Companions - Legeriz 10

'God your music taste is awful', Kristen whined from the back seat while being crushed by the boys, who clearly had never understood the concept of leg space. 'Guys stop man spreading!', Liv piped in from the front, enjoying her younger sister's irritation while she reclined in the passenger seat, hand playfully resting on Trip's as he stared intensely on the road, begging the signal to turn green.

The car revved as Trip sped up, determined to make it to their spot before some other group god-forbid stole it. 'Oi!', Jason complained as the car swerved into the parking lot, making them all jerk as Trip parked. Groans and stretches followed as the worn out crew at the back clambered out, clearly too big for the tiny sports car that was given to Trip for his birthday. 'Next time were taking tank', said Mike, sighing as he stepped out from the rear. 'Your behemoth would take us a week to get here' Trip retorted back, clearly nothing was better than his little souped up charger.

The grass was still damp from the morning dew as the group trudged their heavy baskets, blankets and an assortment of games, sports equipment and sound systems towards the lake. 'Finally!', Kristen whined as she dumped her bags onto the ground, not used to being dragged out of bed so early in the morning. 'Oh Kris you're such a big baby' Liv smirked as she placed the picnic basket on the lush green grass, clearly pleased with their early arrival as the cool waters shimmered with the sun's light directly in front of them.

'Cannonball!!!', Jason screamed as he propelled himself of the lake deck, splashing the girls with water who expectedly shrieked with displeasure from the unplanned downpour. 'Jason you ass'. Kristen retorted as he resurfaced, hair sleeked back despite the copious amounts of wax he'd lobbed in it. 'What, I thought it was funny', Jason said meekly as he stood dripping wet in front her, upset that he'd potentially wrecked his chances with the girl that gave him butterflies when she spoke. Kristen sighed, handing Jason a towel to dry himself off, which he graciously accepted.

It was noon when the chicken sandwiches (crusts cut off for Mike) were passed around to the hungry boys who wolfed them down, starving after the day's swim. 'Phawnks' Trip muffled, between mammoth sized bites. 'Heaven help feed you boys when you go off to college in September', Kristen sighed as she shamelessly gave half her remaining sandwich to Jason. 'It's fine Kris', Jason said as he gulped down her sandwich, 'I can totally cook if I set my mind to it, just like that Gordon Ramsey guy, except more good looking... and younger' he added as an after thought. 'You nearly set Liv alight at our last barbecue', Mike chuckled, 'And we ended up ordering from El Pasto since you burned all the burgers. I may like my meat well done but yours looked they were besties with the sun'. That got him a tub of coleslaw smacked over by a slightly miffed Jason, who clearly believed his culinary expertise were of noteworthy mention.

The air was beginning to cool as Trip and Liv went off for a walk, hoping to salvage what was originally planned as a romantic afternoon for the two, till Jason and Kristen wheeled in. Mike lay fast asleep on the soft blanket, his gentle snores keeping away other picnickers from residing too close to the group. 'What you up to Kris?', Jason questioned as he trotted over and sat down besides Kristen, her pen peacefully scribbling away on an olive leather bound notebook. 'Just sketching Mike', she responded back idyllically, 'who would imagine that such a bundle of energy would make such a perfect subject to capture'. 'Huh he's not all that perfect', Jason grumbled as he peeked over her shoulder, the same butterflies beginning to appear between the now digesting chicken sandwiches in his stomach. 'Jealous?', Kristen chided, her delicate hands reaching up to scratch Jason's chin, clearly making him stand up, flushed with embarrassment. 'I am not!', he said, voice breaking, ' I just think I'd make a better model than Mike'. Kristen smiled at him, enjoying the response she was getting, 'Is that so? Well I'm free next Friday if you feel like posing over dinner.' 'Erm... yeah sure that would be perfect', Jason responded, trying very hard to maintain his cool as he took in what was happening.

'What did I miss?', Mike grumbled towards Kristen and Jason as he pushed himself upright. 'Nothing!', they both exclaimed back as Trip and Liv came trudging back, hand held in each others. 'Shall we head back?', Jason motioned excitedly, giving a quick wink to Kristen, as he began to help pack up. 'You're in a good mood', Liv asked suspiciously as her eyes went from Jason to her younger sister who coolly looked back into hers, olive-green staring back at ice-blue.

