Freedom of Tomorrow

THREE YEARS LATER

The soft breeze of a warm summer's evening drifted along the shorefront as the seagulls cried faintly in the distance. The sun had just set, coloring the few clouds in the sky a light taffy pink. As the colours in the sky started to fade to darkness, faint specks started to appear in the sky. As the night grew longer, the faint light from the stars began to grow brighter.

"I wonder what our parents are doing." Echo said as she and Hallie lay on the narrow porch overlooking the sea.

"Have you spoken to your mother at all since we left?"

"No, she hasn't called. Not once," Echo said trying to seem casual, however, Hallie knew her so well that she could sense the slight pain in her voice. She didn't necessarily miss her mother, but she felt despondent to how her mother had seemed to have forgotten all about her. How she never really cared about, nor loved her. Hallie didn't want to ask too much about it because she knew that it would make her unhappy even though she was the one who brought the topic of parents up.

"My parents haven't tried to speak with me much either. Except for that one phone call like six months ago."

"Yeah? What did they say?"

"Well, they were just checking in on me, seeing how I was. I said I was studying graphic design in Scotland and that they had nothing to worry about. They knew I was fine and that was really all they wanted to know. Since then, I haven't spoken to them."

"Well, in some ways I guess that might be a good thing. It's more peaceful not having to worry about anybody else."

"That's true. Anyway... aren't the stars beautiful?" Hallie said more like a statement as opposed to a question.

"Absolutely."

Hallie sighed, "the universe is magnificent. Looking up at the stars really puts things in perspective."

"How so?"

"Well, it reminds me of how our lives don't really matter. We think about the earth as this huge place, because we know that nobody will ever be able to see or experience every single part of it. But in reality, Earth is tiny compared to how colossal the universe is. But the fact that we don't matter doesn't necessarily mean that we don't have a purpose. It's freeing to know that any stupid decision you make doesn't really matter in the long run." Hallie explained.

"Yeah, I guess so. Do you believe that we can make an impact?"

"In the whole universe? No, not really. But that doesn't make life unimportant."

"I agree. I think the most important thing by far when you put everything into perspective, is to be happy.... or rather... fulfilled," Echo explained.

"Well then I think that I have certainly accomplished a lot in your eyes. Because right here, right now, being married to you, I feel completely and utterly fulfilled."

"I could not have said it better," Echo agreed as she kissed Hallie on the cheek.

As the night grew colder and the pair became more and more drowsy by the minute, they headed inside.

On the day at the beach three years ago, when Echo and Hallie had first confessed their love for one another, they walked for about an hour along the beach after their swim with their clothes soaked to the bone when they came across a small house half-hidden by the trees beside it. It didn't look like it had been there for more than fifty years. So, it was surprisingly not very beat up for a small house as itself. This was partly due to the trees that were sheltering it. On the other side of the house, where the front entrance was, a car was parked beside a sign that read "FOR SALE." Echo knocked on the door. Ten seconds later, a man dressed in a grey suit and a name tag that said "Thomas Wilson, realtor." He couldn't have been older than 35 judging by the smiling wrinkle-free face, dark, styled hair, and strong build.

"Have you come for the viewing?" the realtor asked.

"Yeah, we were just in the area and saw this house. Do you mind if we take a look?" Hallie asked.

"Sure, come on in! Although try not to get the place too dirty," he said as he looked the pair up and down. This remark was enough to make the pair dislike the man. But they just smiled faintly, which was probably for the best.

Hallie and Echo stepped into the two-story house. There was one master bedroom overlooking the sea through the large windows on the second floor as well as what was presumably a guest bedroom. The kitchen was simple but met all the basic requirements.  The sitting room was surprisingly spacious to make up for the fact that there was no dining room. The bathroom was also very simple. Although it did manage to squeeze in a bathtub.

As they were looking around, Hallie asked the realtor, "how much is this place?"

"Well because it's pretty isolated, it's on the market for only forty thousand pounds."

"Are there any other interested buyers?"

"No, it only went on the market just yesterday you see."

Hallie walked off to find Echo who was standing on the porch looking at the view.

"The guy said it's only forty thousand pounds. We're the only people who have seen the place so far."

"I like this place."

"Me too." Hallie hesitated. "Should we buy it?"

"Well, I mean it's your money, but I'm in!"

"Okay fuck it! Let's do it! I mean we'll only have a fifth of the initial money left, but we can just get some small jobs in the area. I'm sure there will be someplace that needs a couple of workers. At least it's nicer than that motel."

Echo smirked, "yes that was something out of a nightmare! But this... it's a dream house!"