A story of friendship and love,
a story so common yet so profound.
Characterized by two individuals,
so exquisite and affectionate mortals.
Struggled for existence in the world,
relying on each other's hold…
that no matter what others would say,
the promise is for each other to stay. -Noel Tupan
-9-
2013
With a loud 'BANG' the heavy doors close behind them. The two of them stop in the middle of the hallway. To their right and left no one is being seen. It's just them. Gillian inhales deeply. Cal turns around to look at her, noticing how she crosses her arms in front of herself.
"It's done." She says and he nods, steps a little towards her.
"Closed up and nowhere to go." He sing-songs and titles his head to watch how she starts to stare at the grey marbled floor.
"You're just as lucky that we're not in a financial position to be charged. Yet." He thinks about that and nods again. "Yeah. Maybe." He steps even closer towards her, not being able to hold himself back as he watches her. She tenses up, her brow furrows and and a single tear runs over her cheek. He reaches out to her now. "Hey." It's a mumble and he places his thumb above the line the tear left on her skin to brush its touch away. Then he grabs her, pulls her into him to lean his head above hers, so he can smell her hair. "I'm sorry." He breathes into her and he can feel her affirmation in response. He notices how she doesn't uncross her arms, so he presses her body a little closer towards his chest.
"Gill. Come on." After a few moments he lets go of her and glides his hand along her arm to grab her hand. "I want to show you something." She exhales loudly and lets him lead her trough the building of the court.
"What's this?" She asks as he heaves a removal box onto his kitchen counter. He seems nervous. "Take a look." He encourages her and he can almost see a curious smile on her face which calms his heartbeat somewhat. He steps back and watches how she first inspects the box and then opens it. She takes out the first object that she gets a hold of which is a blue folder, written on it "Pentagon / Andrews, 2003", which she reads out loud and looks up to Cal shortly to then take a quick look into it. She puts the folder on the kitchen shelf and now rummages three cds out of the box. By the look on her face she recognizes them. "Our first sessions together." She notes and puts them on top of the folder. Cal gathers up his courage and starts with the words he had practised several times in his head. "It's all stuff that, you know, brought us together. I know you value such memories." He grins as she pulls out a small piece of paper (Come to me in 5 minutes and look grim). "I thought..." Gillian seems to be lost in words and thoughts. She thought it was lost in the fire. Even when they had known that it would happen, they deliberately didn't take care of things like this, so it didn't seem like they planned on it. Yet he did. In his own way. "I know you did. But I took these home with me." She acknowledges that and next, she pulls out a small box that looks like a jewellery box. Her eyes widen a little bit in surprise and she opens it carefully. Inside she finds not what she expected and he laughs a little at her reaction. She takes out an USB- Stick. "That's a special add- on. That is." He stuffs his hands into his pockets and watches as she grins at him (a little annoyingly) and looks for her personal computer, which she left on his coffee table in the morning. It looks like she hurries and within two minutes she has the stick inside her USB slot and opens the first files. The names not giving away anything. Cal comes around the counter and steps behind Gillian to look over her shoulder. He explains. "That's my brain." His heartbeat gains a little speed again. She hums as she recognizes the structures and clicks through the different images of his MRT. "I made them every year now for the last.. five-ish years, I think." Gillian browses through the different images, holding on a little longer when she sees her own picture next to his brain. "That's my love for you. That is." She feels his breath breathe past her ear and a warm feeling spreads inside her. Gillian turns around to find his eyes already ready for her. Waiting. Dark. Intense.
"Every cell of me feels you, Gill. You're my shore."
Thanks for your support, A & M!