June 2007
A light drizzle caressed Shawn Brady's face as he removed his helmet and placed it on his motorcycle. Five years after he had left Salem, Shawn had returned. He was still contemplating whether or not he was happy to be back in the grip of the city. Venturing a glance at the dark, wet streets, Shawn noticed how much everything looked the same. It was almost as if the past half decade had somehow not touched the city. Of course, Shawn knew that was far from the truth.
From his own experience, Shawn knew that Salem was an ever-changing city that refused to rest. Around every corner was a lurking danger just waiting to assault you. Behind every tightly drawn set of blinds lay a secret that could destroy you. Under every pretense a truth was hidden that was as painful as it was liberating.
Walking down the steps to the pier, Shawn pondered just how his life had become what he was living. How had he managed to screw everything up and still appear almost content to the outside world? Running a hand through his damp hair, Shawn realized just how unhappy he had become while away from Salem.
After graduation, Shawn finally had his chance at independence and he hungrily took it. Receiving an education at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, Shawn found a life full of new experiences and new fears.
Shawn's roaming gaze fell on the dark water and its seemingly endless boundaries. In a way, his life was quite similar. At the moment, his own future looked dark, but his boundaries were equally endless. There was a world of choices awaiting him. Unfortunately, Shawn was unsure which course would lead him to true happiness. One thing was for certain, Shawn's sudden return would definitely rock the boat.
Shawn smiled slightly as he realized that he was yet again relating his life and its miseries to the water. Perhaps that innate closeness to the water and its murky meanings had been what led Shawn to the academy in the beginning.
It seemed like a lifetime since he had bid farewell to Salem and all those he knew there. He had never intended to stay away for so long or lose contact with all those he had once loved. Shawn absently wondered when he had last spoken to his parents. Two years ago? Three? All Shawn could remember about the brief conversation was that he had abruptly ended it when his mother had started to mention Belle.
It's quite amazing how easy it is to let yourself forget when there's nothing to remind you. The past quietly fades away when the present offers no reminders of things that were or things that might have been. Out of sight, out of mind.
That was how Shawn had been living his life - until a week ago.
After six months on a ship near the West Indies, Shawn had gladly returned to the States for some rest and relaxation. While back in the country, Shawn had gone to the Big Apple to meet up with some of his old buddies from the academy. That was when he had seen her.
He and his friends had been sitting in a small cafe, chatting about their adventures at sea when Shawn had casually looked out the front window and saw her walk by. And, for the briefest of moments, their eyes met.
His friends must have thought that he'd gone crazy as Shawn jumped from his seat and ran out the door. He quickly ran several yards in the direction she had been walking. He had yelled her name into the crowd as he desperately looked for her among the vast number of people on the crowded sidewalk. After several minutes of calling out for her, Shawn released a disappointed sigh as he accepted that she was gone. As he stood frozen in the street, people brushed past him, eager to live their own lives, never noticing the one that was about to change right before their eyes.
Despite her mysterious disappearance, Shawn knew that it had been her. There was no one else that possessed that indifferent stride, that long dark hair, or those expressive blue eyes. It had been Chloe.
Backing against the wall of a nearby building, Shawn knew that his life had, in that single moment, changed. Some would say seeing Chloe in such a large city after so many years away from each other was fate. Others would declare it a mere coincidence. For Shawn, it was the needed reminder.
It was then that Shawn truly comprehended all that weighed upon him. He could no longer pretend that his former life did not exist. His best friend Chloe existed. His hometown Salem existed. His first love Belle existed.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
From her position at her bedroom window, Belle watched as the formerly light drizzle transformed into a steady rain. Belle smiled just a little as she thought about the rain washing away all the troubles of her life.
With slow, deliberate steps, Belle crossed the bedroom she shared with her husband and approached her dresser. Kneeling, she pulled open the bottom drawer and carefully moved aside various articles of clothing until she found what she was looking for hidden beneath it all. Belle gingerly lifted the photograph from its hiding place.
The photo had a way of calming her when it seemed the rest of the world was closing in on her. Her husband, however, despised the photo and wish for nothing more than its destruction. That was one of the greatest differences between Belle and her husband. He looked upon the past with disdain, it was something better left forgotten. After all, if he didn't have the power to control it or change it, her spouse had no desire to have it in his life. For him, the past was more painful than reassuring.
Belle felt the opposite way. She found her past quite comforting when her future wasn't. If life had once been so good, she knew it could be again.
Slowly, Belle ran her index finger over each of the youthful, smiling faces in the photograph. They had all looked so incredibly happy. Belle smiled as she recalled all the feelings of that magical night. The Senior Prom had been one of the greatest nights of their lives. For a few hours that had seemed everlasting, they had all found some of the happiness they so earnestly craved.
The photo was truly a moment frozen in time. The first song of the evening had just ended and they were all happier than they had been in a very long time. For one night, all their problems and all their worries faded into the background of a beautiful, unforgettable evening. As the group collectively moved away from the dance floor, Belle's father had appeared from seemingly no where to capture their smiling faces.
