New story!

Finally people, I managed to churn something out! I know, I know. I haven’t posted here since the 28th of July last year, and I’m truly sorry. I’m a bad bad girl!

I actually started this story two days ago, but I wasn’t sure where it was going to head. It slowly came together yesterday and today, and with a suggestion or two from my loving Jeffers, the end came together too. So, piccie, story, and hopefully, feedback!

Enjoy!

Too Close To Home.

Tears trickled down my face as I sat on the edge of the cliff. The sea below pounded against the rocks with a booming crash, and the white foam made it look angry and dangerous. The wind blew fiercely, threatening to blow me off my precarious perch and to my death below. Not that I cared.

I reached for the bag beside me, drawing out a framed photo showing a smiling handsome young man and two smiling girls, one with blond hair down her back, the other with short frizzy hair. My lip curled as I stared at the young man and the blond. Simon and Julia. Between them, they’d ripped my life into shreds and driven a dagger right into my heart.

When Simon came home late from work last Friday, I wasn’t expecting the shock of having everything I knew crumble into nothing. I wasn’t expecting the shock of him confessing to an affair, let alone with her of all people. She’d been my best friend for years. Oh, she was always the pretty popular one, the one who could have any guy she wanted, but I thought she understood that my man was off limits to her. I guess I was wrong.

Reaching into the bag again, I drew out a shirt. It was the one Simon had been wearing that Friday. I hadn’t washed it yet, and as I drew it to my nose, I could still smell the faint spicy smell of the cologne he wore. I’d remember that smell forever. I even remember buying him the cologne for Christmas just last year. I asked what he wanted and he’d asked for a bottle of D&G Allure for men. I’d never heard of it before, but I went out looking and when I first smelled it, I realized it was perfect. The scent was pleasing, yet sensual. In short, it was just so Simon. That bitch liked it too. I remember her leaning over to sniff at him one night about a month ago when we were out to dinner together. Smiling, she asked him what cologne he was wearing and said that it smelled very sensual. Unknown to me, those two had been sneaking around behind my back for a month already at that point. Bitch. Me being the person I am, hadn’t noticed a thing … Not a damn thing.

I fingered the delicate gold chain around my neck with the diamond set in a heart shaped pendant. Simon had surprised me with this for my birthday six weeks ago. I thought it had been a perfect gift, but now, I know it meant nothing. Of course I should have seen the warning signs even then. He’d always been so careful with money, and he’d rarely ever bought me anything so expensive. Usually he asked me what I wanted for things like birthdays and Christmases, and this year he hadn’t. Another reason why it was so unexpected. The necklace I mean. I’d vowed to never take it off. My fingers fumbled with the clasp as I removed it now, and laid it on top of the photograph. I couldn’t bear to feel the cold weight of it around my neck, nor the heart shaped diamond pendant nestling in the cleavage of my breasts. Not when my own heart was bleeding.

Same thing with the gold bracelet I wore. A gift from Julia on my birthday. The two of them were feeling guilty, they had to be. Hence the expensive gifts. Mind you, I bet Julia got Simon to pay for the bracelet you know. The jewelry boxes proved that they both came from the same store and lord knows she never seemed to pay for anything. Well, when the three of us went to dinner she always offered to pay, but Simon always told her to not worry about it. Just his manners I guess, but we used to argue about it. I told him he should let her pay once or twice, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

The bracelet fell from my wrist with one sharp tug, and joined the pendant and the photo at the side of me. I stared unseeingly out to sea, memories running through my mind in a constant loop, all coming back to the same thing – Simon’s confession.

The door opened, and I walked out into the hall to greet Simon, late home from work. He looked tired and drained and I figured he’d have dinner, and then go straight to bed. However, he sat down and ate dinner, and then poured himself a generous measure of Whiskey. With the glass in his hand he turned and said we needed to talk. I put down the book I’d been reading, a feeling of foreboding creeping up on me. His words sliced through me like a knife.

“Through all the years we’ve lived together, I swore to always protect you and keep you safe from harm. I also swore never to hurt you in any way, and I fear I’ve broken that promise to you.”
I didn’t say a word.
“You and Julia have always been very close, and as a result, we grew close too. As it happens, a little TOO close.”
I jumped to my feet enraged.
“NO! Why Simon, why??”
Simon sighed and ran his hand through his hair
“I don’t know honey, I’m so sorry …. We can work this out can’t we?”
“Are you leaving her?”
“No, I’m in love with her.”
“Then don’t call me honey, don’t ask if we can work this out, and get out of my home!” I yelled.

