Gift
New year, new start. That was how Rachel chose to see it.
She had spent the summer alone, though Philip had phoned her to ask if he could live with her, the rest of the year. Another falling out with his mother, she supposed. Who could blame him? Melissa was due any day and with every growth of her belly, the more smug she seemed to be. A smugness that only lasted for a while. Every time Rachel looked at her, it became a pitiful expression, just to display that she was sorry. Yet, Rachel had to question how sorry she truly was. Not much, she thought.
And then there was the court case with Mellor, as well as the supervision of the new school building. Rachel had been unable to look at the rubble directly, pleased to sign whatever forms needed in order for it to disappear. How many times must the school be damaged before enough was enough? How many times must she be damaged? There didn't seem to be any answer to that question.
Straightening the front of her blazer, she stared into the mirror. This was another year and strange as it may seem, she had much less dread than when she had returned the second time. At least this year, there was no large secret of hers. One that would spread through the school as fast as the fire that had consumed it. No, this time, she was quite at ease. Apart from that one simple thing...
No Eddie. Fumbling with her folders, she thought nothing of it. She was an adult- she'd had almost two months to forget about him. Yet, it was proving harder than she thought. But then again, there was Chris. And was he a sight for sore eyes! Nice to look at, certainly, and much easier to get along with than Eddie had been, at first. But that didn't fill the void that seemed to be stuck deep within her.
Opening her jewellery box, she picked a nice set of earrings and a matching necklace. It was the first day, after all. Start as you mean to go on. Then she brushed her fingers over the collection of watches she had, her touch halting over one in particular. The note that had come with it still somewhere in the house- she had been unable to throw it away. Promising her a summer of them and only them. How devastating in hindsight.
But he had always been her good luck charm. If anybody could make her safe and keep her from complete ruin, it was Eddie. And so, Rachel took the watch, strapping it to her wrist.
She hadn't worn it since the last day but it felt different this time. It felt less like a condemnation and more of a promise. More of what he had wanted. Perhaps they weren't going to have this time together, but she could have a piece of him with her. All of those moments, those projects they had successfully implemented together, the advice and care he had given her, personally and professionally. Those weren't for nothing.
No, a piece of him would always be with her, with the school. Something that said they had both been there, that they had both cared. He had given her more than a watch. To Rachel, he had been the greatest gift. And she could take that with her, no matter what happened in the future.
"Thank you," she said, as if he could somehow hear her.
She had said it so many times before, but she thought it was worth saying again. Rachel could never say it enough.
I'm not going to be uploading these as fast as I used to, it seems. Even though I've finished my Masters now, I've been working on a potential book so this is going to have to stay second. I will aim for at least once a week but they won't be daily like they used to be before I started studying. I'm sorry they can't be any faster, as I enjoy doing them, but these were only meant to be for fun and obviously, life gets in the way.
Hope everyone is safe and well!
