Ocean & Sand

Ocean & Sand: Chapter 1

The coffee maker doing a buzzing noise, echoing off the walls of my hearing senses, while I was deep in thoughts, waiting for the white and slippery cup filled up with the burning hot liquid, the aroma filling the whole room I was in, some people here and there, some crying, others with blank faces, and others relieved as if god has talked personally to them, but...in my case, I wasn't feeling anything at all, just an empty projection in front of my eyes, the top of my fingers tapping the wood desk as the time was in a hurry for the day to end. A faded voice whispered in the background, bringing me back to the present, staring at the woman with a slight smile written in her peachy lips, making her eyes go smaller and more friendly, holding something in her soft hands. "Miss, Miss..." I glared at her, giving her the attention she didn't receive from me a while ago. "Here..." she simply said, grabbing my freezing hands gently, putting the little cup, for it to rest in my fingers."Thank you, how much do I own you?" I asked, responding to her sweet actions."That isn't necessary, I think a small cup of coffee will soften your day a little bit more..." she said with sweet words. I smiled at her, looking at the cup and then meeting her stare again."I appreciate your kindness, but please, take it" I told her, handing her some gold coins that were buried inside my purse. She just shook her head and pulled her hands away."I can feel you are having a hard time..." I just hung my head low, knowing that she is right. "Everything will turn better, you will see..." she told me, confident about her words of wisdom. When I turned to thank her for her optimistic attitude, she wasn't in my sight, she instantly faded away as the wind does with dust. My sight recurred the whole cafeteria, trying to find my little light of hope, but it just didn't exist anymore, I just shrugged and walked where I needed to go before my time is over. As I stepped the corridor, I felt chills all over my back, making my skin bristle. There was dead silence, only my steps could be heard in the whole space, ignoring the tense aura, I tried to reach the number I was searching for. 45...46...47 found it, 48. I knocked at the door after I heard a small voice permitting me to enter before twisting the knob and stepping inside."I brought you coffee," I said while walking to her, the glossy floor reflecting my silhouette with the heated cup still in my hands. She just nodded, she reclined her bed a little bit to the front then I handed her the cup before she brought the edge of it to her discolored lips, taking a sip of the brown liquid. "Do you want anything else?" I said to her, my voice a little bit low. There was a thick silence, her sparkly eyes, reflecting the ceiling spotlights, I just stood there waiting patiently for her answer, but still, there wasn't an answer from her, so I decided to interrupt the silence."Alright...I will be outside if you need anything-" she intervened before I could finish saying my sentence. "No." her voice making me shake in my standing spot. "What?" I responded, full of confusion and disappointment. "Go home, I...dont want your presence, I don't need you here." She told me, with her usual cold voice, I only stared at her, not knowing what to do or what to think. the only thing that popped to my mind was...why?, Why does she want me to leave? why is she always like that to me?"No, I won't, you need to have company for you to get better, and I won't leave you alone here by yourself" I responded, my words full of determination and stubbornness."You heard me, Luna, I won't repeat it twice" her words sounded like thunder, wanting to damage me if I didn't obey, but I didn't want to obey, she needs help or at least company, I know she is in pain, and I'm too, and that is just enough of an excuse to take care of each other. "I already said that I'm not leaving..." She turns to look at me for the first time in a while, but the only thing that I'm capable to see is her anger and frustration for me to leave. I took a long sigh trying to calm myself down before saying anything I regret."Look, I know you are in pain, and it hurts me too what happened, but we need each other, I want to take care of you-""Stop!" she suddenly said, anger dominating her, without caring about my weak heart. "Leave before this turns bad...this is my last warning," She said before sipping her coffee a little bit more. I encouraged myself and walked towards her bed, and took a seat beside her, and took her warm hand in mines. She instantly turned to me, with surprise in her eyes"Please mom, let me be here for you, please-" ...The sound echoed through the four walls that were keeping us apart from the rest of the people. My hand instantly holding my burning cheek, water reaching my eyes, my mind in a state of shook without knowing what to do, I looked at her in disbelief, but not surprised at all, I knew this will come any time. I stared at her trying to know the reason for such acts, but I only find her burning gaze, but there was glossiness, there was a part of regret, but she immediately shakes it away.I was tired, and just couldn't know the reason behind her cold attitude towards me, but those answers, I shouldn't get them right now, is not the moment, as always. Knowing that replying her back will turn worse the argument and her health, I took my purse and headed to the door, without saying goodbye or looking at her, I just twisted the knob and got out of there as fastest as I could. Leaving my mom and the hospital behind, I reached the parking lot, trying desperately to find my car, when it was at my sight I increased my speed, I got myself in to drive to my home, now tears streaming down my rosed cheeks.While driving, more tears started falling, but I continued driving as if nothing happened, only a blank face soaking in water. Reaching my shared home, I parked the park nearby and got inside my house, a smell of wood and old books welcoming me, I went directly to my bedroom, locking the door and throwing myself into the fresh and comfy white blankets. I looked through my window, watching the mesmerizing sunset, the beautiful pink and purple light reflecting in my room as if the walls had the whole galaxy in there. The view helped my sadness, I got up