Written by A Vampire Bride
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.
Life was beautiful. He showed her
once. From that moment on, she lived her life the way she wanted. In a few
short, precious days, he introduced her to what she could do, what she was
capable of. She said good-bye to the stuffy, superfluous being she knew for
seventeen years. She shed her cocoon like a caterpillar and turned into a free
butterfly.
Horseback riding was something
she thoroughly enjoyed. She’d only been allowed to ride through the parks, and
always with an escort. And the proper, ladylike way, of course. But that wasn’t
the real way to do it. She rode with a long tan leg thrown over each horse
flank. She was free to ride wherever she pleased, with no one to hold her back.
Her favorite place was the beach. Twilight was her favorite time to go riding.
Riding through the surf, with the refreshing water spraying over her bare legs.
With the setting sun in front of her, she’d ride along the beach until her legs
ached.
Walking along the pier was
another favorite pastime. Twilight was the best time, but she also enjoyed
mid-morning when the light was beautiful. At the lunch hour, everyone was out
eating their snacks. Local artists were there every day, sketching and
painting. He used to draw there. He liked to sit on the edge of the dock,
nearest to the water. He drew portraits of the tourists and sold them for ten
cents apiece. He once drew a picture of her. The memory was still fresh in her
mind, like it had happened only the week before.
Next to the pier was an amusement
park, a place she’d grown to love. The roller coaster was her favorite of all
the rides. She loved the thrill of being whipped around. Sometimes she rode
until she was going to vomit. She loved feeling like she was flying, with the
wind blowing through her hair. It brought back another memory, one of the
memories she held onto so fiercely. She met him on the bow. The look on his
face, his smile, was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. He taught her
how to fly that day. Twilight was the best time of the day.
He was going to teach her how to
spit like a man and chew tobacco like a man. She thought of their time on the
deck often. The sky, at twilight, was a brilliant orange with bursts of yellow
and pink speckled throughout. It was their first day together. She really got
to know him then. They walked about a mile around the boat deck, even if he
really wasn’t supposed to be there, and he told her his life story. She smiled
and nodded along. She loved the sound of his voice. He showed her his drawings,
including several nudes. He said that was the best part of Paris. A lot of
girls were willing to take off their clothes.
Twilight was always the best
time. Now, with the wind blowing through her hair, she felt like she was
flying. She stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. She’d been there a
few times as a caterpillar, but in her new butterfly life, she wanted to
experience the Paris he told her about. The studio flat she rented was freezing
in the winter and was very small. But here she was. Free. Independent. On her
own. Reveling in all the things he taught her.
As he wrapped his arms around her
waist, she leaned back into his chest. She loved his smell. She loved his
smile. She loved his beautiful blue eyes and his shaggy blond hair. She didn’t
mind the frigid temperatures of the winter with him there. And he was used to
living in small spaces. His favorite time of day was twilight. The world was a
different place then. It was the time of day they shared new experiences.
Together. It was the best time.
The End.