posted on Jun, 25 2008 @ 11:10 PM
Ok, so this my first attempt at writing a short story so be nice.... although obviously constructive critisism is welcome. hope you like it.
Helena.
The rain streaked down the window as he paced up and down the
living room of his flat. With a tear in his eye and dark
thoughts of giving it all up in his mind he reached for his
mobile. He almost looked at the picture on the screen. He put
it back on the coffee table.
Tom hadn't seen the photo which served as the background on his
phone for three months, not since the night of the accident. He
was used to using it so could still operate it without having
to look at it.
He was nearing a breakdown, he could feel it. He couldn't cope
without her, it was too much for him to take.
He had been a mess for months now, barely a shade of the man he
used to be... when he was happy.
He decided after a short while however, to put his problems
aside for the sake of his father's happiness. After all, it was
his Dad's 75th birthday and he was having a party. All the
family was invited including the cousins that Tom never saw. It
was sure to be boring as hell.
He grabbed the phone and car keys from the table and left,
slamming the door behind him.
Still distracted by his thoughts and emotions, he drove
headlong into the continuing downpour.
He missed the sense of togetherness, he missed the warmth now
gone from his heart but most of all, he simply missed feeling
loved.
The phone rang and the tune the phone played seemed to be
exactly in time with his window wipers which were struggling to
keep the windscreen clear. After a moments pause he grabbed the
mobile making sure not to look at the face on the screen.
"Hi mum" he said trying to sound happier than he was.
"Thomas, I've been trying to get hold of you all day, where
have you been?"
"Sorry mum, my..uh.... I left my phone round a friends and only
just got it back"
It was the first thing that came to him and must not have
sounded very convincing at all.
"I'm on my way, don't cut the cake till I get there ok?
I won't be too long."
"Ok honey, just be careful driving in this weather, I'll see
you soon."
"ok bye mum"
He let a tiny smile creep onto his face as he thought of his
parents whom he hadn't seen for a few weeks but the moment was
fleeting as the bright blue light reflected off every raindrop
in front of him like a thousand tiny blue Christmas lights. He
knew exactly what it was and his heart sank once more.
He pulled over.
"Sir, you know driving while talking on a mobile phone is
against the law don't you?"
The police officer had a self importance about him and stood
silent waiting for a response.
"I'm sorry, It was only for a few sec..."
"Sir, its not the issue that it was only for a few seconds but
that you did it at all... while speeding."
Speeding! Tom thought, If he was then it was only a few Mph
above the limit. He considered trying to reason with him but
gave in and stayed quiet.
"sir, I'm going to run you and your vehicle through the system,
can I see your licence please?"
Tom reached into his pocket.
"you also have a brake light out. As well as going about 10
miles-an-hour faster than the speed limit. While on your
phone."
"I'm going to have to take you down to the station."
Tom gave the officer his licence and he turned, took a couple
of steps toward his police car and stopped. Tom thought he
heard the crackle of a radio but couldn't be sure, he struggled
to see what he was doing through the blur of the water but was
still distracted enough not to really care.
This was bad, and He didn't need it at this point in his life.
On top of that he was definitely going to miss his Dad's party.
He sank down in his seat and let out a long sigh.
A brief few moments later the police officer returned.
"Sir, I have to respond to an emergency, Think yourself lucky
and take this as a warning ok?" He said handing back the
license.
"uh.. certainly officer, I won't do it again."
Tom sat bemused and stationary in his car for a few seconds and
thought of how empty his words sounded. The police car screamed
passed him with lights and sirens on full, He felt his car rock
a little as it went by. He reached down and started his engine
but stopped it again just as quickly and sank deep into his
chair.
The all too familiar feeling of tears welling up in his eyes
returned to him and the overwhelming feeling of loss was
amplified by his loneliness.
Again and again, dark thoughts raced through Tom's mind. Why
had this happened? Did he deserve this? It just doesn't seem
fair. He could just end it all. It wouldn't take much, just
letting his car drift of the road and into a tree or a ditch
or, or...
Suddenly, like a flash of lightening, A random memory of a
conversation long since passed popped into his head.
The soft, caring voice he missed so much came to him like a
long deep breath after an eternity of suffocation.
"Tom, you know your always going to be disappointed in life if
you don't appreciate what you have while you have it."
The voice said.
"Loved ones will die and you have to be strong enough to know
that its the way things are, and the way things should be. If
there's one piece of advice I can give you, its appreciate who
and what you have because change is the only inevitable thing
in life."
Tom remembered at the time just being totally intoxicated by
her eyes, her smile, her scent, her voice, the tiny motions she
made with her hands while she spoke. Her words had seemed wise
at the time and that very night, he remembered, was the night
he fell for her.
But the words now seemed to take on a more urgent purpose and a
deeper, more immediate meaning. As if only now could he derive
their true worth.
Confused, but infused with a new sense of intent, Tom started
his engine, wiped the tears from his face and pulled onto the
motorway. He could still make the party and see his parents.
His mum was holding a plate of pineapple-cheese sticks in one
hand as she opened the door with the other. He kissed her on
the cheek, and gave her a massive hug.
"I'm glad you came honey, how have you been?" She said.
"up and down.. you know" he said. But today’s not about me,
where's the birthday boy?"
Toms mother giggled as she pointed to the living room.
"Your Father is in there dear, go on through"