Short Stories + Contest Entries

New Horizon

Another contest entry for Skipper_019

The sunset at Malibu beach is mesmerizing. The shimmering waters dance goodbye for the horizon that sags down the edge of the world. The palm trees rapidly wave their leafy flags to help guide the sun to sleep. Colors of coral, and peach rim around the ball of fire and expand beyond my knowing. Lavender shapes what once was the sun's position. Honestly, sunsets make me sleepy and take too long to end. Nevertheless, it's always breathtaking to take part in.

With all this being said, nothing can compare to Julian. His devotion to always be better, to help others and the burning passion he has for me was unlike no other. Julian is twenty minutes late, but I'm sure he's just busy and traffic is getting in the way. Being the impatient person I am, I unconsciously fiddle with the ring around my finger and count to one-hundred.

My toes crunch in the sand, getting it in between them, and birds chirp their cheerful rhymes. Clouds change colors as they pass the falling sun, adopting the shades of wonder only for a moment, wanting to be different. The ocean crashes over the sand near my feet and my pixie cut hair sways to the rhythm of the wind.

This beach has been Julian and I's spot since we were kids. Now our love is inseparable and I wouldn't have it any other way. Just the thought of him gives me indescribable pleasure and joy, something that's difficult to come by. Though we've never done anything physical to show our love to each other, we both know what we hold in our hearts.

Crumbling of sand behind me makes me crook my neck to see who it is. Julian is wearing a baby blue V-neck and shorts. His sandals flick the sand that's in his way, and his hands are jammed in his pockets.

What makes the grin on my face fade is his serious expression and stiff posture.

"Hey, you wanna take a seat next to me?" I ask trying to keep my voice light and unchanged.

Julian shakes his head. "I better not."

I shift my body to fully face him. "Aren't you staying? You just got here." I know it's a stupid question. He doesn't seem like he's comfortable and it worries me. The build-up of confusion gives me the shivers.

Licking his lips, he fiddles with the sand like a child would if they are in trouble. "I have to tell you something. But before I do, I want you to know that you didn't do anything wrong." Julian's honesty makes my heart drop.

"Umm, okay." My confidence starts to slip away.

"I've been... seeing someone. While seeing you.. and uh," he pauses, stroking his lengthy blonde hair out of his face.

"I've been, doing things with her. A lot of things." He admits and my throat goes dry. I can't seem to say anything so I let him continue.

"It's been going on for a while now. And I realized it's not fair to you to say I love you when really..." Julian trails off and stares straight at the sun. I hope the sun blinds him.

I bit on my lip hard and I can detect my sorrow transforming into pain and rage.

"So you're telling me all this now because you love her. You're telling me this after all this time, and think this will fix everything, or get you off the hook? This was all a big game to you, wasn't it?" My tone gives off an edge, and I squish sand under my fingertips.

Julian snorts. "Colley, I'm a guy and sometimes a guy needs a little more than handholding down by the beach and sending secret love notes to each other. A man needs..."

He stops and I proceed to finish for him "I get it. You need an approvingly, satisfying fu-"

"It's not about lovemaking!" Now he begins to lose his temper, which I don't understand why. I wasn't the one cheating on him.

Julian gives a sigh, calming his bipolar rudeness. " I need to feel something for someone, and as much as I want to feel something with you, I can't. I lost everything I felt with you, and I'm sorry."

We don't say anything for a long while and let nature do the talking for us. The ocean still shifts and the sun is dropping lower and lower. Even the birds still talk to each other from one tree to another. I'm glad something can still find happiness at this moment.

Holding back tears, I find myself meeting eyes with his. "Who is it?" My voice shakes.

"You don't want to know..." He tells me honestly, digging his feet in the sand. I do want to know. I want to understand how I lost the love of my life, and who stole him from me.

"Jules, tell me." I'm not shaking when I say it this time.

Julian pulls his head back and gives a long exhale. " Andrea." He mumbles and my heart sinks.

My sister? Well, curiosity killed the cat.

Reading my expression, a dry laugh escapes from him. "I told you, you don't wanna know, but you are just so stubborn." He licks his lips.

"Colley, we both are in our early twenties and need to stop walking around like we're kids. You need to realize that men have special needs, and when their fiancée still doesn't feel like getting physical, that's where I draw the line."

My cheeks burn from embarrassment and reality hits me like a brick. "So, it is about that, isn't it?" My words are stuck in my throat at this point, and Julian shrugs his shoulders.

"Yeah, I guess in the end, it is about physical love, and not being scared to show affection in that way. You can keep the ring, I owe you that much. Call me if you ever need a friend." Julian then turns back and I watch him paddle away, taking my heart with him. He friend zoned me.

So the lion blindly fell in love with the lamb, then when they finally opened his eyes it wasn't impressed.

I won't cry, not one tear, not today. My hormones buzz in my brain, but I don't let that get to me. I stand up, with my head high, and wiggle the shiny pearl ring off my thin finger.

I give it one last gaze, then toss it out into the water. It doesn't go too far, and I witness it plunge down into the depths of blue.

The truth is, the sun will set, then rise again. No matter what there will always be another day. The situation that happened today has made me come to a new opinion: The evening is my favorite part of the day.

The dropping sun means a brand-new start, a time that promises rebirth in the near future, a fresh beginning to another day's end.