The Ocean Sighs Serenity (661 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Fiction
Rating: 1.75 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (View user info) at 2005-07-26 17:54:51 EDT
She was a fragile thing, by all appearances. Her long hair was not so much blond as it was devoid of color. It usually lay limp against her frail shoulders but today it blew in the cold morning wind. Her skin was that translucent hue of parchment that only someone of northern stock had. Her dark blue eyes always had a slight red to them as if she had just been crying. Some may have called her beautiful, but most would have found her too sad, too breakable to give her that title. No, Meghan was a different word, but not one that readily came to mind.
She stood here this morning with her feet in the water, the cold breeze coming off the tide and penetrating the thin sweater she had cast over her slim form. She shivered under the wool, but stood her ground. The water licked at her toes, the sand slowly covering them with each tiny wave. Meghan stood here at the break of this new day and stared out towards the rising sun. She stood here and waited.
In her twenty-four years on this planet, she felt as if she had accomplished very little. She had few friends in her days in High School, and although she had been excited to leave for college down in Boston, she had only been able to stay for a year and a half. Her mother had grown too sick to continue to work, so she had forced to return and care for both her and her younger sister, Elizabeth. She had found a job in a local JC Penny's and managed to help pay for the family up until her mother's death this past summer.
But then what? Beth had turned eighteen and had always been the stronger of the two girls. She desperately wanted to escape the small town, and had signed up to join the Air Force. She felt Meghan should return to school and find herself a new life, one free of the worries that had plagued her these last five years. Meghan didn't know who that girl was anymore. All she knew was how to take care of a dying parent and a younger sibling. Her dreams of being an English teacher seemed so distant now.
The small house they had lived in their whole life had been fortunately paid for before her mother had taken ill. It was modest, but was along a remote piece of the beach. Meghan had taken to walking the mornings out along the coast, wondering what to do with her life now. She would sit among the rocky sands and watch the sun come up, sipping her tea and think about the life she might of had, the life she could still have. The thought of so may possibilities before her was almost terrifying.
It was one of these mornings that she was sitting on an outcropping of rocks that she saw him. He looked about her age, possibly a little older. Shaggy brown hair, with a few days growth of stubble. He had on cut off jean shorts and a button down black shirt. How she had missed him at first mystified the girl. He was standing in the water, up to his knees, only about fifty feet away. She must have been so lost in her own thought , she didn't notice his approach.
She watched him for a few minutes, trying to place him. He didn't look like any of the local guys she knew. Must be an off season tourist. She didn't want to disturb him, so she quietly began to gather her skirt together and made to leave. Climbing down off the rocks, she dropped her cup of tea. Swearing softly, she stepped down to retrieve it.
"Here, let me help you."
Meghan looked up to see the young man who had been in the ocean only moments ago. He politely offered her his hand to help her down from the rocks.
"Thank you," she said embarrassed.
He reached down and picked up her mug from the sand. "It doesn't seem cracked or broken."
"Good," said Meghan, looking away shyly, "It was my favorite."
"My name's Ahriman."
"That's a beautiful name. I mean... eh, for a guy, it's..." stuttered Meghan.
"No, thank you. It's an old family name," he said smiling.
Meghan smiled back, but looked away quickly. She was never very good at talking to boys, no matter how old she got. Especially one as handsome as this one.
Ahriman still held the mug in his hand. He grinned and looked at it. "Oh little container of liquids, if only you could tell me your owner's name!"
Meghan laughed, and shared the information.
"Good. It's a pleasure to meet you, Meghan."
******************************************************************************
Every morning for the next week, when Meghan went out for her morning walk, Ahriman would be there. They would walk together along the beach and talk about all kinds of things. Meghan had never felt so comfortable around anyone before in her life. He never tried anything creepy or inappropriate. She came to long for those morning walks when she would see him, but it was by the end of the week when she realized that she had poured her heart and soul out to him, and still knew very little about her strange partner.
