The afternoon sun beat down harshly upon the thousands of people who adorned the miles of beach along the south coast of England. The shallow waters played host to people of all ages, either wanting to cool down in the refreshing waters, or simply jumping the small waves that rolled onto the beach at regular intervals. The smell of various sweet and savoury foods floated on the slight breeze that came with being so close to the ocean.
The sand dunes behind the beach were quiet, and trees provided a welcome respite from the beating sun. Beneath one of these trees sat two children, each licking ice-creams at an alarming pace so as to avoid ruining their clothes when the treat inevitably melted.
The eldest of these children was nine year old Eric, who had somehow managed to escape the watchful eye of his nanny, whom his parents had hired to accompany him on such outings whilst they stayed home with their newborn son, Thomas.
His companion was Ariel, a girl of seven. Her family was of working class yet, despite their differences, she and Eric had been best friends for years.
The two sat peacefully upon the dunes, talking of other worlds and fantasies that only young minds could comprehend, allowing their imaginations to flourish. They watched mighty vessels sail upon the horizon, and imagined what it would be like to set sail themselves. It wasn't until Eric's nanny cleared her throat that they realised they were no longer alone. Eric was promptly steered away by the older woman, and Ariel ran down to the beach to rejoin her father and six older sisters. They parted with a smile, and a promise to see each other again soon.
Years passed and their young lives, once intertwined so tightly, began to unravel. At the age of twelve, Eric lost both his parents and young brother in a car accident. He himself was hospitalised, but eventually made a full recovery and was able to return home with healing cuts and bruises the only physical indication that he had been involved in the accident at all. The psychological scars, however, would take much longer to heal and, with only a glance, one could tell that the boy had suffered a great tragedy. He retreated into himself, becoming fearful and uncertain, shying away from anyone who came close. Head servant Grimsby and housekeeper Carlotta became the only people he would talk to, and took it upon themselves to care for the boy until he was old enough to do so himself.
Ariel would call upon him often, and although the two were still close friends, Eric wasn't the same person he once was. He seldom ventured from the house, and seemed to lose every ounce of confidence he had ever had in himself.
It wasn't until the age of fourteen that he started to come out of his shell again, and began spending his days with Ariel once more.
But things had changed.
During his absence, Ariel's neighbour Warren had become almost a second shadow to the twelve year old, and had taken every opportunity to be with her. At fifteen, he was only a year older than Eric, but already possessed the frame of a grown man.
Warren would accompany Ariel and Eric on their trips to the beach and docks, and it soon became apparent that he wasn't particularly keen on the younger boy, often being incredibly spiteful. Eric was grateful for Ariel's intervention on these occasions, for it reminded him that she still intended in continuing their friendship even after all this time.
As they grew older still, Ariel became radiant, her beauty increasing with every year that passed. Eric would often compliment her appearance, causing her to blush, and sometimes even dared to kiss her hand or cheek as they parted ways at the end of the day. He loved her, and was becoming more certain by the day that she felt the same way.
In his twentieth year he bought a ring, encrusted with a single diamond flanked by two smaller sapphires. He had every intention of asking for her hand in marriage, but knew that he would first have to confess his love, and that was no easy task for someone so shy.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and still he found himself unable to form the right words in his head, resulting in him saying nothing at all, and promising himself to be braver the next day, until one morning all hope of a life with her was shattered.
It was a crisp morning in late November, and the two had agreed to meet upon the dunes that they had spent so much time in together as children. Eric arrived first, a small box containing the ring in his hands. He didn't intend to give it to her that day, but had decided that having it with him would fuel him to say what he needed to.
As soon as she came into view, he hastily shoved it into his pocket and, taking a deep breath, awaited her arrival. But it soon became apparent that she was not alone, and Eric was able to identify the towering figure by her side. As they came closer, his heart sank. Warren's hand was clasped tightly around Ariel's, and she showed no sign of pulling away. The pair came to a halt just a meter or so in front of Eric, and what came out if Warren's mouth next made Eric want to scream.
They were engaged.
The ring in his pocket suddenly felt incredibly heavy and the colour swiftly drained from his face. He desperately searched Ariel's features for any sign that this wasn't happening, but found nothing at all. His childhood friend seemed almost emotionless. He congratulated them despite the lump in his throat and quickly excused himself, concocting some rushed explanation relating to his father's business. He felt hurt beyond what he ever though was possible and, more so, he felt deeply disappointed in himself. If he'd only been braver this could have been avoided altogether.
His entire body felt numb as he made his way through the bustling streets, and barely made it through his front door before his knees buckled and he sank to the floor.
Good things didn't come to those who waited.