Pieces of Time

Piece 6- Ignite.

Alissida-present

His mouth is warm and firm against mine, his arms unyieldingly strong as they wrap around me. I gasp as he breaks the kiss and lifts me gently into his arms, his body a solid wall of strength against my own. Placing me gently on the sofa, he raises a hand to wipe the tears from my eyes. They darken with desire, an ember burning inside me- this raging fire between us, a fire devouring the years that separated us, as through they had never been. This love, this strength, this unquenchable force. His eyes match my own, the deep blue a stormy winter night. As I feel his warm breath on my lips, his hands holding me close, my mind drifts back to the last time I saw him- 13 years ago.

Alissida, aged 5

"Shhh! You'll wake Mummy- she's sleeping because her tummy hurts."
"Move your fat legs then so I can sit down."
I fumble for the torch under my bed, then flick on its gaze.
"Owww!" I squeal as the searing light lands directly on my face.
Seb snatches the torch off me and shoves a hand against my mouth, muffling my squeaks of annoyance.
"Shhh!" He whispers mockingly.

I glare at him fiercely. Well, as fierce as a 4ft child wrapped in a fluffy pink blanket can look.
Seb smirks straight back, and removes his hot hand from my mouth. He wipes it on his pj's and straightens up. With all the authority a 7yr old can muster, he initiates the meeting.

"We are gathered here today to discuss the con-se-quen-ces of my in-ev-itable departure, and to deci- what are you doing?" He frowns, offended that my insistent shuffling has disrupted his carefully practiced speech.
"I'm not comfy." My voice drops to a sulky tone. "And I don't want you to go."
His eyes soften as he reaches a lanky arm over my shoulder, pulling me close. "It's only for a week or so. That's what father said, and father doesn't lie," he whispers in my ear, kindly ignoring the tears rolling down my cheeks.
I snuffle pathetically, wiping my nose on the soft blanket. "A week? You promise?"
"I promise."

We drift off into a deep sleep, limbs tangled and breath warm on each other's cheeks. I savour every moment; clutching his hand in my own as if it would stop him from abandoning me. When I hear the soft snores coming from Seb's mouth, I allow the tears to run freely down my face, soaking the pillow beneath me.

When I awoke the next morning, Sebastian was gone.

Sebastian- age 7

Rain lashes my cheeks, whipping my cold, soaked skin and ripping my hair in fury. I struggle forwards, sobbing, the shouts of my father blurring with the howl of the wind.

"Alissida! Alissi..."  I choke as father's hand closes around my mouth, cutting off my desperate screams. I writhe in his arms, reaching towards the Ali's window while I'm dragged away.

But no light flickers on. No face appears at the window. No hands wrench open the lock. I scream in anguish, remembering my promise.

I kick, I fight, but in vain. The storm grins at my pain, flexing it's cruel hands and chuckling as my voice is lost in the song of the wind and rain. I'm chucked violently into a car and my head smashes against the door. The engine roars, drowning out the crack in my voice as I realise that, for all my promises, I've lost her.

I've lost her.

Sebastian- present

She's everything I dreamed of. Her existence an unrivalled explosion in the depths of time, her presence heightening every sense, every thought, every desire. She is everything I've been waiting for, and more. And I will fight with her. To reclaim the years she has lost, to quell the pain she has endured. To seek her other half, to retrieve what has been lost, I will fight with her. We may have won this battle, but we have yet to win this war.

But first, we have many, many years to catch up on. I hold her gently, aware of the fragility she hides, and so our souls sing in harmony, every note stronger than the crash of waves on storm beaten rocks. The night passes; dawn rises. And with it, an unveiling of a sort; as though the fresh dewdrops on the pearly morning grass gleam with reason and purpose. As if to say, I may disappear for a while, but when I return, I will be stronger than before.

But the flames of colour igniting the dawn sky burn with an energy fierce enough to battle the final warriors prevailing in the wake of the night.

It is time.