A Melancholy Forecast-Stormy Weather on the Horizom

Prompt: Begin or end your story with someone looking out at a body of water (river, ocean sea)

A Melancholy Forecast: Stormy Weather on the Horizon

A salty mist bathed our faces as we sat upon the edge of the cliff. The sun gleamed its light upon our faces. A gentle breeze gingerly pushed her auburn hair upon her rosy cheeks. We sat in silence for a while gazing out at the endless sea. Its waves serenely undulated across the surface until one could hear the slap of the waters upon the shoreline. A seagull annoyingly flew in front of us awakening us from our trance.

Rachel turned her head toward me softly inquiring,

“Do you love me? Do you love me more than anything in this world?”

With a stoic look on my face I said,

“More than anything? Are you sure that is the right question to ask?”

She furrowed her eyebrows in dismay at my answer. She sighed deeply. Apologetically I responded,

“You know I do.”

She blurted out, “Then say it!”

“Say what? I said defensively.

“Say that you love me, Michael! Don’t be such an idiot.”

The intensity of our conversation amped up to a higher level. I turned to look at the sea and the waves had become more intense as well. The sun now had moved behind darker clouds. I thought a storm might be moving into the area. I thought one was already brewing on the edge of the cliff.

“I love you. Let me count the ways. One, two, three up to infinity.” I said light heartedly.

Rachel was still distressed. “You are not romantic. You are an idiotic prude. Don’t make fun of me! You don’t know the meaning of love or how to really love!”

Again, we sat motionless and in silence on the cliff’s edge. Both our heads were fixed on the turbulent waters in front of us. It seemed like time had stopped. I pondered how did it get to this point? Rachel and I were meant for each other, or so I thought. We knew when we first met it was love at first sight. I had even asked her if this was true for her. She emphatically replied, “absolutely". That was the exact word she used.

Our torrid enchantment with each other continued to exponentially grow. She lived with her parents, and I lived with my grandmother. Given the slow economic times neither of us could afford to rent an apartment. We certainly would not be able to live together as she was a devout Catholic and chaste. So was I, except I was Protestant. That made matters difficult with her parents. Nothing like two Northern Ireland families clashing over their theologies. Since my grandmother was more tolerant, she would allow Rachel to come by to visit.We still had to be discreet.

Given both of us had full-time jobs, we had even less opportunities to be together. When we did it was like we had not seen each other for ages. We held each other so tightly I almost caused Rachel to pass out. One would think by my actions that I love this woman. But why was I being so stubborn about not admitting my deepest feelings for her? No one ever taught me or explained what it was like to love and to be in love. Certainly my grandmother cared deeply for me after my parents had passed when I was a young lad. Nonetheless, my teenage years were difficult because I had to endure the slander, chiding, and harassment of the Irish gangs I refused to join. Plus, I was ostracized by neighbors who knew I was seeing Rachel, a Catholic woman.

Rachel was my first relationship at my mature age of twenty-five. She was a tender twenty. Seeing Rachel activated in me a passion I could only explain like this: I was melted butter, wrapped in a warm blanket holding an armful of purring kittens. My feelings for her transcended the desire to be physically intimate with her. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I still yearned for that closeness and joyful union, but we committed to each other to temper our bodily urges or lusts one might say should the prospect of marriage become reality.

Sundown was advancing quickly on the horizon. The skies were black. The mist turned into a stronger drizzle. Fortunately, we brought rain ponchos. Both of us continued to sit on the cliff’s edge hoping to see the incredible moon rise and the stars glimmer brightly in the sky. We could not get such a view from the town where we lived. It was rare we would have this opportunity to be together at this moment in time to see this. We really hoped the skies would clear for us.

After we donned our ponchos, we sat on a tarp to avoid slipping on the rocks. The ponchos kept us warm, but I decided to put my arm around her waist. I nudged her exposed neck with my nose, planting a tiny kiss on her now very rosy cheek. She half smiled saying,

“You are my crazy lovebird. I’ll never, ever forget how we first met. You were a late arrival to my book club. We were reading Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy at the moment you sat down. I thought to myself what is a bloke like him reading such a novel full of woman relationships?” Then the first thing you blurted out of your mouth was “Poor Benny. She got suckered by that no-good Sean Walsh. I so wanted to cry my eyes out.”

Rachel continued on saying, “I knew instantly that you were the right guy for me, Michael. You hooked me with your sensitivity, openness, and empathy. You were uninhibited at expressing your emotions.But lately I don’t understand why it is so difficult for you to say that you love me? A woman needs to be reassured often that her man loves her.”

I was silent.

The rain danced on the tarp. We were persistent in hoping there would be a clearing of the skies. Negative thoughts were racing in my mind. I was having second thoughts about Rachel.It was not so much about her (she was perfect) but, I on the other hand waivered up and down in my emotions. I wish I knew what she really wanted. I thought I was expressing my love for her by doing romantic things; by being a gentleman; by doting on her. I just could not say I loved her with sincerity and a deep seriousness that would be believable to her. What was I lacking? What was my plan in the first place when the moon and stars would shine? I really was doubting myself.

The rain stopped. A cool, crisp breeze blew in our faces. Night had fallen and the clouds drifted away.

I turned to Rachel stating the obvious. “The rain has stopped.” Then half-heartedly I quipped “Yea! The clouds are drifting away. Bring on the moon and the stars!”

Rachel chuckled when she said, “You are an insightful man.”

She touched my cheek as she said in a soft, endearing voice, “Michael, I suppose I can understand it may be hard to say the word “love” when your life has been full of negativity and peer pressure. Maybe if you told me your deepest feelings, I could understand you even better. I want to love you from within. I want to love your heart, your thoughts, your soul. If I have you, I have everything.”

Rachel rested her head upon my shoulder. Her words stirred up courage within me. I felt an abiding trust for the first time in my life. She would never leave me. I was ready to give her my life.

I needed to stretch my legs, so we stood up together on the wet tarp. The backdrop of the moon, stars and splashing waves was the perfect setting. I then knelt on my right knee pulling out a small jewelry box from under my poncho.

Rachel gasped as I said to her “Love is patient and kind. Love is not boastful or proud or rude. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith. It is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. (1) Rachel, this is what love means to me. You are the manifestation of God’s love to me. Will you marry me? I love you and want to spend an eternity with you.”

Overwhelmed by my words and the spectacular night sky with shimmering stars and a glowing moon Rachel blubbered an emphatic “yes.”Her tears rivered down her face to the sea. Tears flowed from me. Somewhat embarrassed I said,

“Oh, this salty sea mist is burning my eyes.”

Rachel giggled and she then lunged forward to hug me. The impact of her body hitting me caused me to lose my balance. The wet tarp became a sheet of ice and the both of us arm in arm, slid off the tarp onto the edge of the cliff. Our momentum carried us down the steep cliff. Our bodies hit jagged rocks along the way before the two of us lay at the bottom onto the beach.

I darted in and out of consciousness. In a moment of clarity, I saw Rachel. Her body was twisted from the fall. Her head was severely lacerated. I had no feeling in my legs.

Weakly I cried to her, “Rachel, Rachel, I am coming to get you.”

I snaked my way over to her. There was no response. Her eyes were open, but she was not breathing. I could not feel a pulse. I wailed in anguished, blood curdling distress. With what little energy I had left, I screamed at the moon and the stars,

“Oh, my Lord in heaven do not take my one true love! I know she is with you, my Jesus; take me home so I can be with her too.” I cried. I cried but I had no more tears. My Rachel had gone home to Jesus.

I awoke on a gurney still on the beach. Rachel still laid on the rocks but was covered with a tarp. The one we had sat on at the cliff’s edge. The local constabulary was assessing the scene. One of the officers began to ask me questions about the incident. My head and legs were throbbing during the interrogation.

A week later the events of that night were still fuzzy. Both my legs were in casts My wrists were handcuffed to the side of the bed. I was sullen and depressed. For some reason I was in the prison infirmary. Then on the nightstand by my bed lay a newspaper with the headline, “Reclusive Protestant Man Kills Twenty-Year-old Catholic Girl. Suicide Pact Gone Awry.” I thought to myself apparently the authorities never found the ring I gave her. It had been my deceased mother’s ring.

Months later from my prison cell the only I could only pray these verses and tell the truth of my story amid the lies and speculation.I know in my heart and soul that one day I will be united with Rachel into the loving arms of Jesus. It is His promise.

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (2)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” (3)

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (4)

-END-

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, NLT

John 14:3, NLT

Romans 8:18, NKJV

Galatians 2: 20, NKJV

NLT=New Living Translation

NKJV=New King James Version

Contest #363-Weather the Storm

Word count: 2017

Author: Pete Gautchier

Acknowledgement: AReedsyprompts.com