On the left was Jason, a genuine smile embellishing his face. Mimi stood perilously close to him, his hands firmly place on each side of her. Funny, Belle had never noticed the close proximity of the two until she had seen the photo. And, Belle had been standing right beside Mimi. Of course, as the photo clearly showed, Belle was completely enthralled by her own date, Shawn. His masculine arms were engulfing her petite body, and his hands rested gently on her stomach. On Shawn's other side stood Philip and his date Chloe. Both, as usual, looked lost in the world they had created around themselves.
Of course, Belle now realized that their life then was frighteningly similar to life they all lived now. Even on that night, their innocent world had been laden with false appearances.
Despite the happy memories that accompanied the photo, Belle was also attacked by a good dose of reality. Anyone looking at the photo would have assumed that they were merely three happy couples. How wrong that was. How wrong everything was.
Belle felt the tears fighting to free themselves from her eyes, so she decided it would be best if she returned the photograph to its place in the drawer, hidden in the darkness like all the other truths in her life.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Soft bubbles covered Chloe as she savored the steaming hot water that shrouded her body. Some distant part of her wondered how late in the evening it was. A part of her much closer to the surface wondered if she really cared.
It had been entire week since the episode in New York City. Just when Chloe thought that the past was firmly behind her, she had seen Shawn Brady himself in that cafe. As she ran into an alley, she had heard him calling for her. He had sounded almost desperate. It had broken Chloe's own heart when she turned from the sound of his voice and quickly continued to flee from her friend.
On several occasions, Chloe had wondered how different her life would have turned out if Shawn had not left Salem. If only he had stayed, things would surely have turned out differently. However, after pursuing the thought, Chloe came to the realization that if Shawn had stayed, things may have only been worse. What would have been right for Shawn, would probably have been terribly wrong for Chloe. Shawn had always seen things in a black and white manner that didn't allow for some of Chloe's secret feelings.
It had been three and a half years since Chloe had made her own departure from Salem. Not a day had gone by that she didn't regret it. Nonetheless, Chloe would never admit to anyone that she had possibly made the wrong choice. She'd already made too many.
If she had possessed just a little more confidence or experienced a little more love in her life or if she had simply been able to forgive the things that didn't really matter, Chloe knew she would not be living the lonely life she now had. Still, she had made the choice to leave, and she refused to admit defeat and give in to the feelings of despair.
This was her life, and she was going to live it - despite the unhappiness that constantly threatened to suffocate her.
A light drizzle caressed Shawn Brady's face as he removed his helmet and placed it on his motorcycle. Five years after he had left Salem, Shawn had returned. He was still contemplating whether or not he was happy to be back in the grip of the city. Venturing a glance at the dark, wet streets, Shawn noticed how much everything looked the same. It was almost as if the past half decade had somehow not touched the city. Of course, Shawn knew that was far from the truth.
From his own experience, Shawn knew that Salem was an ever-changing city that refused to rest. Around every corner was a lurking danger just waiting to assault you. Behind every tightly drawn set of blinds lay a secret that could destroy you. Under every pretense a truth was hidden that was as painful as it was liberating.
Walking down the steps to the pier, Shawn pondered just how his life had become what he was living. How had he managed to screw everything up and still appear almost content to the outside world? Running a hand through his damp hair, Shawn realized just how unhappy he had become while away from Salem.
After graduation, Shawn finally had his chance at independence and he hungrily took it. Receiving an education at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, Shawn found a life full of new experiences and new fears.
Shawn's roaming gaze fell on the dark water and its seemingly endless boundaries. In a way, his life was quite similar. At the moment, his own future looked dark, but his boundaries were equally endless. There was a world of choices awaiting him. Unfortunately, Shawn was unsure which course would lead him to true happiness. One thing was for certain, Shawn's sudden return would definitely rock the boat.
Shawn smiled slightly as he realized that he was yet again relating his life and its miseries to the water. Perhaps that innate closeness to the water and its murky meanings had been what led Shawn to the academy in the beginning.
It seemed like a lifetime since he had bid farewell to Salem and all those he knew there. He had never intended to stay away for so long or lose contact with all those he had once loved. Shawn absently wondered when he had last spoken to his parents. Two years ago? Three? All Shawn could remember about the brief conversation was that he had abruptly ended it when his mother had started to mention Belle.
It's quite amazing how easy it is to let yourself forget when there's nothing to remind you. The past quietly fades away when the present offers no reminders of things that were or things that might have been. Out of sight, out of mind.
That was how Shawn had been living his life - until a week ago.
After six months on a ship near the West Indies, Shawn had gladly returned to the States for some rest and relaxation. While back in the country, Shawn had gone to the Big Apple to meet up with some of his old buddies from the academy. That was when he had seen her.
He and his friends had been sitting in a small cafe, chatting about their adventures at sea when Shawn had casually looked out the front window and saw her walk by. And, for the briefest of moments, their eyes met.
