Parrallel: Evan

1^st day in Ireland: I woke to the soft pitter patter of rain on the shingled roof. For a second I could not remember where I was, what day it was. Wait, I know that wooden armoir. I can’t believe I’m in Ireland.

Parrallel: Henry & Alyze

The sun streamed into the small apartment, waking her up. She rolled over to get the sun out of her eyes and stared as the dust particles floated in the light above the white down comforter. She pulled it up over her shoulder trying to warm up and dreading getting out of bed. She was exhausted from the drive the night before and this snow storm had ruined her plans for a relaxing drive and week in Colorado.

            She heard a click and looked up to see the coffee pot start. She smiled as she sat up in bed. It was amazing the little things he remembered to do even when he had to work. She had known Henry since he was seven. He used to be so quirky, but as the friendship grew, their relationship flourished. Two years ago, he had finally set up the perfect proposal and she had accepted. Last year they had her dream wedding in their hometown, but he was stationed here as an officer and she still had one year left on her teaching contract, so they had to live apart.

            Aly was glad spring break gave her a week to spend time with him even if it was only at night, since he couldn’t take leave. She untangled herself from the white sheets and grabbed his sweatshirt from the dresser. She slipped it over her head and walked over to the kitchen counter. She picked up the envelope and pulled out the card.

I picked up your favorite coffee, enjoy it and your day off. Relax, there’s movies by the tv and I will see you tonight. ILY

                She smiled at the note, placed it back down and poured a cup. She walked barefoot on the cold tile floor back to her suitcase next to the bed. She ruffled through until she found a pair of socks and some yoga pants to wear.

            She went back for her coffee, taking a careful sip so she wouldn’t burn her tongue again. She set the cup down on the coffee table and picked up the dvds he had put out. She giggled at the titles. Titanic, The Notebook, The Proposal, and New Moon. She put the movies back down and sat on the couch. She curled her feet beneath her and reached for coffee cup. She sipped it and relaxed.  After she finished her cup of coffee, she took the mug to the sink and washed it.

            She opened the cabinet and pulled out a bag of popcorn. She tossed it into the small black microwave. Her fingers drummed on the counter as she waited for it to finish popping.

*                *          *

She looked in the fridge to see what she could cook for dinner. She pulled out the chicken breasts out of the fridge, placed them in the pan, and shoved them into the oven. She turned the oven onto 350 degrees, and then grabbed another pot off the pot rack. Annie filled it with water and looked through the cabinet for the spaghetti Tupperware container.

*    *          *          *

Her golden streaked brown hair fanned across his thighs as his lap rested her head. He sat there legs stretched in front of him watching the tv as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her long hair. She turned her eyes from the television and looked up at him. “I was thinking about a change.”

            He glanced down at her and saw her jaw set. She always did this when she was serious and afraid of his answer. She was always thinking about their life together but didn’t know how he would react. They had known each other for so long, he knew every smile and face she made, but she never trusted herself. He grabbed the remote and paused the movie. “What?”

            “Well, my contract is up with the school soon. They need an answer if I’m going to re-sign next month, and I don’t know if I want to.” He stopped tugging at her hair and rested his hand on the burgundy couch.

            “I thought you liked teaching.”

            “I do, but maybe not there.”

            “You’ve said you enjoy the other teachers, and administration isn’t hard on you. Why would you leave?” Her face dropped, and he realized that wasn’t what she meant.

            “I do –“

            “You mean leaving the city completely?” He pulled her chin back up so he could look into her teal eyes.

            “Yes.”

            “Are you sure?”

            “I don’t see you very much.”

            “We hardly see each other.”

            “Only on holidays or when you get special leave. The cost of driving and flying back and forth is starting to show.”

            “I would need to get a bigger place.” She sat up straight and looked at him.

            “Really?”

            “Of course. This studio apartment won’t really be big enough for us. I can start looking at other apartments. Besides it would need to be closer to your school right?” He caught the smile that was starting to grow.

            “Henry, really?” She swung her legs over his and pulled him into a hug. He lost balance and braced himself with his arm as he leaned over her and kissed her.

            “Yes, my love.  I would love to have you finally move in with me. This distance has sucked this year. I never thought I would have had to leave you after you married me, but our jobs kept us apart. So now that we have the opportunity, let’s take it. In the morning, you can drive me to work and use the car to check out the local schools. How does that sound?” He brushed her bangs away from her eyes as he kissed her again.

            “That would be great!”

            “Good, now can we finish the movie? We need to wake up early in the morning and have a lot to do.” He replied winking at her and readjusting his weight to slide behind her on the couch. She looked back at the screen and smiled. She would finally be in his arms every night. They would finally be able to live like husband and wife should, instead of miles apart, loneliness creeping upon them each day they were apart.

            The movement and noise on the screen caught her attention. It was Jack and Rose running through the engine room of the Titanic. Alyze remembered seeing Titanic in theaters over a decade ago. Sitting next to Henry holding his hand that day, not much had changed in all those years. They still loved each other then and with every passing day their love had grown. They had finished high school together; they had survived college with their relationship intact. Even with graduation, they knew their future would evolve around each other.

            Henry had been commissioned as an officer in the Army, Alyze had chosen to become a teacher like her grandmother. She knew she could find a job after her initial contract was done any where he was stationed. A year after college and traveling back and forth to see each other, he had proposed on Christmas vacation at her grandmother’s house in front of her family.

            He kissed the back of her neck. “A penny for your thoughts?”

