How To Begin Again

Chapter 19 - I Will Love You Till The End Of Time

Chapter 19 - I Will Love You Till The End Of Time

Adriana and Matt sat beside one another on the garden step the next day as the sun gleamed with a dazzling allure resembling her feelings. Matt had slept on the sofa and had been woken up to pancakes and fresh orange juice from Ashley. Adriana had already felt a sense of belonging with Matt, an immediate sense that she could trust him with her life. Throughout her time she had never been interested in love until she had fallen into those eyes which shone silver as they reflected the sunlight. Adriana sipped her coffee and smiled as she couldn't help but admire his wonderful complexion.

"Why didn't you call by sooner," Adriana's words melted into the still air "I thought I would never see you again"

"I had some things to get on with plus I didn't think you would even remember me, let alone want me to come back" Matt's words were pure and true leaving Adriana speechless yet again.

"I-I couldn't even call you because I didn't even have your number."

"I promise that I'll never leave you again, I thought you would have forgotten all about me," Matt had a powerful sense of control in his voice, another trait which Adriana adored about him.

"Why don't you two go for a walk and get some fresh air, Ade hasn't been out of the house in weeks" Ashley interrupted from behind the doorway. She was happy for Adriana, she knew what it was like to be alone in the world and she wanted her daughter to be at peace with herself.

"That sounds like a great idea" Matt chirped in even though Adriana was unconvinced. Although she didn't like the thought of leaving the house she thought of a place where they could go; a place that had been abandoned a long time ago, somewhere where she and Matt could escape from this cruel world.

"I think I'll show him the field down behind the park and see if the bridge is still standing" She joked. Adriana wanted to feel the wind in her hair and feel the sun on her back, she wanted to feel alive again.

As soon as the words escaped her mouth Ashley was transported back to a time when the bridge had been an escape for her, a sanctuary so to speak, a place where she could leave her troubles behind. This was long before she had fallen into the icy waters of alcoholism and back before the cataclysm of catastrophe had taken over her life.

'Ashley was walking down past the wall, the wall which had been there as long as she could remember crumbling in multiple places. She wasn't alone. Alongside her stood a slightly taller man, his facial hair neatly trimmed, his deep brown hair complimented his piercing blue eyes which shone with a glimmer of silver as they reflected the sunlight. In his arms he held a baby girl, Adriana was two years old wearing a baby pink summer dress and white cotton socks. The bridge stood there with a captivating charm as Ashley stared in wonder. A well built white frame held the structure in place as planks of wood were all neatly arranged forming a footpath across. Willow trees surrounded the area guarding the river below which was flowing with a noiseless eloquence. A shimmering mist surrounded the bridge and hid it out of sight. All three of them stared in fascination at the beauty of the bridge, a timeless beauty which would soon wear it's cause.'

"Mum are you okay?" Adriana asked with a sincere tone of concern as Ashley returned to reality.

"Yes I'm fine," She lied,"You two go and enjoy yourselves." Ashley had never felt more alone.

*

Emily lay wide awake in her bed whilst the smell of fresh coffee invaded the air. The morning sun was already starting to take it's familiar place in her window. Her mind wondered to a time when her family was together and not in the broken mess it had become recently. Emily's dad had packed up and left a couple of days ago to get away for a while and collect some of his thoughts together. Helen had tried her hardest to stay strong for her daughter but Emily could see straight through the tears, for she'd had a lot of practise. As she pondered through the thoughts of her family issues she was always brought back to the same place; the time she spent with Evan was gradually starting to become her life. He was there for Emily in a way that no one else was, a way which made her feel like she needed nobody else in the world. A life which was ensued in pure tranquillity all thanks to him.

"Good morning my darling." Helen spoke aloud as she walked into the bedroom and sat at the foot of her bed with eyes that held back a thousand tears.

"Hey mum. How are you feeling?" Emily's words were genuine and latched with the purest of love. A love which lasted forever, an unconditional love which would last a lifetime

"Not really, but I'm trying, I really am." Her words were engraved with true sorrow. The sorrow which lasted forever, an unconditional sadness which would last a lifetime.

"I love you so much mum, I know it's hard for you and it's hard for me too, it doesn't feel right without Dad here but the decision has been made and he's gone now. For how long we don't know but we have to carry on and build the republic of heaven where we are,"

"Because for us there is no elsewhere." Helen finished. The words floated around the two of them as they looked back on the days when they were happy. Days where the words need not have meaning and were just said as a familiar trend. But Emily meant what she said, from now on they would have to build heaven around them, a place they could call home and be happy, for heaven is what you make of it, and for me and for you and for them more than ever, there is no elsewhere.

*

Adriana and Matt walked outside onto the road where a black car was parked. A car which had such elegance that Adriana was immediately attracted. It's jet black outline reflected the suns gaze perfectly as Adriana stared open-mouthed.

"Jump in," Matt said casually as he had seen how Adriana had taken a liking to his black beauty. His car was his prize possession.

"That's... your car," She uttered in outright shock, not expecting anything like this.

"All mine... now hop in and direct me to that mystery bridge you were talking about"

Matt parked up his car just beside the park and him and Adriana walked down behind into the field and down past the wall which brought back bad memories for her. The wall which made her realise how terrible her mother really was, the wall which let her escape from her own life for a while and live in Emily's shoes for a couple of days. Shoes that she would much rather have remained in.

As the bridge came into sight Adriana's face dropped. Although she remembered the bridge being very old and unstable she didn't realise just how bad the structure had become. The ivy had invaded the thin, green frame adding a definite sense of authenticity - a word which here means making something beautiful out of something which was broken beyond repair. Nearby willow trees hid the bridge away from the world. The wooden sign barring entry could not contend with Adriana's temptation. Matt unexpectedly grabbed her by the hand and led the way onto the first plank. The pair of them felt a sensation of adventure, a feeling which filled Adriana with unequivocal happiness. She walked across recklessly misplacing her foot almost falling through a wide gap where a plank had once been. Luckily Matt had tightened his grip as she stared up at him in worry. She truly trusted Matt with her life.

They both sat at the left hand side of the bridge, with their legs hanging over the edge, on a sturdy plank which held them up. Motionless, the river below them stood still. The green waters glistened as the sun shone in all it's beauty. Adriana's mind was an underwater swimmer floating in light. Beautiful, beautiful light until a vibration seemed to change it all. A soft flurry of air seemed to arise sending the waters into a slightly distressing panic. The vibration against Adriana's leg was making her feel uncomfortable and she knew it couldn't be good news. As she pulled her phone from the pocket in her jeans her fears were confirmed, the calmness in her head had been burned before her very eyes as she felt a familiar fire in her loins. Unnerved as she saw the caller's name Adriana thought all was lost and that her chances of a happy life had become a pile of ashes in front of her. The name rang in her ears and sent a shiver down her spine, for Jamie's name was the last name she wanted to see.

End of Part Three