Forever Waiting

Violet Baudelaire sat on the quayside, the wind slapping her cheeks until they smarted. The grey harbour waters rhythmically pounded the stone wall far beneath her, and she pushed a few straying strands of silky hair back from her face. Violet shifted position on her rock, and her boots bumped against the hard stone ground. She sighed, and continued to gaze out to sea, waiting for a ship to sail into view.

Waiting, waiting, waiting… Her siblings had stayed at home, but she had promised him that she would be there, waiting for him to arrive, ready to greet him when he came. Waiting, waiting, waiting…

Violet blinked, and squinted into the wind. Was that the ship? No, just a bird and a spray of foam. She was probably just too eager for Quigley to arrive. But, wait…was that a ship? Yes, yes it was! A small smile escaped Violet's lips as she recalled what Quigley had said in his last letter. '…My ferry will be the only one arriving in port the day I return, so you'll know which one it is…'

Violet glanced around the quayside. She was the only person there. Far, far down the street, parked next to a dingy looking Italian restaurant was the taxi that would take Violet and Quigley back home when he arrived. Nearby, a streetlamp flickered and went out. Violet shivered, but when she looked at the ship again, another smile broke across her face. He was coming, he was almost here! She had waited so long for this…

***

Quigley leaned over the rail, staring at the figure sitting at the port, who was watching the approaching ship. It was Violet, he knew it was. Everyone commented on how wonderfully beautiful she was, and even from afar, Quigley could see they were right. Even from here, her beauty was evident. Quigley smiled and grabbed his rucksack in anticipation of his homecoming. Then, the ship entered the harbour.

***

Violet stood as the great ferry entered the harbour, her dark hair perfectly framing her pale face. The ship ground to a halt, and soon people were surging out, rushing past Violet, not caring for the seventeen year old girl, not even pausing to glance her way. At first, she couldn't see him. Then, there he was, his floppy dark hair blown back slightly in the breeze. Quigley Quagmire. 'At last…' she breathed. Quigley turned and caught Violet's eye. Quigley grinned, and Violet, overcome with joy, started to run towards him, her long hair flying behind her, her boots sending pebbles skittering across the ground.

When she reached Quigley, Violet flung herself into his arms, and for several moments they stood together, Quigley holding gently on to Violet, Violet clinging to Quigley as if her life depended on it. When they finally broke apart, Violet murmured, 'You're back. I've missed you so much.'

'I've missed you too – every moment of every day,' replied Quigley. Violet gave a small frown and said jokingly, 'I hope that wasn't all you thought about. That would have been rather silly of you – to only think about how much you missed someone for a whole two months!' Quigley laughed, and shouldered his rucksack, while Violet picked up his other baggage. 'No, that wasn't all I thought about, I promise. I just thought it would sound nice and appropriate if I said I missed you every moment of every day, that's all,' answered Quigley, then hastily added, 'But I did miss you an awful lot – all the time, even when I was happy.' Violet smiled, and they made their way towards the waiting taxi. By the time they reached their taxicab, it had started to rain.

'Violet,' said Quigley, before she got a chance to open the door.

'Yes Quigley?' said Violet, pausing to look at him. Quigley looked deep into her beautiful eyes, before saying, 'I really have missed you, you know.'

Again, Violet smiled and said, 'I know. I've missed you too.'