            “But thoughts of you are priceless.” She rolled over and kissed him passionately. He returned the kisses more passionately and moments later they were out of breath. He looked deep into her eyes, deep enough to see into her soul. Henry rolled over her and stood up. He extended his hand, she took it to help her to her feet, and he led her to the bed. Although they undressed each other the details would fade in to their memory. They would only remember the passionate love they shared that night. They laid in each other’s arms exhausted after and Alyzabeth closed her eyes to dream of him.

Parrallel : Day 1

I opened the door to the apartment after work and found all the lights off. I made my way to my room from memory in the dark. I flicked on my light, quickly covering my eyes from the blinding light and tossed my briefcase and purse on to the desk. I checked the CPS bill that was open. This Texas summer was going to kill my wallet. As I walked I pulled my auburn hair out of the bun, shook it out, and tossed the bobby pins onto my armoire. I opened the cherry wood and pulled out my worn down senior shirt and some pj pants. I quickly got out of my business suit and tossed it into my cleaners pile.

I got comfortable when I finally noticed the whimpering coming from the next room. I got back out of bed, crossed the room, flicked off my light and went to the next room. I opened the door to my best friend and room mates room. I saw Dianne on the bed under her grandmothers quilt. That always meant a tear filled night. I walked over to the bed and Dianne looked up at me.

Alyzabeth laid on the bed with Dianne. She looked at her with her green eyes full of sympathy and squeezed her hand.  Dianne rolled on her side facing her friend and squeezed back.  Tears streamed down her face.

                What do you need.

                Ally, she choked, Just stay here.

                I’m here. She swept a piece of Dianne’s blonde hair out of her eyes. Dianne managed a smile before closing her eyes. She snuggled closer and Alyzabeth stroked her hair. The rhythmic movement quickly calmed her friend into a soft slumber. She leaned over and kissed her forehead before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

*                                                     *                             *

                The sun streamed into the condo through the sheer white curtains waking her up. She rolled over to get the sun out of her eyes and stared as the dust particles floated in the light above the white linens.

First person or narratitve....

I had written some of the stories from the outside narrative view point... other stories from this series came to me as first person. I am so stuck in it all, its hard to decide which vantage to write from. Which would you choose?

Through out writing sometimes I would zone out to the melody or use the words to inspire the writing. Without any specifics as to when they were used here are some of the songs I listened to as I wrote

Songs

·         Anne Murray

·         Annette Peacock

·         Annie Haslam

·         Aqua – Greatest Hits

·         Army of Freshman

·         As Cities Burn

·         Atomic Kitten

·         Audio Slave

·         Avril Lavigne – Let Go

·         Bad Company

·         Barry White

·         Believer

·         Beyoncé – If I were a Boy

·         Beyoncé – Irreplaceable

·         Billy Currington – That’s just me

·         Billy Currington -Doing Something Right

·         Belinda

·         Better than Ezra

·         As I lay dying

·         Ashlee Simpson

·         BB King

·         Beat Happening

·         Before the Dawn

·         Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts

·         Pink

·         Michell Branch – Good bye to you

·         Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply

·         Voices of Theory – Say it

·         Alan Jackson – Remember when

·         Nobody knows it but me

·         1000 years

·         Allison Kraus – That kind of love

·         Azure Ray - Displaced

·         Derek & Maria Vienese Waltz song

·         Adele – Chasing pavements

o   Please remember me

o    

·         Maroon 5

·         Gives you hell

·         Alicia Keys – Goodbye

·         I’ll go on loving you

·         Scotty McCreary – Trouble with girls

·         Eric Hutchinson – Watching you watch him

·         If I can’t have you

·         JT Hodges – Goodbyes make you mine

·         Kelly Clarkson – Stronger

·         Kenny Chesney – Don’t Blink

·         Kid Rock – Picture

o   Feel like making love

·         Billy Ray Cyrus

·         Desiree – Kissing you

·         Bjork

·         Blue October

·         Carrie Underwood

·         Drunk Tonight – Keith Urban

·         Eclipse – Autumn Tears

·         Katey Perry

o   My World

o   In Another life

·         Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack

o   Softer Side

·         Taylor Swift

·         The audition

·         Titanic Soundtrack

·         Thompson Square - Glass

·         Whitney Houston – its not right, but its okay

Parrallel

I started writing. and writing... and writing. I had voices in my head that would not shut up until I started writing and typing. I have word documents, and folders, and binders, and spirals of this story and everything is every where and everything is getting lost, so now... I'm typing it on here. I figure maybe it can stay all together and with a future publish date it gives me a deadline to get this all done.

so now im pushing myself to finally type it all up. I now have to get it in the right order. The few that have read it are still mad at me that they have been left hanging... so here goes trying to do this..

Life has continued. Without stopping. I think at some point I turned on auto pilot because the last few months are a blur.

My grandmother gathered everyone at thanksgiving to give out her good bye speech and inheritance checks. She's 92 and pretty much is done. She has osteoporosis, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, possibly diabetic, has lost sight in half of each of her eyes so its like tunnel vision, and is losing hearing.
It was very depressing and not what I wanted out of the day.

Christmas came. I sat my kids down and asked for a list of everything they wanted. So between all of us, we knocked out the list. They were excited christmas morning.

Christmas night, I bought my grandmother a new crochet hook that had a bigger handle to help her hands and she started crying. She isn't able to do the delicate stitches for her doilies and little crafts. So great. I depressed my grandmother. That's always a great feeling. ugh. Sucks.

But new years came, we did it up small with us and the kids. No big deal. My oldest finally got to light his own fireworks...


well break is over... gotta run....