Saturday Short Story: Zoe by Nadia B

ZOE

By nadia b

 She could remember the exact moment she first saw him. It was a few decades ago, at high school. She had just joined and was completely at sea. Ava had been told to show her around the school and while they were walking around the school they passed a group of boys. One stood out – tall and ruggedly good looking. Ava remarked that, that was Ethan and would Zoe like to meet him? Zoe instinctively said no. But it was too late. Ethan, having seen Ava, walked over to them to say hello and to of course see who this new girl was.

Zoe was standing under the arch of a grand stone building which had gorgeous purple wisteria cascading down. Short hair, doe like eyes and a full mouth, she was a gorgeous teen, and when you looked at her you wondered how she would blossom as an adult. A nymph like quality and a face young and sensuous. Standing at 5ft 10”, wearing jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, she looked as if she had stepped out of a teen fashion magazine. Ethan, a year older than her was captivated by her beauty. And when she started speaking he was rooted, unable to move.

She had watched him come towards her, a gorgeous face with the laconic smile of someone who was used to attention. Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. Probably a sports jock and not much else she thought. After they were introduced, he asked her what she would be studying. His voice! So deep and yet so carefree. Literature, she volunteered and surprisingly that was his subject too and they began discussing their favourite writers and poets and time just flew….

That was the beginning of their love. The first serious one for both and to them and others it seemed it would last forever. It had to. They seemed completely made for each other and they looked so beautiful together too.

But young romances don’t often last and that was the way their story went too. They were together for a few years, and looking back, those years were amongst the best years of their lives. Carefree, full of love, longing, dreams and poetry, they grew up together.

Why did they break up? Truth be told it was Zoe. After finishing school, she got catapulted into the world of fashion which sucked her in. She was on magazine covers, photographers all over the world vied for her to be their muse, Ethan didn’t stand a chance. He tried and so did she, but time apart, her being in the public eye, misunderstandings and her indiscretions all became too much and they broke up. Badly.

It was now twenty years later, and there was a reunion at Ava’s home out in the country. Ava had been feeling broody and wanted to spend some time with her old friends. Both Zoe and Ethan had accepted the invitation. Both knew the other would be there. They had not been in touch or met since they had broken up and both had gone on to other relationships. Ethan was now divorced, and Zoe was married to Julian who was sadly ill and in a hospice.

Ethan had never recovered from Zoe. In relationships and in his marriage she was always the shadow. Always there. And therefore nothing could really work. He had decided he would take someone with him to Ava's. He felt awful but decided to ask Ashley. Awful as she would be ecstatic. But for him, she would just be a layer of protection.

Zoe was so looking forward to this time at Ava's. She was feeling fragile and tired. The last few years with Julian had wrecked her, emotionally and physically. How she had loved him and still did and more so how he had loved her and continued to do so. Bed ridden, he hated her wasting her life on him. There was no cure for his illness and he so wanted to free her.

A few days before the reunion, Julian took a turn for the worse and Zoe called Ava and said she wouldn’t be able to come. But Julian recovered and insisted Zoe go. He told her if she didn’t he would leave instructions and she would not be able to see him. His sister would visit him twice a day, like Zoe did, so she needn’t worry. He wanted her to go and let her hair down for a few days. And he had sensed Ethan would be there. He knew all about Ethan and he also knew that in the end, if she was to be with someone, it would be Ethan.

Friday came and they all arrived, all 15 of them at varying parts of the day. Ava had sweetly recreated the sense of school...there was an abundance of wisteria everywhere!

Zoe had been too consumed with Julian to give it much thought, but when she had taken a pause, she had thought of Ethan and of their time together and wondered how he was doing and how it be like meeting him again.

Ava's home was a beautiful large Georgian Manor with a grand spiral staircase. There were eight bedrooms on the first floor and four on the ground floor. The living room, decorated in deep red and purples led out onto a densely foliaged breathtaking garden.

Zoe was one of the first to arrive and after chatting to Ava she went up to her room and settled herself in. She lay down and thought she would have a small nap. Noises woke her, and she glanced at the clock – she had been asleep two hours! It was nearly 7 pm! She jumped out of bed, quickly changed and began walking towards the staircase.

She paused at the top of the staircase and looked down. She could see some vaguely familiar faces and then she saw Ethan. The years had been good to him, he still had his athletic build but he had let his hair go grey. Looking at him brought a smile to her face... remembrances of all those years gone by and feelings of the past. And then she noticed a beautiful girl with him and she could sense that this girl was with him and she didn’t know why but she at once felt unsettled and territorial. She brushed it aside thinking it was because of the context they were in... Nothing more.

Walking down the stairs, she looked like she was walking the ramp. Dressed in her all time favourite - Skinny jeans and a plaid shirt with Doc Martin shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail and she had big golden hoops in her ears. Smoky eyes and mascara with a dab of lip gloss. She was a vision.

Ava was at the bottom of the stairs with Zara and some others who Zoe hadn’t met in years! It was so fabulous catching up like this and she regretted not having stayed in touch with all her friends but her life had always engulfed her.

