We Must Say Goodbye
Hey! Must say this one was a long time coming. Been pretty busy these few months, with lots of university applications to settle, amongst other things. Will try to update more consistently in the future. Thanks for all your patience and continued support!
Chapter 2.
"Hey!"
The exclaimation punctured the calm atmosphere and carried over the hypnotic sound of the rythmic waves.
"Wait up, man!"
The figure in front twisted around, then fumbled awkwardly, almost dropping his packages on the ground.
"Well, Sir Allen, if you're here to help, you'd better hurry up." came the reply, "I've still got lots of stuff to move before sundown and no time to wait for you." The figure jutted his jaw toward the crimson disk hovering wanly above the sea, his dark brown eyes dancing with suppressed mirth and a hint of impatience.
A light sea breeze floated across, coaxing his unruly raven locks into an unwilling dance. Without waiting for a response, he turned back and continued walking toward a house on stilts.
"Yeah, yeah..." his companion mumbled, "I say as long as the bed's inside, you can wait till tomorrow to to have the rest in."
"That's why," the figure strained, struggling to juggle keys and packages at the same time, " you're not me." The door opened with an audible click.
"I really hate to repeat myself, but could you quit standing there looking pretty and kindly HURRY!" A disembodied voice floated through the cool air. "You may take it as a royal command, if it can make you work better."
The only reply was a few muttered curses and the accompanying sound of hurried footsteps across the long row of elevated wooden planks.
Allen paused for a moment, his attention drawn to an antiquitated little bright red box riveted just beside the wooden beach house.
"Are you coming in or do I have to invite you?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Allen shouted back, irritated. ****
"Finally done!" Allen exhaled, lounging deeper into the couch, cupping his hands comfortably behind his head. "You owe me big time for this, friend." he added as he saw his raven haired companion emerging behind the huge boxes, drinks in hand.
"Thanks." he sipped the cold drink sighing contentedly as he closed his eyes. For a moment, neither said a word as they sat, taking in the serenity of their surroundings, hearing the waves washing in in the distance.
"Nice place you've gotten yourself, your majesty." Allen commented at last.
"So... no regrets?" he added as he noticed his friend lost in thought.
"No. Everything's settled." A long pause passed.
Only the delicate clink of the ice cube against the glass was heard as Allen put his empty cup down.
"Most of the land's already rebuilt and I think the rest is up to the people." he stopped short, taking a deep breath, "I've done all that I can do - everything in my power..."
Then, "Do you think I'm selfish, Allen? To leave everything behind just to try to find a way to be with her?"
Wavering brown eyes suddenly bored into pale blue ones, pleading understanding and assurance.
"No, my friend. As you've said, you have done everything within your sphere of influence. And you have sacrificed a lot. Perhaps even more than me..." he trailed off, then added sincerely, "Maybe you've felt it too, in yourself - that you've given everything you have inside you. And you have no more left to give."
"Which was why I decided to come here in the first place." he ruefully agreed. "I know that. It's just..."
"I understand."Allen clasped his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. After all the things you have been through... I...the both of you belong together." He finished awkwardly, remembering a scene from the past.
"Thanks. It means a lot, coming from you." He paused, then added, "I know you care a lot for her too."
"I do, in my own way," he took a deep breath and exhaled, "but it's you that she loves. Don't disappoint her, or yourself. Don't let her go again."
"I won't."
Suddenly, the night sky was illuminated by a shaft of blinding white light.
"Well," Allen said gruffly, "looks like my carriage has arrived."
The pillar of light that descended from the heavens consumed his broad frame, and blinded the two of them temporarily.
"Farewell, my friend."
They clasped hands as Allen rose higher and higher into the air, his blonde locks shimmering in the distance.
It departed as soon it came, leaving darkness in its wake, and the ghost of a farewell.
"Goodbye...Van."
Hey! Must say this one was a long time coming. Been pretty busy these few months, with lots of university applications to settle, amongst other things. Will try to update more consistently in the future. Thanks for all your patience and continued support!
Chapter 2.
"Hey!"
The exclaimation punctured the calm atmosphere and carried over the hypnotic sound of the rythmic waves.
"Wait up, man!"
The figure in front twisted around, then fumbled awkwardly, almost dropping his packages on the ground.
"Well, Sir Allen, if you're here to help, you'd better hurry up." came the reply, "I've still got lots of stuff to move before sundown and no time to wait for you." The figure jutted his jaw toward the crimson disk hovering wanly above the sea, his dark brown eyes dancing with suppressed mirth and a hint of impatience.
A light sea breeze floated across, coaxing his unruly raven locks into an unwilling dance. Without waiting for a response, he turned back and continued walking toward a house on stilts.
"Yeah, yeah..." his companion mumbled, "I say as long as the bed's inside, you can wait till tomorrow to to have the rest in."
"That's why," the figure strained, struggling to juggle keys and packages at the same time, " you're not me." The door opened with an audible click.
"I really hate to repeat myself, but could you quit standing there looking pretty and kindly HURRY!" A disembodied voice floated through the cool air. "You may take it as a royal command, if it can make you work better."
The only reply was a few muttered curses and the accompanying sound of hurried footsteps across the long row of elevated wooden planks.
Allen paused for a moment, his attention drawn to an antiquitated little bright red box riveted just beside the wooden beach house.
"Are you coming in or do I have to invite you?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Allen shouted back, irritated. ****
"Finally done!" Allen exhaled, lounging deeper into the couch, cupping his hands comfortably behind his head. "You owe me big time for this, friend." he added as he saw his raven haired companion emerging behind the huge boxes, drinks in hand.
"Thanks." he sipped the cold drink sighing contentedly as he closed his eyes. For a moment, neither said a word as they sat, taking in the serenity of their surroundings, hearing the waves washing in in the distance.
"Nice place you've gotten yourself, your majesty." Allen commented at last.
"So... no regrets?" he added as he noticed his friend lost in thought.
"No. Everything's settled." A long pause passed.
Only the delicate clink of the ice cube against the glass was heard as Allen put his empty cup down.
"Most of the land's already rebuilt and I think the rest is up to the people." he stopped short, taking a deep breath, "I've done all that I can do - everything in my power..."
Then, "Do you think I'm selfish, Allen? To leave everything behind just to try to find a way to be with her?"
Wavering brown eyes suddenly bored into pale blue ones, pleading understanding and assurance.
"No, my friend. As you've said, you have done everything within your sphere of influence. And you have sacrificed a lot. Perhaps even more than me..." he trailed off, then added sincerely, "Maybe you've felt it too, in yourself - that you've given everything you have inside you. And you have no more left to give."
"Which was why I decided to come here in the first place." he ruefully agreed. "I know that. It's just..."
"I understand."Allen clasped his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. After all the things you have been through... I...the both of you belong together." He finished awkwardly, remembering a scene from the past.
"Thanks. It means a lot, coming from you." He paused, then added, "I know you care a lot for her too."
"I do, in my own way," he took a deep breath and exhaled, "but it's you that she loves. Don't disappoint her, or yourself. Don't let her go again."
"I won't."
Suddenly, the night sky was illuminated by a shaft of blinding white light.
"Well," Allen said gruffly, "looks like my carriage has arrived."
The pillar of light that descended from the heavens consumed his broad frame, and blinded the two of them temporarily.
"Farewell, my friend."
They clasped hands as Allen rose higher and higher into the air, his blonde locks shimmering in the distance.
It departed as soon it came, leaving darkness in its wake, and the ghost of a farewell.
"Goodbye...Van."