The pain of watching Simon packing his clothes and essentials was more than I could bear. I locked myself in the bathroom, and wept. I emerged long enough to ask him to leave the house key and car keys on the kitchen table. As the door closed behind his retreating back, I sank down on the top stair and sobbed.

Then two nights ago, Simon had called me up to ask if he could come and grab the last of his things. I agreed on the condition that he came alone. When he arrived he looked a mess. I stood in the doorway to his study as he packed up his laptop and asked how long they’d been sneaking around.

“A little over three months I guess.” He mumbled, clearly distracted as he looked around for his cables.
I made a noise of scorn, and scowled at his back.
“So, you sneak around, and neither of you are adult enough to admit this to me till you finally couldn’t stand the strain any longer, and now you tell me that you’ve been doing this for over three months like it’s no big thing! Don’t you realize how much you two have hurt me Simon? Don’t you get that?” I was yelling again. And suddenly, Simon yelled back, something he’d never done before.
“YES I GET THAT!” he bellowed
“I can’t say anything that will take the pain away from you, and I’m truly sorry I caused you so much pain, but I’m not willing to give Julia up.” He hissed fiercely “She means the whole world to me.”

His words were like a slap in the face and I reeled backwards, finally turning away and stumbling into the kitchen, waiting till he came and stuttered goodbye and quietly left.

The slam of two car doors brought me out of my reverie, and I opened my eyes and smiled with grim determination at what I was about to do. I scrambled to my feet as a familiar voice shouted my name.
“Emma! Stop! Don’t jump!”
Turning round brought me face to face with the two people I loved and hated most in the world. Julia and Simon. Together.

Julia lunged for me in an attempt to drag me away from the cliff edge, I sidestepped neatly, and gave her a shove that sent her screaming to her death over the cliff edge to the churning seas below.
“JULIA!!” yelled Simon, racing to the edge and staring down to where Julia’s broken body lay on the rocks below. Then he lifted his shattered eyes to mine. He was obviously surprised to see my triumphant smile. I’d gotten rid of the only obstacle in my way. Now we could be together forever.
“Why Emma?” whispered Simon in an agonized voice.
“I did it so we could be together forever Simon. I didn’t want anyone taking you away from me, you mean far too much to me for some bitch to get her claws in and take you away from me.”
Simon’s face turned from shock to puzzlement. “Whaddya mean “take me away from you” … Emma ….”
“I love you Simon, we were always meant to spend the rest of our lives together. I want to spend my entire life with you, I want to carry your children …. “
Simon visibly blanched, but I knew he’d come around eventually.
“Carry my …. Emma, we’re brother and sister!”
“So? We can move somewhere nobody knows us, and start over. Simon, it could be so wonderful between us, just give us a chance.” I pleaded running a fingertip down his chest. Simon grabbed my finger and pushed it away. He seemed confused, but I knew that was just his feelings, he was bound to be suffering from conflicting emotions right now. He’d soon realize that we were just meant to be, I knew. He chose his next words carefully.
“Emma, I love you, I always have loved you, but not in a sexual way. I only ever loved you as a Brother should love his Sister …. I’m sorry, but we’ll never be together in that way Emma, and you won’t be carrying my children. You’re crazy if you think I’d ever do something like that. That’s just disgusting.” He made to walk away but I grabbed his arm
“Simon please, just give me a chance! I know I can make you the happiest man alive!”
“Emma, NO! It’s not going to happen!” he shouted at me.
Something inside me snapped and I hissed at him “Then if I can’t have you, nobody can” and with a strength and a speed I hadn’t known I was capable of, I shoved Simon towards the edge of the cliff. He teetered on the edge for just a moment, arms swinging wildly and a look of complete disbelief in his eyes. Then he disappeared silently over the edge. No screams, no shouts, nothing. Gone.

I stepped slowly towards the cliff edge and looked down. The broken bodies of my best friend and my brother lay silently, eyes staring unseeingly upwards, being washed clean of blood by the angry ocean. A small smile appeared on my face, and I stepped away from the edge, picked up the photograph and the jewelry, and walked away.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment.

Ciao.