The Royal Commoner

Hidden Places

Noah gasped lightly beside her as he held the view in front of them. He turned to look at her, eyes widened and muttered, "Wow."

She smiled. In front of them stretched miles and miles of ocean. The moon was just rising and it cast its shadow over the dark cliffs rising beside them. They could hear the sounds of waves crashing against the cliffs. And near them, a little way into the sea was a small isolated piece of land, perfect to sit and enjoy the warm air and the sight around them.

"Am I in heaven?" Noah said, still glancing around the place Sarah had spent nights at. This was the place she escaped to whenever her thoughts overwhelmed her. This was her Elysium.

"No, we are still at the beach," she said. She was a little nervous. This place was not known by anyone other than her. Or at least that's what she liked to believe. Now she was sharing it with Noah.

"Come, let's go there," she said, pointing towards the small piece of land.

Pulling his hand that was still in hers, she led him towards the sea. The path there was a little tricky if you did not wish to get wet, but she had a lot of experience in crossing over.

"Careful," she warned him. "These stones can be slippery. Just firmly step on the ones I do."

She carefully stepped on stone over stone, reaching the island without anyone getting wet. Noah was faster as he wore sports shoes as compared to her stilettos. As they stepped onto the land, Sarah took a deep breath, reminiscing in the old memories when it was only her on this island. She used to lie back and stare at the sky and sea for hours. Now she was sharing her little secret with Noah.

"This is absofuckinglutely breathtaking!" he said, exclaiming softly, as if afraid to disturb the still and calm of the night.

"I know," she said, smiling. "This is the place I come to whenever the weight of the world is too much for me."

He looked down at her softly, squeezing her hand. "Tell me something you think about," he said.

Sarah glanced away, suddenly shy. She didn't know if she could share her deepest thoughts with him. Like, she didn't even know him. But still, she had brought him here- to her place. It must mean something.

Noah lightly grasped her chin and turned her face towards him. His eyes held softness and- something else, something she could not place.

"You don't have to, you know," he said, smiling slightly.

"I want to," she whispered. His grey eyes had the effect they always did on her. They pulled her deep in them with the promise of never letting go.

They lay down in the grass. Sarah didn't care much about her dress. She stared up at the million stars shining above them. She sighed contently.

"Whenever I look at those stars, I imagine my dad being one of them," she said.

"Is he...?" Noah asked, cautiously.

She shook her head. "I don't know. My mother told me he had died when I was two. But I have always doubted that. I don't know why. I mean, it's not like I remember anything from then, but still, it's a gut feeling. Call it a blood bond or whatever you want, but I believe my father left us when I was young. It's just... I have these strange dreams in which he always tells me he loves me and is sorry... for something."

"I'm sorry," Noah said softly.

She shrugged. "It's fine. I'm used to it now."

Turning her head towards him, she watched as he gazed at the sky. He had a lost, wondering sort of look on his face.