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Short stories: The garden

by James Jenkins

Created on: January 24, 2009

I sat there on the window pane, waiting for her to stir. When everything was silent and the breeze wasn't rustling in the trees beside me, you could hear a faint pur under the covers. She was the one I had loved for so long, and in some way, I was always sure she loved me. Angel had black eyes, a petit frame and lightly tanned skin. Her eyes were deep brown, and to many people they would say her only flaw was a scar on her left eye. I always said her only flaw was being ashamed of it.

'Morning Darl, always waiting for me as usual?' She was always careful with her words around me, as if hiding some motive or undertone or some message. I knew she was never shy around me, and i was sure of what she was wearing under the covers. Still I turned around, and threw a shirt in her direction. 'why do you always do that?'

'Why do I need to see you without your clothes on? Anyway babe I prefer to see you with clothes on.' She had the shirt by the time I turned around, 'I got your birthday present here... though I'd rather you not open it while I'm here.' She looked down at her bedside table and saw an thick envelope and a box. 'I'm shipping off today,' she looked up at me and waited for some punch-line.

'Not planning on hanging around are ya?' I could almost see the pain in her eyes, as if I had stopped some long game we both had been playing. Finally our dance was over and our time would be up. 'Have you never found a reason to stay?' She was definitely holding back tears now, and even I would admit that I felt like I was choking on something at the time. 'It's not too late ya know...'

I looked at her, then out the window and back at her, 'I've always had reasons to stay, but we both know that I need to do this... anythign really that will break me away from the life I've been leading.' She looked at the envelope again, and realised it was stuffed with money. She gave me one of her Mona Lisa smiles, I never understood until now.

'You really think I'm gonna take that money? I know where you got it from... and I know its part of the reason you're leaving.' she picked up the envelope flicked through the notes, 'gotta be several thousand here.'

'Six thousand four hundred dollars... and if you don't take it then give it to someone else... I don't need it, don't worry I got some left...' She looked at me and I merely picked up my bag, knowing I had nothing else to say that wasn't in the box already.

'Danny you can't just leave... we got things to talk about...' I started out the window.

'Angel, this is good-bye... just be happy you can finally live the way you should... happy. And don't ever be ashamed of your beauty.' I was almost gone when i finally heard the words that broke my heart.

'Goody bye'

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