Lust

Chapter 17

My toes curl into the ruff sand. The sky has finally cleared and the soft wind is soothing against my throbbing scalp. The calm water speaks softly against the silence that is the night. It sings a soft song of peace, putting an ease to my running and irritating thoughts. Nature continues to play out around me, the crisis that is my life has no effects on their habit. Fireflies continue to glow, zipping in and out of the forest, bringing life to the once sinister darkness. I dig my fingers into the sand to go as deep as they can. Becoming one with the Earth, I take in the cold air, filling my lungs and letting the world around me swallow me whole. The leaves of the forest crack, small animals talk amongst each other and the wind gives a gentle voice to the sky. These things continue, our worries and anxieties have no power to alter the habit of nature. 

"Hey, mind if I join you?" 

I turn to see Cheryl, her smile bright and her hands filled with bags. 

"I brought us some things."

Her legs tuck beneath her, pulling a blanket from behind her and offering me half to share. She pulls out a smaller blanket and lays it in front of us. 

"What are you up to Chez?" 

She responds with a wide smile. Her mind seems to be preoccupied away from the horror that is her reality. And for this moment, the sadness from her eyes has been swiped clean, replaced with some sort of excitement. I admire her smile, oblivious to what she is laying out in front of us. Her eyes are focused and her lip clasps between her teeth. She looks to me, satisfied with her work.

"Happy birthday Kimberley."  She says with a sigh, shuffling closer and bringing the blanket over our thighs, sliding her arm into mine and resting her head on my shoulder. 

"Do you like it?" The wind runs softly against my exposed skin, putting an ease to the fire of our combined body heat. 

"What?" 

"I thought we can be the first to celebrate."

She looks up at me and giggles under her breath, nudging me toward what's in front of us. There's a small cake facing us, the frosting swirling into perfect letters, completed with a smiley face and a heart at the end of my name. 

"Is this what you left me alone for? I could have gone with you." 

"But its more special this way, plus I got us something." 

She pulls out two little plastic containers and places them on the palm of her hand.

"Pick one."

"What is it?" 

"I found this little toy dispenser that has mystery things inside. I thought it would be fun."

"Aren't those for kids Cheryl?" I raise my eye brows at her and laugh when she pulls a little pout. 

"So what, come on. Pick." 

She wiggles her fingers, the smile on her face still on full show as I pick up the blue container and shake it next to my ear. 

"Hmm, Doesn't sound like a nachos." 

"Haha. Shut up. I have your nachos over here. Come on, lets crack this mystery." 

I laugh at her excitement. Her nose crinkling as she doesn't find it as humorous. We open them at the same time. Two little pieces of material falling on our laps. Her eyes expand and she looks like she's just discovered gold. 

"They're little leather bracelets."

"Look, I think they're hand made." I say, examining the soft leather under my finger tips. Its plain but beautiful, the quality them amazing me. 

"Here, put it on us." I stop her from doing anything else when I get an idea. 

"Wait, we have to make them our own first."

"What do you mean?" 

"Do you have a little pocket knife?" 

"Um.. why?" 

"You'll see." 

Her body turns away from me, giving me a clear view of the moon. She pulls out the pocket knife and passes it to me. Carefully, I bring the sharp end to meet the leather, carving in a smooth K on one and a C on the other. I can feel her hot breath on my shoulder as she watches me. I can sense her smile matching mine as the letters come out exactly the way I imagined them. 

"Can I have the K?" 

"Yea, course." 

I smile once again, never really understanding what about her makes me feel so happy. It's these moments that matter the most. The moments that make you feel like nothing can hurt you, like life has given you an escape from reality and has finally given you your moment of happiness. She grabs the bracelet from my hand and ties it around my wrist. She pulls out a lighter, reaching over to the single candle on the cake, and lights it. The small flame creates a soft glow upon her skin, and she pulls her self closer to me once again, leaning her head on my shoulder and linking her arm with my own. She begins to sing, her soft voice dancing above our heads and echoing across the still water. I catch a smile forming on my face, as I feel her fingers on mine, squeezing tightly just after her voice comes to a stop. 

"Make a wish." 

I giggle a bit, not really believing that this isn't just a dream, because it feels like it. Its too good to be reality. Its too good for all the bad that has been in my head lately. I think about my family, Sarah, even Cheryl as I close my eyes and pray that their suffering could end. Their happiness will ensure mine, and I can die happy tomorrow knowing they will never experience pain again. 

I blow out the candle, killing the yellow glow and sending us into complete darkness. We sit there for a bit, her head resting on my shoulder, her fingers playing with mine and our minds clearing of anything else but the little world we are in right this second. 

"Come on, I've brought more blankets. Lets lay down and watch the stars." 

"Cheryl?"

"Hmm?" 

"Thank you.... for all of this." 

"It was just a cake babe." 

She giggles, laying out the blanket and a pillow, patting the space next to her and laying down herself. 

"No, I mean. Bringing me here.,,,

I lay down next to her, pulling the blankets over us and looking to my side, where im met with her soft brown eyes.

....It's really helped me clear my mind a bit. Thank you. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start my birthday" 

"Its no problem really, this place always helps us forget, but having you here makes things much more relaxing...." 

Her arm wraps around my waist and I bring my arm around her; enjoying the warmth and feel of her skin against mine... 

......

I wake up with a start; my head instantly shooting up when I feel something grasp and my waist and a rush of cold air filling the empty gap beside me. 

"Ashley!  Fcuk off! You bustardd!" A sharp gasp escapes my lips when I see a man grabbing Cheryl. Her hands pushing at his chest as he drags her by the waist and forces her in the car. It all happens too fast. Her tiny body fighting against his grip as he pushes her from the drivers seat, to the passenger, putting the car in drive and leaving me sat on a pile of cold blankets, in the middle of no where, half asleep and in complete shock.