⎾19 | TAKING RISKS⏌
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY that life in London was everything I imagined it would be since I was only a little girl. Living here was a dream come true, almost like a princess who finally found her way home. A princess...without a prince. The sad thing was, I was slowly starting to forget Gilbert Blythe and the way he made me feel. As the year dragged on, I slowly stopped worrying about the past and lived in the now.
Although, being rich was harder than I thought it was going to be. There is never a day that goes by when we don't have company over. Over time, I got very tired of saying "how do you do," and "it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance,". It only took me a few months to naturally greet people respectfully.
The only thing keeping me sane in this large house were my three best friends—Thomas, Charlie, and Andrew. Or so my parents like to call "the orphan boys". At first, I was very nervous around them, and they seemed to be so as well. But, over time, I grew close to the boys and they became like my brothers. Well, except for one of them.
First, there was Andrew—the person that would always make you laugh. Andrew was one of the first boys I had an encounter with, for he accidentally knocked over and shattered one of mother's vases in the dining hall. I couldn't help but laugh hysterically while he was scorned upon by my parents. I helped him clean up the mess, and there on out we were best pals.
Second, there was Charlie—the sweetest boy you would ever come across in your lifetime. I met him while I was in the library trying to reach a book that was ultimately way to high for me. Once I reached it, I accidentally knocked multiple other books down along with it. As I bent down trying to pick them up, I noticed a figure standing beside me, helping me pick them up. He was so kind, and I wondered where he got it from. Growing up on the streets was rough, and I couldn't never imagine him living that way. Shortly after our encounter, we began to talk way more and soon become best friends.
Lastly, there was Thomas—the mysterious boy with a pretty face. Thomas was different than the other boys. I never knew where Thomas came from, all I knew was that he was an orphan who grew up on the streets, like the other boys. I couldn't explain him as well as I could the other boys. He made me feel something—something different. When I am with him, I feel reckless. When I first met him, it was completely by accident. I hadn't been informed that our maid was waxing the floors that day, so as I walked down the hallway, I slipped and managed to fly backwards. I prepared my body for an impact that never came, which completely took me aback. I was then suddenly in someone's arms. Then, I looked up to see Thomas, who was flashing a grin down on me and I blushed and laughed. That was a moment I would never forget.
"What are you daydreaming about, Samantha?" A voice asked, causing me to snap out of my thoughts
"Sorry," I said, laughing and shaking my head at Charlie. "I wasn't daydreaming. Just thinking."
"Thinking 'bout what?" Thomas said, entering the room with a grin plastered on his face.
"Nothing what you're thinking," I said, playfully shoving him as he took a seat on the couch next to me.
"Want to know what I'm thinking?" Thomas asked, a sly smirk never leaving his face.
"I'll pass," I said, laughing to myself.
Charlie walked up to us, sitting down on the other side of me and asking, "What do you want to do on the fine Saturday morning?"
I paused for a moment in thought, wondering what we would make of this day. Everyday with the boys was not a day wasted. It was full of adventure and fun. Like I said, they were the only people keeping me sane.
"Well, I have one idea, but it's completely insane." I managed to say, shaking my head in laughter.
"What is it?" Thomas asked, smirking at the thought of insane.
"Nothing...it's completely crazy." I said, shaking my head.
"Please, tell us," Charlie pleaded, kneeling down on the floor with his hands clasped together.
"Tell us what?" Andrew said, entering the room with his eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"I think we should go to the nearby quarry," I said, smirking as the boys motioned me to go on. "And go cliff jumping!"
"Cliff jumping?" Charlie asked, puzzled.
"Cliff jumping!" Andrew and Thomas shouted in unison, giving each other a high five.
"You've done it before?" I asked the two.
"Of course we have!" Andrew said, jumping up on the couch and smiling down at us.
"The rush is amazing," said Andrew, holding his arms out as if he were flying. "It's like you're able to fly, and your heart races at a thousand beats per minute."
"Really?" I asked in awe.
"Oh yeah," Thomas said, stretching out his arms and folding them behind his head while leaning to the back of the couch. "It's amazing."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" I questioned, jumping up from the couch.
Just as the four of us were about to leave, my mother spotted us and crossed her arms, "Just where do you think you are going?"
"Um," I paused, my mind searching for a simple explanation. "Just outside. We want to get some fresh air."
"Okay, but if you go anywhere, remember that your curfew is 8 o'clock on the dot. Tomorrow is a big day for you and I want you to get some rest."
My mind immediately searched to remember what tomorrow was, and it was quite hard to pull up the memory. I wasn't the best listener, anyway. My mother could sense my confusion, and scoffed in annoyance.
"You don't remember, do you?" She asked, sighing and slightly shaking her head. "Your father is throwing a party for the big promotion he received. This is a big deal, and you all promised you would be there."
"Oh, yeah," I said, my mind jogging back to when she first told me about my father being promoted. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Okay," My mother said, sighing and looking back at us. "Have fun, but be safe."
"Oh, we will!" Thomas said, smirking and running out the door, the three of us immediately following.
The water below us was calm and steady, glistening underneath the sunlight. Never in my life did I think I would be in this situation, but I willingly decided that I needed to take a few risks in life.
"So, who wants to go first?" Andrew asked.
I raised my hand half-heartedly, knowing that I would most likely chicken out if I saw someone else go first. The boys eyes widened, surprised that I volunteered, but soon began to cheer.
I notice my heart beat quicken as I look down the vast vertical drop from where I was standing to the body of water below me. I nodded, assuring myself that I needed to have courage. I began to strip of my clothes, leaving myself only in a lace bralette and undergarments.
Before I could think for myself, I took a few steps back, then broke into a full speed sprint towards the edge. My last foot slowly left the edge of the rock, sending me soaring into the air.
In the air, when I was falling, I was on my own. No one surrounded me, just air and the view of the tall trees surrounding the rocks. Though, it was all a blur. My heart was pounding, my head was pounding, but my thoughts were completely blank. The boys' cheers we're faded from the air passing by me, but I could still hear them. Suddenly, the water touches me, gently consuming my body into its depths.
Nothing but the water surrounded me, causing me to feel at peace. As I arose from the water, I gasped for air and looked up at the three familiar faces staring down at me.
"What are you waiting for?" I shouted to them. "Come on! It's fun!"
One by one, the boys jumped off the cliff, experiencing the same feeling I had felt just moments before. It was the feeling of life; the rush of excitement of flying. It was an indescribable feeling.
"Gilbert! That was amazing!" I shouted, causing Thomas to turn at me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Who's Gilbert?" Thomas asked, curious if this new name he had never heard before.
I felt my heart sink, and my eyes suddenly traveled down to the water, away from his gaze.
"He's, nobody," I heard myself say. "Just an old friend, that's all."
I couldn't believe my words. I wanted to say, "No! Gilbert wasn't nobody. He was my person. He was my home. But he's gone, now. And it's all my fault."
But I couldn't bring myself to say such words. I was taught that a lady shouldn't say what doesn't need to be said. Ladies keep quiet.
"Oh, okay," Thomas said, believing my lie. "Anyways, that was amazing! The rush was unbelievable!"
Suddenly, Charlie came plummeting down, as did Andrew just after him. The two of the shouted a sound similar to Tarzan. I laughed as the splashed into the water, then emerged with bright smiles plastered on their faces.
"Best. Day. Ever!" Andrew cheered.
"I couldn't agree more." I said, smiling and cheering louder than I ever have before.
Even though I had the time of my life, I couldn't help but remember that this was not the the happiest I had ever been. Not even close. I couldn't deny the fact that I miss him. I miss him so much. And I don't think I'll ever get him back.