Emison: Home

Chapter 2: My Past is not Our Future

*June 2021*

Alison's POV

In conclusion, it is clear to see that no matter how much Estella pushes him away, Pip never ceases to love her. It is almost as though he himself cannot explain why he feels this love for her. It is a love so strong that he has no control over it and despite all of her flaws, he asks her to accept him the way he is, the same way he accepts her in all glory as well as all her horrendous ways. As he explicitly says '' [He] love[d] her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be''

A melancholic smile draws itself across my lips as I remember my first kiss, I've never told anyone but that kiss in the library was my first real kiss... It felt odd back then, I'd always been told that I would meet a guy and that we would kiss and I'd love him deeply, that was all I'd seen on TV, that was all I had expected from my first kiss. But my kiss was nothing like the guy meets girls kiss after the first date or anything. It was short, simple but sweet. It was beautiful and the moments that preceded and followed were some of the fondest moments I have of my teenage years. I still remember how soft it had been, it wasn't rough like what I had expected but then the person I was with was, at least back then, the gentlest person I would ever meet.

Gosh, it feels like it was so long ago, almost like a different lifetime... She was a such huge part of my life for such a small amount of time, it's incredible how fast things change. I remember when we would dream of this life together, when we would love one another in a way we thought no one else ever could. And yet, those were mere teenage ideas. We were so caught up in one another, we forgot to see what the world truly had to offer. Maybe it had something to do with having a crazy stalker and growing up too fast or maybe we just knew that if we stayed with each other, we would have a safe place to land. But the second we were apart, that safe place disappeared, almost like a mirage... Ah, young love... It was beautiful whilst it lasted but it was young love... There was no maturity, it was all spontaneous, crazy, care-free, it was all over the place. But now I've found loved with reason, with promise, with peace, with hope, with happiness and I've never felt so at ease.

My thoughts are interrupted by the very cause of this.

'' Darling! Where are you?'' his voice resonates through our house. God, I love saying that. Our house. It's been almost 2 years yet it still makes me giddy inside

'' In the study!'' I answer

I hear his footsteps approach and hear him delicately opening the door

'' Do you ever stop?'' he comes up behind me massaging my shoulders

'' These essays aren't going to grade themselves'' I put my free hand on top of his

'' Sweetheart, it's the end of the school year... Why do you still give essays?'' he chuckles

'' This is the last one I gave them... Don't worry, I have maybe 5 essays left to go through. And I kept the best students for last''

'' Finishing on a good note, smart move. What did you assign them this time?'' he wonders peering over my shoulder as I keep grading

'' Explain the love Pip feels for Estella despite knowing all of her flaws. ''

'' Great Expectations again? Huh?''

'' Of course'' I smile gazing up at him

'' You know I never truly understood your infatuation with this book... Maybe you should read it to me one day. I'll probably fall in love with it by the mere sound of your voice'' he kisses me sweetly but shortly