The leaves propelled off of the sycamore tree in hearty Sussex. The wind was tranquil but, a gust of wind will appear from nowhere and distress the calm countryside every now and then. Today was the day of the calm, manic winds and calm, manic experiences. Opal is a teenage girl, around the age of seventeen I’d like to say. But then again, she may be older or younger. Of course, I can’t be sure as I have only met her once, briefly for five minutes. All I remember are her piercing eyes. The glistening, crystals staring me up and down, piercing through my clothes, feeling as if I am completely naked.
I first met her on that on and off day, just outside of Brighton. It was around 10:30am and the bus was late. I didn’t think much of it; the bus was always late. We do live in England after all. I was reading a book on ‘Biodegradable Plastic: trying to save the environment’, when a musky, yet feminine voice whispered in my ear “You do know that the environmental cost of using plastic in consumer goods and packaging is nearly four times less than replacing plastics with alternative materials”. Never in my sixteen years of life have I been so aroused talking about plastic. “Er… I’m not, I didn’t know that. Um… I’m Austen” I quivered and cringed at the lameness of my response to such a perfect girl. She tittered smoothly, breathing onto my cheek. “I’m Opal. I know, silly. I am named after a rock. I could be named after something awesome like a Storm or Hurricane. Something unexpected and unpredictable, but unfortunately I’m not…” She expressed. I waited and replied after a minute… “Opal is perfect. I mean, it suits you.” I looked up to catch her gaze. She was perfect. Opal or Storm, she is faultless. “You know staring at someone for thirty seconds without talking is the same as spending a whole evening on a date with each other” She whispered, captivating my attention once again. I raised my eyebrows and looked down at my feet. She caressed my shoulder and then immediately took a step backwards. “Storm can’t be loved however” She whispered, so frosty. The bus came around the bend just in time. I glanced up and suddenly she was gone. No trace, just the whistling sound of the wind and the revving of a bus approaching.
I jumped onto the 700 bus and proceeded to make my way to Brighton for work. Who was this girl? Where did she go? These questions surrounded my mind, giving me an imminent migraine. I carry on reading my book peacefully, I can’t help hearing Opal’s words at the back of my mind. “You do know that the environmental cost…”. Her voice lingering, running through my mind over and over again. I glance up and forty-five minutes passed by before realising that I had missed my stop. I slammed my book shut and on the back cover was a piece of paper with a title on. ‘Sara’s Bookshop: Be there.” Who is Sara? Where is the bookshop? I couldn’t help but wonder whether this note was from Opal.I skipped work that day and headed straight home. I have never missed a day of work in my life, but, my heart felt drawn to this message and I wouldn’t be able to work if this was running around my mind all day. As soon as I got in to my ground floor apartment, I ran to my laptop and slung it open. I searched ‘Sara’s Bookshop’ on Google and the first thing to pop up was a bookshop in rural Hunston. I think I’ve been to Hunston once in my whole life, and it wasn’t the best place on the planet.
I stepped off of the bus when I arrived in Hunston. I spun on the spot, this town has got a lot more beautiful. Before another thought, I stepped out into the road and black. Opal was hovering over me when I awoke, I looked around and nothing but white. “Am I dead?” I whispered slowly. Then our worlds collided. The passion was raw, yet angelic. This was my happy medium. But, of course I am selfish. I didn’t think about the people I was leaving behind or the fact that Opal may be standing over my dead body and that death is really just the thoughts you wish to perceive in your head. Death isn’t about departing the world in a peaceful way because it isn’t peaceful for those still on earth at all. All I cared about in that moment was being with Storm and that made me happy.
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