The sunset reflected over the now still lake, as a group of shadows made their way back to the car that was perhaps too small for the 5 of them. Their laughter grew quieter and the land returned back to peace as the group unknowingly said bye for the last time, to a place they had grown to love over the years, and made way for a new chapter of memories as the cycle of companions continued.

Nothing arrived - Legeriz 9

The muffled sounds of the car engine nuzzled the silent night as the creak of an older door crisped through the air and a shrouded figure emerged. His presence was unfamiliar to the silent country-side; a road that passed through was lost by the mountains that encompassed it. The area was dispersed, an island of green sheltered by nature yet with its arms wide open to the strangers that came through.

He sighed, keys turning against the engine, silencing the quiet purr and sinking the night back into serenity. The skylight gave way to the winter blossoms in full bloom, as the night dew lay crystallising on them. He began a brisk pace through an unfamiliar path, yet memory served as nd guide as his steps seemed to be taking him higher into the green hills. Muscle memory steered the stranger up the path as his breath grew laboured; time clearly sinking into his slowing body. The figure stiffened as he reached the summit and smiled at the view rewarded for his journey.

The moonlight dipped, illuminating the strangers' face as he slouched down upon the grass, damp with the dew, but unbothered by the wetness all the same. He smiled, hazel eyes glistening in the lights reflection, as his flecks of his auburn beard and long hair moved ever so slightly, jostled by the night wind, and memories began to come to life...

Her floral dress bounced in the sunshine as he lay a blanket onto the still wet grass, happiness bounding through her. The hillside looked beautiful as the mid morning sun ever so carelessly broke through the birch trees that sheltered its crest. He smiled at her, specks of auburn shooting through his young and energetic face as his eyes met the ones they had been searching for all day; blue, like the sky above them, and full of a love he still wondered why she felt for him. She gently lay down, head carelessly falling into his lap as his heart began to accelerate. A curious giggle, almost as if she knew the effect he was having on her.

'This will always be', she chimed, eyes never leaving his as her words created an eternity within them...

The moon began to sink into the hillside as faded rays revealed the stumps of birch trees that once stood at its crest. The stranger that had lay sitting there for what seemed like hours began to rise. Swiping away the last of the dew that clung to his jeans he made his way back to the silent car that now lay hidden in darkness. It had been 19 years since he had first started coming here by himself, 19 years where nothing arrived. 

Twins - Legeriz 8

Fire

The porcelain vase flew past her face, shattering against the wall behind her, as a large and menacing fist came into her line of sight, blinding her instantly... Darkness

She awoke, vision blurred as her lungs struggled to take in air. She gasped against the nothing as her hands scrambled to identify the surroundings. It was dark, dusty and her heart was pounding. Whispers of white light cracked through the porous walls as her eyes sensitised themselves to their surroundings. Marble; ivory and beautiful, as the one she had seen not long ago, adorned the square space. Neat chunks shaped into the wall intensifying the illusion of an infinity space yet still ensuring that its occupants were aware of the compressing size.

Head pounding, she pushed against the walls, tears hot and wild, running down her face as the fear of closed spaces took over her. Whimpers were heard and past to no avail as she broke down by the now suffocating room and collapsed into the silence. His face appeared and she felt his pain now consume her.

Ice

She playfully bit his lip as he throatily chuckled. His breath was alluring and cool as he grabbed her with a desire unmatched by any before. His lips traced hers as the embrace continued. The aqua waters playfully swirled around their legs as the sat on their boards, clearly uninterested in the golden sand and waves before them.

Smirking, his strong hands guided her towards the waves that lay ahead. They paddled eagerly towards the large and cascading white curls, fear playfully skirted away, hearts full of a desire to triumph. He rose, balancing perfectly on his board, as he began a large decent; the waters guiding him towards victory. The water crested, and he soared, ruler of the sea for a moment, eyes effortlessly staring towards the horizon ahead. She watched in awe, as the wave took him higher and faster; heartbeat accelerated as the water grew large, his balance stumbled and the ocean consumed him.

