Four Years: The first year

13| Aly

"You were engaged?" Ray asked, surprised. I could tell that he and Cami were a little taken back as they were the only ones who didn't know.

"Yeah, it was a stupid decision. I was just 18 and an idiot." 

"What happened, why'd you break up?" Ray asked me.

"I saw him and his best friend doing... um... stuff," I said reluctantly.

"Oof. That's dark."Cami said scrunching her nose.

"Anyway, guys I gotta go study now. Exams are just around the corner." I bid them all good night and went to my room to study.

.....................................................................

The next day I had some of my stuff coming from home so I asked George, Ryan, and Ray for help.

Ray noticed that I had a huge number of pens, markers, and tapes and asked me if I was a stationery addict. I admitted that I was and all three of them looked at me funny.

"Wow, those are a lot of books." Said George, pointing to my huge stack of books.

"Yeah, I read a lot. That reminds me, Ryan, did you finally complete The Haunting of the Hill House." Ryan and I share a love of reading. We often go to book clubs and libraries together. It's one of the things we bonded over when we became friends.

"Nah dude, it's way too scary. I stashed it in the oven."

"Yeah, 'cause a roasted book is less scary," George remarked, with a sarcastic grin.

I chuckled and then looked at the pile of wooden slabs on the floor.
"Okay, guys. I need you to assemble the desk."

All three of them crouched down but none of them knew where to start and just sat there staring at the wood blocks and fiddling with the parts. I stood over them scrutinizing there empty faces.

"Oh, for God's sake, move." I pushed them away and started assembling the desk myself. By the time I was done, they were all staring at me with a gaping mouth.

"Wow," Ray drawled.

"That was quick," Ryan added.

"Eh," I observed the table I just assembled admiring my work. "Alright, thanks for the help princesses, you can all go now. By the way, shame on you, you're both engineers" I said pointing at George and Ryan.

They all left narrowing their eyes at me and I laughed behind their back.
I lay flat on the bed and stared at the wall for a couple of minutes. That was one heck of a day. I need an escape. A relaxing, quiet place. So, I head to my sanctuary.

...................................................................................

There is a little-used bypass road in the city that I discovered a while back, called 22 Bypass Road, which is mostly quiet, especially at night.

Both sides of the street are lined with dense trees and tall road lights. There are park benches at regular intervals. But what I love most about this street is that I get to witness the moon in all its phases every day.

This serene location is my go-to spot whenever I feel overwhelmed by the chaos of life. This is where I seek refuge from the noise of the world outside, a place where I can find solitude and peace. Here, I can organize my thoughts, reflect on my life, and recharge my batteries. There's something about the gentle rustling of leaves, the soothing sound of water flowing nearby, and the fresh air that clears my mind and fills me with a sense of calm. This is the perfect place to take long walks, breathe in the fresh air, and reconnect with nature. It's my sanctuary, a place where I can let go of all my worries and just be.

As I strolled down the street, I couldn't help but admire the lush greenery that surrounded me. The trees were so dense that they formed a canopy overhead, casting a peaceful shade on the pavement below. The road lights towered over me, illuminating the path ahead and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. And like always the moon didn't fail to impress me with its celestial and ethereal beauty.

I've been walking here for an hour now and I think I went a little farther than usual. I still keep walking and see a small hill. I look at it and I think it would only take about two hours to reach the top so I start trekking.

After about 20 minutes had passed, I heard someone singing. It was a man and his voice was the most mesmerizing sound I had ever heard. I followed the sound and it seemed a little familiar. I soon realized that he was singing 'Pehli Dafa'. As I moved closer to him, I saw that he was sitting on the edge of a cliff, playing his guitar. I found a nearby rock behind a tree to sit on and just listened to his beautiful voice, not worried about any bugs or snakes. I was completely entranced and closed my eyes while he sang. I immersed myself in the delightful combination of music and nature. When the song ended, the man sat there silently for a few minutes and I couldn't help but keep staring at his back.

He finally stood up and turned around. And my eyes widen at the unreal fact that it's George. Of course, it is. That's why his voice was so familiar. Soon, the initial shock subsided and I noted his light blue eyes glistened in the moonlight. The light accentuated his skin and jawline. He picked up his guitar and walked back to the same path that I had come through, leaving me to finally step forward to the cliff's edge. The view was absolutely breathtaking -  so majestic and serene, the trees behind me and the sea in front, shining oh-so-brightly.

I get it. This place is his sanctuary.

I sat down where he was sitting and wondered, how many more ways can this man surprise me?