She had told him all about her mother, and he had offered his view points. She had told him about her fears of returning to college and he had offered advice. They had talked about life in general, and he had given his opinions. But never had he revealed any true personal information. She still didn't know where he lived. Of course, she had never told him, either. Meghan decided that she wanted to know more about her mysterious Ahriman.
She met him that morning, just like every other. He had a pair of green cords cut off at the knees and a gray polo shirt on. The wind was blowing his hair in his face and he looked so handsome to her. This wasn't the first time she thought about what it would be like kissing him. He was sipping out of a large old coffee mug this morning, and that was new.
"Coffee or Tea?" she asked coming up behind him.
"I prefer Coffee," he replied.
"Too bitter for me."
"I know," he said smiling.
"Ahriman, can I ask you a question?" She was looking out to the sea, so she didn't see the sad look on his face. "Do you live around here, or are you a tourist for the off season?"
Ahriman sighed. "That's a complicated question, Meghan. A little of both."
"I don't understand."
"Are you happy, Meghan?"
"Ummm..."
"Come with me," he said.
"With you where?"
"Out there," said Ahriman pointing out to the horizon beyond the sea.
"Ahriman, I don't..."
"You deserve so much more. You are such a beautiful human being, and you don't even know it. Do you know how rare that is?"
"Well, thank you, but..."
"Meghan, here's the deal. I'm offering you more. More of everything. I believe you deserve it. I've watched you, listened to you, got to know you. I believe you are indeed someone special. I want you to be more. But it's up to you, Meghan."
Ahriman started to rise off the ground, his feet floating a meter above the sand. He took another sip out of his mug as Meghan stumbled back in shock. He began to glow with what could only be a silver light and his voice came directly into Meghan's head.
"I want to show you Eternity, Meghan. It's up to you. Meet me here tomorrow."
And then he was gone.
And now it was the next morning. She wrapped the sweater around her frame tighter to ward off the cold. And she waited. Perhaps it had all been a dream, a delusion. Perhaps it had been some kind of cruel trick. Perhaps Ahriman had changed his mind. Perhaps...
"Good morning, Meghan."
And there he was, looking as normal, and as handsome as usual.
"Yesterday..." her voice caught in her throat.
"Yesterday was very real."
Meghan bite her lip. This was all really happening.
"I want to be with you. Where ever you're going, whatever you are, I want to be with you," she said.
"You will be," Ahriman said, holding out his arms.
She embraced him, and felt the silver light enfolding her.
"Oh my God," said Meghan.
User Reviews
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-07-04 23:20:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-10-13 22:35:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was totally awesome. It looks like you proof read this one a bit more than some of your posts.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-10-12 16:06:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Great as usual. I actually haven't seen this one. Looking forward to reading the next. B
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2005-10-12 15:55:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
God I hate you, Kenny.
Submitted by Chinaski (user info) at 2005-09-10 20:49:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
God damn, you are a talented author.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-09-10 20:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow, this kicked ass. Totally awesome, AWESOME title. I really liked the last line and I loved the way you left her fate to the reader's imagination.
And I like the fact that Ahriman is the devil and that you never clue the reader into that. Great duality there.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-07-27 06:04:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The writing was good and I liked the sentiment, even if it is a regurly covered subject. Good use of description.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-07-27 00:54:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh noes!
I think I lvoe you.
Submitted by mockidol (user info) at 2005-07-26 21:51:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
real attempts at writing do get good reviews here.
just very few of them.
Submitted by euripidestrousers (user info) at 2005-07-26 20:35:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Interesting idea ... and that's it.
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:56:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh that's you? I've read some of your stuff - I like it!
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:46:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah Ruthless, I've posted it somewhere else before under the name "antius777." I don't usually post stuff on Uber, but I'm curious about what kinda feedback I'll get from it
Submitted by checkyourmail (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:39:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
THIS should be in ubermadness
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:37:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I've read this before...
Submitted by NOWorNEVER (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:03:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2005-07-26 18:00:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment