Chapter the Fifth

The stars fluoresced in the dusky night, specks of various lights stippling the dark canvas. They wavered in the sky, glowing and dimming continually, each never missing a beat of their own solitary rhythm, sometimes harmonizing a silent melody, to only then fall back into disjunction. 

I watched the flecked black, my mind drowsed into a trance by their alternating movements. Thinking of nothing else I gazed motionless at the above.

Three weeks has passed since Kade broke our relationship, occasionally regarding me in the halls, chatting a short while, becoming another ordinary classmate. Just another person I knew.

I often saw him with his bandmates, their music a soft hum from the basement late at night. While they practiced and prepared for their record and tour in the summer, I focused on my studies. Although my grades were perfectly good, I challenged myself with extra assignments and researched different topics on medicine. Sometimes I would be lucky and momentarily forget my loneliness in the process.

As I stared up into that vast night, I wondered if we were looking at the same stars.

~

Arching my back and spanning my arms out slightly behind me, I stretched the aching muscles that just finished sitting through hours of testing. Broken shards of lead from a mechanical pencil trashed the buffed wood desk.

It was the end of the school day as well as the last day of the year; the start of summer vacation for most students, the end of school life as most know it for the seniors.

For me, a leap towards my dream; a new future.

A future without Kade.

Finding someone to only then depart after realizing you love that person left a constant ache in my heart. But day by day it diminished, the pain dulling and fading until it was almost nonexistent.

Sometimes I felt I forgot everything, but I never did truly forget.

He was in the gentle tug of a passing breeze, the whisper of ash leaves and the flare of a vermillion sky lit up by the descending glow of day. He returned as nameless riders on sable motorcycles, and was personified by black Cadillacs, Hollywood lights, wheelchairs and messy rooms; the taste of strawberry, the sound of guitar.

And the colour of red.

I swished my bag over my shoulder and headed out the doors and past the gates. As I walked away, I never once looked back.

~It’s A Beautiful Day~

My prim, black stilettos clopped rhythmically against the slate sidewalk as I returned home from the office. It was a quarter to seven, making it five and a half hours since I last ate at lunch. I wasn’t in the mood to cook, so I decided to stop by a café on the way back to my flat.

The brisk nip of the mid spring weather chilled the exposed skin beneath my knee as I sought out my destination. Sweeping across the scope of the street my eyes landed on a quaint corner building. Upon entrance I was struck with the perfusion of coffee and biscuits mingled with the sweet aroma of tea and the faint tang of liqueur. There were high seated tables fringing the slightly hazy windows with olive drawn curtains and a bar spanning the centre of the little encompassment.

Smiling to myself at the charming antique of the little brasserie I seated myself at a side table by the windows. On cue, a waiter came and took my order, jotting them down and leaving in a trim fashion.

Spurred on by his presence, a memory of years back came flashing back.

“Your drinks and cinnamon twist,” said the waiter, setting them on the table.

“Oh, thank you,” I said, shortly before Kade mumbled, “Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome, miss,” the waiter replied with a wink, blatantly ignoring Kade.

I gave a small smile, and he strode away, Kade shooting daggers at his back.

I rolled my eyes, but a fleeting smile curled at my mouth.

I guess you lost your charm, Mira, I joked to myself at the past waiter’s flirting. Then again, perhaps he only did that to annoy him... I thought absently as I began to gaze out the window.

A mist of light rain drizzled outside, growing rapidly in strength to an abrupt downpour. Pedestrians jostled about for shelter with only a sparse handful snapping up umbrellas whilst continuing their way.

Garbed in sandy beige, a dark haired man rushed by my window; his trench coat flapping at his sides as he fumbled to button it closed. Some seconds later came the soft tinkling of the café announcing the arrival of a customer. Or, as I turned curiously towards the door, of those seeking refuge.

It was the man that had just passed by my window. Looking at him closer, I took in his glistening wet hair and drenched shoulders, his shiny black shoes and brilliant hazel eyes as they turned towards me. Realizing, I whipped my gaze away self consciously. Half a second after I did so I hear faintly resounding steps approach my table. Peering up tentatively my eyes locked onto his.

Feeling the awkwardness of the moment yet not wanting to break away from his unfaltering gaze I just stared back, hoping I looked as composed as him.

Finally breaking the silence I queried, “Yes?”

A kind smile enveloped across his face as he responded, “Is this seat taken?” 

He gestured to the empty chair across from me as I momentarily debated with myself.

I don’t know this man yet...

He stood there patiently, smiling warmly as time slowly ticked by. I blinked.

And nodded my head.

Now sitting across from me he motioned towards the windows remarking, “It’s that time of the year again; getting doused by the scheming spring rain.”

Giving a small giggle I replied, “Good thing I stopped by here then.”

He smiled and nodded as we turned back towards the window in time to watch the raindrops subside as quickly as they had come.

Surprised, I exclaimed, “It really was a spring shower.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, glancing briefly at me to see my expression.

As the haze petered my eyes beheld the vague indication of seven colours. Gasping, I hopped from my seat and dashed out to espy a vivid rainbow adorning the blue gray sky. Never had I seen one so large as this, and from a transient shower no less!

Clasping my hands together in awe, I didn’t hear him approach until he was almost right next to me.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Dejá vù.

My head pivoted towards him, observing his profile in curious wonder as he peered up into the sky.

What felt so long ago, dwindling memories that doubly brought joy and sorrow, offered a new light.

Stopping to look at the sky, or the splendor around you. Finding beauty in this world. He taught me that.

The stark realization of it struck at my core.

Each day with him was like this rainbow out of the mist; a manifestation that the world is beautiful despite the burdens we bear. One needed to discover this beauty amongst the darkness and then embrace it wholeheartedly. Even as I had walked into the café and smiled at my surroundings, it wasn’t just there I could find it. I could find it...

My eyes flickered towards the man still contemplating the colours arched above. He was perfectly at ease and contented to just stop and gaze, racing blindly after someone along the way.

Embrace it wholeheartedly.

Gaze shifting back up, I looked at it in accord with him.

The speckled fog had all dwindled away, and the blue deepened to it’s original shade before the shower though still beheld seven colours.

Remaining motionless I thought and stared.

And then smiled.

“What a beautiful day.”

~It’s A Beautiful Day~

-End of Chapter The Fifth- 

Fin.