Aaron never tired of holding her hand. He still remembered the first time: the tentative reaching out, the awkward intertwining of fingers looking for that perfect match, the sweating of palms that would not be let go.
The breeze played gently with Mary's long auburn hair, causing it to rise and fall like waves of autumn gold. He could just catch her scent, like musky roses, still so wildly exciting.
George bounded towards them happily, almost knocking Mary over in the process.
"Down boy!" shouted Aaron angrily, but Mary just laughed.
"Let him be. I'm alright."
He looked at her sparkling eyes and freckled dimples. How beatiful she was. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. She looked up at him with surprise.
"What was that for?"
"Because you Mary, are beautiful to me," he replied, "and I love you."
Prologue 3
“Here, boy!”
The black Labrador looked at them briefly before returning to the smell that had caught his attention. He wasn't sure yet if it was rabbit or wild fowl but either way this was more interesting than his master.
“George!!”
This time there was a command in the voice of Aaron's father and the dog obeyed, bounding along the path towards his master, pink, wet tongue lolling a great big happy smile.
“Good boy!”
Aaron's father, like his father before him were great believers in affirmation and through it had the devotion of children and pets alike. He was a strong, quiet upright man with a wicked sense of humour which he was glad to see his son had inherited. Aaron ran on ahead with George looking for unsuspecting rabbits. They hardly ever found any and those they did easily escaped from the hapless hunters.
He loved these Sunday morning walks with these two and afterwards the homecoming to his wife's cooking. Family meant the world to him and it saddened him that his work on the boats didn't allow him to be home more. Life however, is never perfect, and perhaps its meant to be that way, he thought, the dark making the light all the more bright.
Soon his son would off to university, then no doubt marrying young Mary and leaving home. It had all passed much too quickly.
The black Labrador looked at them briefly before returning to the smell that had caught his attention. He wasn't sure yet if it was rabbit or wild fowl but either way this was more interesting than his master.
“George!!”
This time there was a command in the voice of Aaron's father and the dog obeyed, bounding along the path towards his master, pink, wet tongue lolling a great big happy smile.
“Good boy!”
Aaron's father, like his father before him were great believers in affirmation and through it had the devotion of children and pets alike. He was a strong, quiet upright man with a wicked sense of humour which he was glad to see his son had inherited. Aaron ran on ahead with George looking for unsuspecting rabbits. They hardly ever found any and those they did easily escaped from the hapless hunters.
He loved these Sunday morning walks with these two and afterwards the homecoming to his wife's cooking. Family meant the world to him and it saddened him that his work on the boats didn't allow him to be home more. Life however, is never perfect, and perhaps its meant to be that way, he thought, the dark making the light all the more bright.
Soon his son would off to university, then no doubt marrying young Mary and leaving home. It had all passed much too quickly.
Prologue 2
Dear Diary. No that's just silly.
Dear Maxwell. Who's Maxwell? An imaginary friend, of course. But why Maxwell, and why a man and not a woman? Could I be as open with a woman? Even a fictious woman?
I think it is rather typical that I begin something as simple as a diary with more questions than anything else.
Ok, so here goes.
It has been a good day. Last day of school. Forever! Wooohooo! How I began to hate that place, with its dull, grey walls and uninspiring teachers. Still I got a decent education so they couldn't have been that bad, even Mr Fargot with his vile breath and collection of canes.
Now hopefully a nice hot summer to do some sailing, then off to Bristol with Joe. He says he's got somewhere for us to stay, really cheap, which is good, but something tells me it is going to be a real dive. Joe and his dodgy connections.
I think I'll pop over and suprise Mary tomorrow. I know I said I'd see her on Saturday, but tomorrow seems like a much better idea.
I must be coming down with something. Spontaneity, romantic or otherwise is not normal for me.
Well good-night Diary, Maxwell, or Tallulah, or whatever your name is. Tomorrow and the rest of my days await!
Dear Maxwell. Who's Maxwell? An imaginary friend, of course. But why Maxwell, and why a man and not a woman? Could I be as open with a woman? Even a fictious woman?
