She stood there, aware of how she smelt, but drawn in by the delicious aroma of the coffee. Marty had such a thick accent, he spoke slowly and clearly. She listened to his stories, to how he spoke about the place and the people in it. He created pictures of a young boy, vibrant and energetic. The town he lived in was so quaint and full of the most interesting people. What she heard made her want to belong here. She wanted to belong to a world of simplicity, filled with life’s little pleasures. The ideas of freshly caught fish for dinner, walks along the shore and even the smell of home-baked bread, just out of the oven, created in her a longing. How she wished she could stay…
They talked and talked. It seemed to pour out of Marty. His eyes were hazel with the most beautiful green and brown flecks, she felt entranced. She felt like she had stumbled into another world, a different dimension. This world was safe – the safe haven she needed, a protection from the pain.
Marty’s eyes looked at her earnestly, peering and questioning and she realized then he had asked her a question. The thoughts that had her enraptured quickly faded and she tried think of what he had said. luckily he repeated himself, slowly. As if he knew she had been lost in the world his word’s had created. “Would you like me to show you around the town?” he said again.
“Yes that would be lovely!” she said excitedly, “but i reckon I need to shower first… if that’s OK?”
Her hair wet upon her shoulders, and her skin clean, she felt renewed and excited. She was getting a second chance. She slipped the soft woolen rust colored jersey over her head, and pulled on the black jeans. She wondered but didn’t ask where the women’s clothes came from, she was grateful for some clean clothes. The day was still overcast, the storm had subsided, but the bad weather was far from over. The wind came in strong gusts whipping up leaves as it went. The yard was a mess, broken branches lay strewn over the lawn, the flower beds a mangled mini jungle with overgrown weeds and piled up leaves and the grass was long from neglect. Comforted by her cosy jumper and by Marty beside her they set off to explore the town. They walked up the narrow streets with low stone walls, past brown brick houses, and grey stone cottages whose chimneys still smoked with the morning fires. Nestled on a seaside slope, the town had a sleepy feel to it.
Marty was fit and took strong strides. Her little legs hastened to keep up, but she could feel the strain in her chest as they continued higher. She was so unfit! Marty reached a point where he stopped and turned around” Look” he said.
She turned and stood silent. It was beautiful! The harbour stretched out in front of her with boats scattered hap-hazard on the deep turquoise waters, the sky; a grey dramatic scene of clouds billowing and shoving their way across her view, each darkened with the heavy waters they carried. She was in awe. The town bunched below her seemed small in comparison to the ocean and the sky, at its mercy.
To her left the hills grew upward to become cliffs rising sharply out of the water, jaggered and brown. They were like monuments, huge silent reminders of resilience while the waves battered their feet.
To her right the harbour rounded and just beyond the further hills she saw what looked like a thin stretch of beach.
This world was so different to the one she came from. It was raw, wild and bare. The cliffs were bare, the sky alive with movement and the wind filled with power in each gust. She felt so alive. Her blood was pumping round her chest, she could feel her heart beating faster and her breaths gasping as she stood trying to regain her breath.
She thought about her home, the white plaster walls, the rows of houses, gardens all manicured and ordered. It was so … she struggled to think of what it was… so … controlled. And yet the moment those pictures resurfaced a dread surfaced with them, a fear. So she focussed again on the view in front of her. She loved every bit of this place. It was her new adventure. This was her life now, she decided.
Marty looked down at her, “It’s something isn’t it?!”
“Absolutely” she replied in a breathy voice. They stayed a while longer. She perched herself on a stone wall, and swung her legs. “So, what now?” she asked almost cheeky with a small grin. She liked Marty. He may not be the talkative type, but she liked his strength and mystery. He also seemed so real, just who he was!
“I was thinking we could go for a drive. It’s a great view from here but there is a lot to see round these parts. I reckon you’ll like the beach! Then maybe we could go down to the inn for lunch, they make a brilliant steak pie.” said Marty
“Sounds like a plan!” she said her grin broadening. All that walking and the fresh air was making her hungry!!
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Colour My World 