer felt comforting. Instead it became a threat; my anxiety boiling over what my mother had told me. I knew I was with Jake, but I also knew about the idea of drowning.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked me, interrupting my thoughts. "You look off."

I bit my lip. "Are we actually going in there?"

"Of course we are!" Jake exclaimed. "Why do you think I took you here? I took you here so we could swim!"

I shuddered. "Jake?"

"Yes?" He was undoing his shirt while listening attentively.

"Look, I can do many things on my own. But swimming is definitely not one of those things."

"You think I don't know that?" he replied. He set his shirt aside on a nearby rock. "That's why I'm here. I'm here to teach you how to swim and make sure you don't drown."

"Alright," I murmured uneasily.

"You'll be fine. It's just water. Besides, I'm right here."

I gulped. Jake soon let go of my shoulder and bolted across the grass. He recklessly threw himself into the dark water, while I was still slipping off my house shoes. I could feel the crumbled soil break beneath my toes.