I think it is rather typical that I begin something as simple as a diary with more questions than anything else.
Ok, so here goes.
It has been a good day. Last day of school. Forever! Wooohooo! How I began to hate that place, with its dull, grey walls and uninspiring teachers. Still I got a decent education so they couldn't have been that bad, even Mr Fargot with his vile breath and collection of canes.
Now hopefully a nice hot summer to do some sailing, then off to Bristol with Joe. He says he's got somewhere for us to stay, really cheap, which is good, but something tells me it is going to be a real dive. Joe and his dodgy connections.
I think I'll pop over and suprise Mary tomorrow. I know I said I'd see her on Saturday, but tomorrow seems like a much better idea.
I must be coming down with something. Spontaneity, romantic or otherwise is not normal for me.
Well good-night Diary, Maxwell, or Tallulah, or whatever your name is. Tomorrow and the rest of my days await!
Prologue 1
Aaron watched the flames shoot high up into the sky, singeing the trees above.
“I told you we had enough petrol,” he said.
Joe smirked at him. “You are too cautious, my friend. The books need to be sent up to the heavens in glory, ne'er to return.”
Aaron smiled reluctantly. Joe was right. Of the two of them Aaron was the more conservative, but that's what made their friendship so solid – the fact that they were so similar yet so different. Their past together was littered with shared adventures, almost all of which were initiated by Joe, and most of which earned Aaron trouble with his father's belt.
It was the very last day of school ever for the two, and the ceremonial torching of school books was almost a rite of passage for the young people of Stokesby in Norfolk. Next term paths would separate, but the pair were off to Bristol university to study Engineering together.
Aaron stared into the flames. “You going to miss Stokesby, Joe?”
Joe threw another book into the bonfire. “Not really. Not that I'm not grateful for all that the Forrester's have done for me since my parents died, but I felt a bit trapped by them.”
“They meant well,” Aaron replied.
“As I said, I am grateful.” Joe replied in a tone that warned off Aaron from continuing this line of conversation.
“I will miss Mary.” Aaron continued.
Joe laughed. “You lovestruck old dog. There are many more fish in the sea.”
Aaron punched his friend playfully. “Oi, I love that girl!”
Joe feigned injury and raised his hands in mock appeasement. “Of course you do. Sorry!”
John Leibowitz watched the scene from the kitchen window. “They're going to burn down those trees if they're not careful.”
Martha looked up from her sewing. “You have always fretted too much about that boy, John.”
He turned to her. “Have I now? And do you remember the shed?”
She sighed. “That was a long time ago. He's a young man now.”
He returned to the window. “He may well be, but I still worry about him.”
Martha rose, put her sewing on the table and walked over to her husband, putting her arm around him. “He will be just fine.”
“I told you we had enough petrol,” he said.
Joe smirked at him. “You are too cautious, my friend. The books need to be sent up to the heavens in glory, ne'er to return.”
Aaron smiled reluctantly. Joe was right. Of the two of them Aaron was the more conservative, but that's what made their friendship so solid – the fact that they were so similar yet so different. Their past together was littered with shared adventures, almost all of which were initiated by Joe, and most of which earned Aaron trouble with his father's belt.
It was the very last day of school ever for the two, and the ceremonial torching of school books was almost a rite of passage for the young people of Stokesby in Norfolk. Next term paths would separate, but the pair were off to Bristol university to study Engineering together.
Aaron stared into the flames. “You going to miss Stokesby, Joe?”
Joe threw another book into the bonfire. “Not really. Not that I'm not grateful for all that the Forrester's have done for me since my parents died, but I felt a bit trapped by them.”
“They meant well,” Aaron replied.
“As I said, I am grateful.” Joe replied in a tone that warned off Aaron from continuing this line of conversation.
“I will miss Mary.” Aaron continued.
Joe laughed. “You lovestruck old dog. There are many more fish in the sea.”
Aaron punched his friend playfully. “Oi, I love that girl!”