She moved away, purposefully walking towards where Ethan was. His back was towards her and his arm was gently around the young girl. They were chatting to Alex who had been a good friend of hers in school. Mischievous and fun Alex. She tapped Ethan who turned around and his eyes shone and with a sharp intake of breath he took a step back before awkwardly putting his hand out to greet her. Ashley sensed something was amiss and quickly introduced herself to Zoe and the awkward moment momentarily passed.

Gosh! This was awkward thought Zoe. She chatted to Ethan and to Ashley and moved on. They were clearly a couple she thought. And it was difficult for her to process this. The last time she had seen Ethan he was hers and while much had happened and it had been years, seeing him now, with all familiar faces from school, the feeling came back, that he was hers.

She needed to get out of here and breathe some fresh air.

She stepped into the garden and sat on one of the benches in the patio, lit a cigarette and took a deep breath. Alex came and joined her and teased her saying look what you've gone and done. She didn’t know what he was talking about...she turned around and saw Ashley through the glass, emotionally flaying her arms talking to Ethan who was clearly stumped and running his fingers through his hair. They both looked out into the garden at the very moment Zoe was looking and before Zoe could turn away, Ashley turned around and left. Alex was laughing. This annoyed Zoe and shrugging her shoulders she walked further into the garden.

What a nightmare this had turned out to be for Ethan! Ashley being young and tempestuous had had a meltdown, sure that there was something between Ethan and Zoe. She didn’t know of their past and why they had broken up. But she had sensed something and had walked off. Ethan went after her, up to their room where she picked up her suitcase and said she was leaving. He tried feebly to stop her but she would have none of it.

Zoe wandered around this lovely garden, on her own with no real thoughts. Her mind was vacant and at ease...with a few thoughts of Ethan creeping in. This was actually the first break she had taken in the last five years and she wanted to enjoy the quietude.

Ava had bought a large iron bell, like the great bell of school, and she struck it and that was the announcement of dinner. And what a dinner she had laid! The food, the flowers and the fragrant wisteria candles! Zoe couldn’t see Ethan anywhere and she asked Ava where he was, Ava mumbled something and walked away and Alex who was standing there, laughed again. Gosh, was he annoying!

Ethan walked in, looking dishevelled and out of sorts. Ava offered him a plate, he helped himself to dinner and walked out into the garden, studiously avoiding Zoe.

Dessert was laid, lights were dimmed and the music of their times was put on and everyone got up and began dancing, including Zoe. What fun this was, it took her right back to school! Where Ethan and what was was going on? Had Ashley left?

She danced with Alex and with Ava and Zara and all of them had one of the best evenings ever. A few glasses of wine down, perfect music, they couldn’t have asked for more.

After a while Zoe felt tired, so she quietly left, She was halfway up the stairs when she turned around to look down and she smiled at how happy everyone was.

Walking to her room she passed a room with an open door, she glanced inside and there was Ethan. Lying in bed, watching TV with a bottle of beer in his hand. She knocked and asked if she could go in.

She sat on the edge of the bed. While that seemed a familiar thing to do, she couldn’t help it. It would be odd if she went and sat on the chair. Like it would be odd if she kissed him on the cheek and not his mouth… she banished that thought. While he lay on the bed, a few drinks down, he watched her, wondering what she was thinking. All he could think about was her.

She looked at him, gorgeous like a movie star with that laconic smile that had always melted her heart. He continued lying on the bed. She asked him where Ashley was and he said she had left because of her. He sounded belligerent and as she didn’t know what to make of what he had said, she decided to change the topic. She asked him to tell her about his life and slipped into the phrase that they had always used with each other… “Tell me everything”. When she said that, he looked at her, his eyes misting over. She reached out for his hand and asked if he was okay, clearly he was hurting... And why were all these feeling s for him going on topsy turvy in her heart? He pulled her towards him…and for a moment that is where she stayed... till she recovered her senses, pulled away and walked out of the room.

Her body was an inferno. This is what happens when you meet your first love after so many years. You jump right back to where you were. And she couldn’t do that. She had Julian and so many responsibilities. But right now, her heart and her body longed for Ethan.

Ethan wanted to kick himself. Why had he pulled her towards him? He knew she would leave. But he couldn’t help himself. Seeing her after so many years it was as if he had never stopped loving her. She was his elixir. Yes, she had broken him and his heart but he had forgiven her long ago. The life she had entered straight after school would have been overwhelming for anyone.

Zoe locked her room and slept. And hoped that Ethan would not come by. He didn’t.

But he did come by in the morning, knocking at her door with a tray of breakfast. She was still in bed, and thinking it was Ava she opened the door and there he was. He had been for a run and he looked so gorgeous, it hurt. He placed the tray on the table and she quickly reached out and wore her dressing gown. She sat opposite him, and he smiled and said…OK I will tell you everything and then you tell me everything. And they sat like that, across the table the entire morning, filling each other on their lives. Time stood still. There was a sense of a beginning, a renewal… for him it was easy, for her, not so.

The gong struck, announcing lunch. He looked at her and said remember me when the times have changed. She said she would. He reached out for her and she melted into him. And they remained like that, savouring these few moments.

As they walked down the stairs, close to each other, arms touching, Ava ran up and told Zoe that the hospice had called and Zoe needed to leave…