He fought, hands pummelling towards the surface, but the water continued to beat down. Irises widened as his lungs filled with sea water, and his breathing slow, suffocating into the darkness. As the air escaped him, he felt a familiar feeling of connection, tears streamed through the salt water as he felt his sisters pain. 

A Conversation to Myself

Outcasts
It pains me to say how much influence a person can have on your life.

People were shaped by surroundings as evolution determined that we would adapt to suit the life around us.

Yet resistance constructed itself as an outcast; torn from normality but born to be different. How would these individuals survive? Alienate or be alienated as social norms lured us to die down our differences and take a muted stance amongst the rest.

Most of this rarely affects us till we find ourselves in a situation where like for like rarely seems to be the case. Then what?

I've always wondered whether humans can test the concept of being social beings. We are after all considerably dispositioned to interact amongst ourselves without alternate thought.

Perhaps it is the case that we enjoy the normality of it? It becomes second nature to conduct a muted version of ourself around others and then we are trained to relish that diminished encounter.

For the last 22 years I've recognised the limitations of my ability to interact with a wide range of people. A majority of that time I spent developing my ability to understand the more niche aspects of personalities to better blend into the surroundings. Yet was it all worth it?

True; I stand now an individual with a chameleon-like ability to force a personality onto myself to better represent the company I am in, but at what cost? We try so hard to be relevant amongst others that we lose the relevance to ourselves without them.

All I've wanted was to be passionate about what others felt passionate about. It was more of an obligation to better showcase how much I cared, and hence, how much value I would add to that person's life. A bit like a selling proposal where people pitched their interests to match that of others but more sophisticated than the random draw that had been our system of selection for so long.

An errant thought that has been nagging at the back of my head for weeks to resolutely recognise as being not a problem of who I am, but rather a personified flaw that should have been noticed long ago. By very definition a majority of people would consider it an asset, but I now realise that I grow tired of the charade that is the self imposed interest onto the lives of others.

Do not get me wrong, I am by no means broken from normality. Rather I find myself more able to command a larger depth of difference when dealing with individuals who consider themselves to be more exotic in personality types. Yet the constant weight of constructed emotions begins to burden me for minor scenarios and I find myself withdrawn from individuals who I do not view as being selective priority.

Does this make me a bad person? Perhaps not. It does however make me human; at least a part of me. 

A time once forgotten - Legeriz 7

[Part 2/2]

'Some things never change', she chimed in happiness, her voice unfamiliar to the beautiful silent apartment they glided into as the lift door made its familiar 'ding' back down.

'Do you like it?', he questioned tersely, knowing the answer already, a familiar vision he'd replayed in his mind over and over ever since he foresaw it many years ago.

'It's beautiful', she spoke in awe, the moonlight now filtering in through the disappearing clouds, highlighting the penthouse in all its glory. The white engraved marble extended from the lobby into the magnificent living room. Skylights and floor length windows brightened up the muted home, as victorian pillars supported the 3 stories. She gently placed her hand on the cold Italian marble that covered the open-kitchen counter tops and looked at him, a sense of pride about her of all that her brother had accomplished since the last time she had left him.

'Bit of an upgrade', he chuckled, as his elder sister took in the awe of the place that he had come to call home. 'Just a bit', she teetered back, a game they had played in unison over the past years. 'But some things are just the same', she smiled eyeing the boxes of Chinese takeaway containers carefully placed on the carved mahogany table. He chuckled to himself, his voice echoed through the marble pillars as they sat down to eat.

'So how long are you here for this time', he asked, tensely awaiting her response. 'My client's being flown here by private jet as we speak, and I expect to have things wrapped up within a week or so', she answered, mind flashing through the millions of minute details that underlay the foundation of this case. He sighed, placing his chopsticks precariously on the half eaten box of Kung-Pao. The rain had picked up outside, and Manhattans streets were feeling the beating of mother nature.

'How's things on your end?, she asked, shifting the topic in an attempt to take his mind away from what she knew he was thinking about. 'Have you spoken to her?'

