Time allotted to write this piece was 15 minutes, we used a visual prompt that we looked at for five minutes before starting to write a story. Medha gave us five more minutes at the end to check our story.
It had been ages, it seemed since they had seen each other.
They were childhood friends who grew up in the same neighborhood in this small town outside of London.
Iris was eighteen when she left her hometown. She wanted to become a lawyer and the good universities were in the big cities.
Charles who was two years her senior was quite content to remain in their small town. He loved books with a passion and his dream was to own his own bookstore. He worked hard and saved money until the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself to him. He found this quaint little bookstore for sale one day, and bought it. He so loved the smell of ink, the feel and sound of paper when he turned the pages of a book. He even had a couple of chairs for the customers who wanted to read a few chapters while sipping on a hot cup of tea.
Lately, Iris has been feeling somewhat disconnected from herself and the life she had chosen. One spring morning she decided to go back to her hometown and reconnect with family, friends and what used to make her heart beat with joy.
It was grey outside but she and Charles had decided to spend the day at the beach. She was all dressed up when they met. They talked for hours, laughed a lot and reminisced on the carefree days of their childhood and adolescence.
On an impulse Iris ran towards the water shoes and clothes on. The water was still cold this time of year but this did not matter to her. She kept running until Charles saw her come to a sudden halt and scream hysterically. Something was brushing her legs and she could not see what it was and the feel of that thing touching her was enough to put her into a panic. Charles quickly removed his shoes and ran towards her. Iris jumped into his arms as soon as he was close. “What it is the matter?” he asked. “I can feel something in the water touching me, a snake maybe or a shark” she answered. I can’t see it. He looked and discovered the plastic bags. When he told her that the “snake/ shark” was just plastic bags, they both laughed wholeheartedly.
They had such a wonderful time that day. They have always been the best of friends and they knew that no amount of space and time would ever change that. There was peace and comfort in that knowledge.
“And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood too.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live…
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed “
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
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