-Chapter 5-
164 years and 8 months before the Collapse
Pink cherry blossom petals fluttered in salty winds, littering the foaming crystal waves as the endless ocean gently caressed the shore. A white sandy beach stretched lazily along the length of the cliff, the strip of serenity merely a footstool to a sheer and rocky face. Graham led Jaylen along it, barely able to contain his excitement.
“Where are we going?” she asked again, half-jogging to keep up. Graham smirked,
“You’ll see, it’s a surprise.”
The two of them had been spending many evenings together. It seemed that every day, once Graham had finished his set, Jaylen was there to say hello. He suspected she just liked his companionship, or perhaps she was fascinated by his lifestyle. Graham was the only person she really knew in the city, and she seemed to be the kind of person who thrived on social interaction. But every time she stood close to him he could feel his heart beat faster.
When he was with Jaylen it was like something else took hold of him, something that was drawn out by her presence but Graham restrained himself. He didn’t want their relationship to end like all his others had, even if that meant nothing truly began at all.
“Hey Graham,” she said, “look at this shell.” Graham turned, surprised to see her standing in the wake, her dress tied up at her knees. Crazy girl. He kicked off his shoes and stepped in after her, the cool spring waves washing over his ankles.
“What is it?” he asked. Jaylen bent over and dipped it in the water, scrubbing it with her thumb.
“It looks just like you,” she said. Skeptical, Graham eyed the white, dripping clamshell, his eyebrow raised.
“And how does that look like me?” Graham cast a sideways glance. Jaylen smiled childishly.
“Look closer.”
Humoring her, Graham obliged, leaning forward to scrutinize the shell, but he saw nothing unusual.
Saltwater blasted into his face. He reeled back in surprise and shook droplets from his hair.
“See,” Jaylen laughed, “You’re both all wet!”
“Oh-ho-ho! Is that how it is?” He kicked water at Jaylen. She recoiled with a scream.
“My dress!” she squealed. Graham took his chance and made a break for it, splashing along the shore. Jaylen attempted to make chase only to trip and fall headlong into the water. A moment passed before Graham’s concern overtook him and he turned to check on her. She hadn’t gotten back up. Panic flashed through him as he jogged back to her.
“Jaylen?” he said. She shot out of the water and pushed him over. Both of them tumbled back into the waves. Graham burst out with a gasp, dripping wet. Jaylen popped up next to him with her soaked hair draped across her face. She met his eyes and burst into boisterous laughter, surprising herself with a snort. At that, Graham couldn’t help but laugh and she covered her face in embarrassment.
“Where were we going again?” she said through her fingers.
…
They were still drying off by the time they got to their destination, Jaylen’s dress all wrinkled, and Graham’s jacket soaked.
“Are we there yet?” she asked, rubbing her arms.
“Actually,” Graham flourished, “we are!” He stepped back to present a small sandy nook, tucked into the corner of the cliff. Two stumps sat next to each other among the petals in the sand, and Graham’s instrument lay on top of one.
“It’s the perfect place to practice,” Graham explained, “far away from anyone in the city, a beautiful view, and,” he clapped his hands together, listening for their traveling echo, “cool acoustics.”
Jaylen smiled warmly, “And it only takes a fifteen-minute ride down the cliff in the tram.”
“Exactly!” Graham picked up his instrument and took a seat. “Now, do you want to help me practice?” Jaylen graced the seat next to him.
“What song are you going to sing?”
“Blossoming?” Graham suggested.
“That one’s my favorite.”
“I know.” Graham took his screwdriver, tuned his instrument, and began to sing.
“The rain… oh it’s falling
The birds… they’re still calling”
Jaylen sang along softly.
“Then in the ashen forest
Where silence is a chorus
There grew a gentle flower
Changing by the hour
Blossoming, Blossoming, Blossoming
Into something new. It’s my love for you
Meet me right here,
Every day dear
We’ll make the occasion
A declaration
With beauty unrivaled
And sunshine divine
We’ll talk and we’ll laugh
Like we’re dormant in time
And if I leave, like dust in the day-wind
My darling, Don’t worry, A soldier you’ll find
My fair and sweet girl, for her, battles I’d fight
And one look in her eyes, won’t you stay for the night?
When
The rain
Oh it’s falling
The birds
They’re still calling
Then in the ashen forest
Where silence is a chorus
There grew a gentle flower
Changing by the hour
Blossoming
Blossoming
Blossoming into something new
It’s my love for you”
The sun hovered on a glassy horizon as the song’s final echoes drifted away and Jaylen leaned in towards him, eyes lost in the vibrant sunset. Her proximity pressed heavily on him, like the weight of the sky on the ocean. In a glance her eyes found him, their green brilliance striking a hole in his soul. Something inside of him fluttered up and chills swept across his skin. He could only feel his heartbeat. He could only see her gently parted lips. Every warning in his mind echoed into obscurity and it was like he was drawn closer by a new kind of gravity.
He kissed her.
The ocean crashed into the shore and Graham pulled away, suddenly aware of what he had just done. He stood abruptly, shaking.
“I’m sorry!” he blathered, turning to leave. “I don’t know what came over me, I—”
She grabbed his hand. His heart stopped. Graham turned reluctantly to face her, but she was already waiting with a pair of radiant eyes. Something had changed inside of them, like a silent spark. Jaylen stepped closer.
“Why did you stop?” she asked. Graham tried to sputter out a response but before he could she put her hand on his cheek and kissed him.
First, there was nothing. Then, there was warmth. Their souls combined into one, dancing slowly in infinite sparkling sunlight. The world faded around them, the feeling of sand beneath their feet forgotten, and the murmurs of the sea without meaning. Any semblance of time was lost and their brief moment dragged on in blissful ignorance. Graham wished it would last forever.