His eyes flashed silver as he glared back, like diamonds ignited as he realised the energy he was releasing and once more retained perfect composure... It had been nearly a decade since he had lost control, and he would not be starting now. 

Stay like this forever - Legeriz 6

[Part 1/2]

The raindrops beat against the glass pane as he overlooked the New York skyline. 'Typical Manhattan', he smirked, back against the rapidly cooling glass as he slipped on the black jacket that lay on the leather couch, a gift he hadn't yet forgotten to remind her of. The lift door chimed as he left the now silent penthouse, 34 floors down and he was out, the concierge kind enough as always to call him a cab.

The silent humming of the black Mercedes was relaxing as they swerved through the streets. 'It won't be long now' he thought, as the car gilded into the airport. He tipped the driver as he escorted him under umbrella through to the airport lounge. The lighting was dimmed as per custom at this hour as he looked at the terminal announcements. 'Delayed', he sighed to himself as he trod to the lounge bar, a familiar face greeting him with a smirk and a flash of red hair, a dry martini placed in front of him. His phone buzzed as he nibbled on the olive, clearly old habits were hard to beat. He smiled as he headed down to the arrivals gate where he lay precariously in the distance, able to see but not be seen.

She walked, pink clutch and slate jacket a familiar sight, with an air of regality that he'd grown accustomed to over the years. After all it had been 6 since last time he'd seen her face. Suppose being a hot-shot lawyer does that to you. Now now, he teased at his conscience, she's doing this for the good of people; something with a far better purpose that what he was currently working for. She saw him, face lit up as always and then relaxed into informality as she brushed against his chest, a soft hug that welcomed her back. 'Welcome back sister', he breathed into her hair as he carried her bags back towards their awaiting ride back home.

We screwed up - Legeriz 5

The following is an extract of the author's exaggerated view point of a failed relationship. In no way is it meant to reflect reality.

- Pride.

A meaningless emotion, formed of our personification as  human beings of what we consider superiority. It defines us sometimes, vigorously running through our bloodstream, beating deeply inside our hearts as we look outside to the world, challenging it for our existence. 

- We run. 

Our pride, forces us to avoid what stands tall and strong, in plain black and white. Denial to accept, denial to believe in what we can't fathom to accept. It was done, from the moment that it started, and you and I both knew that. Yet we fight, meaninglessly, for the chance to not only rebuild but to claim back. Claim back that stance we had where we thought we knew it all. The perfect failure, a relationship doomed to start from the moment it was planned to succeed. Pride brought it down upon us, and like all tyrants, claimed another two for its victory. At the end of day, none of us won, pride did. 

- Then comes the humour. 

The sick, twisted, mentality that above all, this is perhaps is a bit ludicrous; almost amusing to an extent. 

"He giggled. An unusual form of laughter, that teetered on the edge between dark and light, its meaning quite indiscernible to those who weren't aware of its context. Surely this cannot be happening again. After all, you were supposed to be different. When you experience pain, you're not stupid enough to deliver back are you? You learn, and recognise and perhaps move on? Nope, he sighed, his breath laced with the fumes of early hours drinking. Never a good sign. Hysteria often cropped up in his list of common words to describe what he was feeling.

Relaxed, his mind seemed overjoyed by the thought of the future. Deep down he knew he was above this, but the joy of tormenting someone for the pain they had caused him, was far too tempting a treat to give in. He succumbed and so the cycle of emotion began once more."

- Live for the drama, die for the pain; do it all over again. 

"It's all a game to you isn't it? Yes, agreed, cheekily smiling back as if his mind was cruel enough to inflict such a rhetorical response. True he knew he'd hurt, but at this moment, this was a game, that nobody won. And if nobody won, he sure as hell was not going to end up on the bottom of the pile. His responses, grew increasingly more platonic and cryptic, simple words delivering context with a finality about it."

- Freedom.

The first few days are the hardest. Then time begins to lapse, a blurred memory of evil, sighs become that of remembrance, and what would have been. Bruised but not broken. A lesson to learn from, for next time.