Joe feigned injury and raised his hands in mock appeasement. “Of course you do. Sorry!”
John Leibowitz watched the scene from the kitchen window. “They're going to burn down those trees if they're not careful.”
Martha looked up from her sewing. “You have always fretted too much about that boy, John.”
He turned to her. “Have I now? And do you remember the shed?”
She sighed. “That was a long time ago. He's a young man now.”
He returned to the window. “He may well be, but I still worry about him.”
Martha rose, put her sewing on the table and walked over to her husband, putting her arm around him. “He will be just fine.”
Done!?
Well folks, my tale is done. Yes, I know I've said that before. :)
A grand old total of over 35000 words! Would you believe it?
I would like to say a very, very special thanks to you Jinksy and LegalMist who have offered me so much support and encouragement through these Last Days of Aaron.
Last Days is what I would like to call the book which I am going to have a go at getting published.
Leave a comment here if you're interested in updates.
A grand old total of over 35000 words! Would you believe it?
I would like to say a very, very special thanks to you Jinksy and LegalMist who have offered me so much support and encouragement through these Last Days of Aaron.
Last Days is what I would like to call the book which I am going to have a go at getting published.
Leave a comment here if you're interested in updates.
Epilogue 51
I sat on the rocks staring at the waves roll in, crashing forcefully against the jagged shore. I tuned in to hear the roar of the ocean and the fierce howl of the storm. This scene was a far cry from the sun drenched beach of my memories, but it was safe here - I would hurt them no more.
The sun broke suddenly through the heavy skies, sending a bright shaft of light to dance gracefully on the ocean crests. The gap in the clouds gradually broadened and soon I too was bathed in the warm glowing balm of the sun.
I looked up at the sky, closing my eyes against the brightness, and was, for the first time in ages, at peace.
My reverie was interrupted by a gentle touch at my elbow. I opened my eyes to see Elsbeth at my side, smiling.
She took my arm in hers. “It’s time to go home, Aaron.”
I nodded.
The sun broke suddenly through the heavy skies, sending a bright shaft of light to dance gracefully on the ocean crests. The gap in the clouds gradually broadened and soon I too was bathed in the warm glowing balm of the sun.
I looked up at the sky, closing my eyes against the brightness, and was, for the first time in ages, at peace.
My reverie was interrupted by a gentle touch at my elbow. I opened my eyes to see Elsbeth at my side, smiling.
She took my arm in hers. “It’s time to go home, Aaron.”
I nodded.
Epilogue 50
Anne opened her eyes and looked up at the white, hospital ceiling.
“Mummy?”
Liesel woke from her restless slumber on the chair next to Anne’s bed and leapt up.
“Anne!” she cried, hugging her daughter fiercely, tears flowing from her eyes.
The remained like that for a while, Liesel stroking her daughter’s hair gently.
“I’m so tired, Mummy”
“That’s ok, Sweetie,” Liesel replied, “Mummy is here. You get some rest.”
Anne nestled into her mother’s arms.
“Mummy?”
“What is it, Anne?”
“Grandpa says he loves you very much and told me to say bye-bye for him. He said he’s going on a long holiday.”
Liesel looked at her daughter’s big eyes.
“Tell him, I love him too, ok?”
Anne nodded sleepily and closed her eyes.
“Mummy?”
Liesel woke from her restless slumber on the chair next to Anne’s bed and leapt up.
“Anne!” she cried, hugging her daughter fiercely, tears flowing from her eyes.
The remained like that for a while, Liesel stroking her daughter’s hair gently.
“I’m so tired, Mummy”
“That’s ok, Sweetie,” Liesel replied, “Mummy is here. You get some rest.”
Anne nestled into her mother’s arms.
“Mummy?”
“What is it, Anne?”
“Grandpa says he loves you very much and told me to say bye-bye for him. He said he’s going on a long holiday.”
Liesel looked at her daughter’s big eyes.
“Tell him, I love him too, ok?”
Anne nodded sleepily and closed her eyes.
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