His friends must have thought that he'd gone crazy as Shawn jumped from his seat and ran out the door. He quickly ran several yards in the direction she had been walking. He had yelled her name into the crowd as he desperately looked for her among the vast number of people on the crowded sidewalk. After several minutes of calling out for her, Shawn released a disappointed sigh as he accepted that she was gone. As he stood frozen in the street, people brushed past him, eager to live their own lives, never noticing the one that was about to change right before their eyes.
Despite her mysterious disappearance, Shawn knew that it had been her. There was no one else that possessed that indifferent stride, that long dark hair, or those expressive blue eyes. It had been Chloe.
Backing against the wall of a nearby building, Shawn knew that his life had, in that single moment, changed. Some would say seeing Chloe in such a large city after so many years away from each other was fate. Others would declare it a mere coincidence. For Shawn, it was the needed reminder.
It was then that Shawn truly comprehended all that weighed upon him. He could no longer pretend that his former life did not exist. His best friend Chloe existed. His hometown Salem existed. His first love Belle existed.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
From her position at her bedroom window, Belle watched as the formerly light drizzle transformed into a steady rain. Belle smiled just a little as she thought about the rain washing away all the troubles of her life.
With slow, deliberate steps, Belle crossed the bedroom she shared with her husband and approached her dresser. Kneeling, she pulled open the bottom drawer and carefully moved aside various articles of clothing until she found what she was looking for hidden beneath it all. Belle gingerly lifted the photograph from its hiding place.
The photo had a way of calming her when it seemed the rest of the world was closing in on her. Her husband, however, despised the photo and wish for nothing more than its destruction. That was one of the greatest differences between Belle and her husband. He looked upon the past with disdain, it was something better left forgotten. After all, if he didn't have the power to control it or change it, her spouse had no desire to have it in his life. For him, the past was more painful than reassuring.
Belle felt the opposite way. She found her past quite comforting when her future wasn't. If life had once been so good, she knew it could be again.
Slowly, Belle ran her index finger over each of the youthful, smiling faces in the photograph. They had all looked so incredibly happy. Belle smiled as she recalled all the feelings of that magical night. The Senior Prom had been one of the greatest nights of their lives. For a few hours that had seemed everlasting, they had all found some of the happiness they so earnestly craved.
The photo was truly a moment frozen in time. The first song of the evening had just ended and they were all happier than they had been in a very long time. For one night, all their problems and all their worries faded into the background of a beautiful, unforgettable evening. As the group collectively moved away from the dance floor, Belle's father had appeared from seemingly no where to capture their smiling faces.
On the left was Jason, a genuine smile embellishing his face. Mimi stood perilously close to him, his hands firmly place on each side of her. Funny, Belle had never noticed the close proximity of the two until she had seen the photo. And, Belle had been standing right beside Mimi. Of course, as the photo clearly showed, Belle was completely enthralled by her own date, Shawn. His masculine arms were engulfing her petite body, and his hands rested gently on her stomach. On Shawn's other side stood Philip and his date Chloe. Both, as usual, looked lost in the world they had created around themselves.
Of course, Belle now realized that their life then was frighteningly similar to life they all lived now. Even on that night, their innocent world had been laden with false appearances.
Despite the happy memories that accompanied the photo, Belle was also attacked by a good dose of reality. Anyone looking at the photo would have assumed that they were merely three happy couples. How wrong that was. How wrong everything was.
Belle felt the tears fighting to free themselves from her eyes, so she decided it would be best if she returned the photograph to its place in the drawer, hidden in the darkness like all the other truths in her life.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Soft bubbles covered Chloe as she savored the steaming hot water that shrouded her body. Some distant part of her wondered how late in the evening it was. A part of her much closer to the surface wondered if she really cared.
It had been entire week since the episode in New York City. Just when Chloe thought that the past was firmly behind her, she had seen Shawn Brady himself in that cafe. As she ran into an alley, she had heard him calling for her. He had sounded almost desperate. It had broken Chloe's own heart when she turned from the sound of his voice and quickly continued to flee from her friend.
On several occasions, Chloe had wondered how different her life would have turned out if Shawn had not left Salem. If only he had stayed, things would surely have turned out differently. However, after pursuing the thought, Chloe came to the realization that if Shawn had stayed, things may have only been worse. What would have been right for Shawn, would probably have been terribly wrong for Chloe. Shawn had always seen things in a black and white manner that didn't allow for some of Chloe's secret feelings.
It had been three and a half years since Chloe had made her own departure from Salem. Not a day had gone by that she didn't regret it. Nonetheless, Chloe would never admit to anyone that she had possibly made the wrong choice. She'd already made too many.
If she had possessed just a little more confidence or experienced a little more love in her life or if she had simply been able to forgive the things that didn't really matter, Chloe knew she would not be living the lonely life she now had. Still, she had made the choice to leave, and she refused to admit defeat and give in to the feelings of despair.
This was her life, and she was going to live it - despite the unhappiness that constantly threatened to suffocate her.