from my bed and headed to my bathroom, I stared at my reflection for a couple of minutes, who are you? I asked in my mind, I unknown who am I, I have changed a lot from how I used to be, I used to cry for hours, not knowing the reason of why I had the luck to have such cold parents that I barely saw every day, but now...I think I got used to it and coped better to hide what I felt, yes, I cried, but I didn't feel the pain I used to have, my pain is completely numb, and I can't feel it, empty tears were streaming a while ago, they didn't mean anything, it was something rare, that I couldn't understand, I just shrugged off those thoughts and focused on what I was doing, I washed my face with cold water, refreshing my head and self, then cleaned my teeth and searched for something to wear.I wore an oversized shirt and loose shorts, I got myself comfortable on my mattress and took my laptop in my lap, searching for entertainment until I fall asleep, just when I found something, a vibrating sound was emanating from somewhere else, it was my purse...with furrowed eyebrows and headed to it, my hand traveled the insides of it and found my phone, someone was calling me, but who? I peeked the screen when I saw who was, a genuine smile was written all over my lips, without wasting more time I pressed the green button. I colocated the device near my ear so I could hear the voice clearly, I happy voice was the first thing my ear caught."Good night my dear!" her high pitch voice making me laugh shortly."Good night Romilly, how are you?" I responded, relieved that she called."I'm okay dear..." I frowned at her statement. "It doesn't sound like it Rommily" I told to her, worried about her. I heard her sigh from the other line, continuing what she was about to say."Well, as you know, It has been a complicated week" I glared the wooden floor, I wanted to understand her, but I just couldn't."Yes...it has been real distress," I told her "You still don't know what happened?" She responded, me not knowing how to tell her."I..." "If you know, please dear, tell me," She said with a trembling voice."I...know what happened, but I think it is not a good decision to tell you on a call," I said, trying to let her understand the seriousness of the situation."Its okay dear, I understand..." she said, a little bit hurt. The silence got more piercing as the seconds passed, and I decided to broke it."Well, did you call me just for that reason, or is there something more you want to tell me?" she instantly recovered from her despair and answered me "Oh, I wanted to invite you to come and visit me, it been a while since we last saw each other," she said a little bit of sadness in her words. I will be lying if a tell you that I wasn't surprised, of course, I wanted to go and visit her, she is the person that supported me the most from all this mess, and being honest I missed her, without doubting more, I replied her"Of course I would love to visit you...I miss you a lot" I told her honestly, she is the only one I could express my feelings without any worry or regret, she supported me unconditionally, even when my parents didn't and I'm very grateful for that, her loud and happy response made me focus on the call."I miss you a lot too Luna, well, prepare your luggage, since I already programmed your flight at 10 am, for tomorrow!" I was surprised by the urge of the encounter, but I was excited too so I couldn't wait also. I laughed loud enough for her to listen to the other line."Alright, alright, I will see you tomorrow Romilly..." "Yes dear, have sweet dreams!" I couldn't erase the smile from my face."You too Rommi, bye-bye...""Goodbye dear!" she lastly said before hanging up. I was already excited about seeing her, so I put a calm movie, that I had watched more than one hundred times, but I just couldn't get bored, I put it and while reproducing my eyelids came heavier, until when I less expected, I was deeply asleep, preparing myself for what was about to happen tomorrow. ...My brain started to work again as the shiny light hit my features, the chirping birds singing telling me it was morning again, I turned my head to the crystalline window, watching the sunrise, painting orange and golden colors inside my bedroom, admiring the paradise in front of me, I turned my head towards my wall clock...7 am...there is enough time to get ready to move. I got up and walked heading to my bathroom, I think a refreshing shower will wake me up enough. I turned the red knob until the translucid water started running without end, me, taking off the fabrics that were hugging my body, before I touched the water, I turned on the speakers, selecting one of my favorites playlists and entering when the drops had contact with my skin, my worries and anxiety disappeared, turning into a relaxing moment that always heals me from everything I pass through, washing and cleaning my body and mind. When it was time to go, I turn off the waterfall and took a white towel, rubbing my skin for it to dry, humectating it then getting dressed in some gray pants and a black shirt, some sneakers, and a high ponytail. I prepared my luggage ready to go with my favorites and basic items. I checked my watch, indicating 7:40. I will arrive on time since the airport isn't that far away from my home. I went downstairs to get some snack or fruit since I didn't eat anything, just when I took the very first bite of my red apple, a strong hank was heard in the principal door, making me flinch a bit, a calmed down when I knew that was the driver that will take me to the airport. I got outside carrying my things when I encountered a medium class car, parking in front of the property, a young man got out from the automobile and his gaze fell on me."Good Morning, Miss," he said blankly."Morning" I simply said, but without the intention of sounding rude.He just nodded and walked towards me taking my luggage from my hands and put it inside the car trunk. Just a few moments passed and opened the passenger door for me, I accepted his gentle action and followed along, he took the driver's seat and started it.I was a little bit tired because of my lack of sleep last night, so I just put on my earphones, turn on the volume, and enjoy the sweet melody while we arrive at our destination.

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