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I can still remember that day when I first saw him like it was yesterday, it was night when I was in my villa near the beach.
It was so quiet that I could hear the sound of the racing waves as they collide by each other then by the shore...It was almost midnight and I couldn’t sleep and there was nothing for me to do. So I thought I may go and watch the sea from the balcony till I get tired and go to sleep.
The sea looked amazing though the darkness, gloomy but beautiful as it roared through the silence of the night. Then I saw something on the beach, it was light; dim maybe but it was definitely there. I got astray for a while as I was watching that dim light and thinking about what it may be till I was pulled out from my thoughts by the sound my watch -beeping- declaring that it was already midnight, Then I said to myself : “Why don’t I go and check it out?! As I already have nothing to do and can’t sleep, and since there’s no one living around so I don’t have to worry about someone asking: what a girl like me doing out alone in this late hour?!...” So, I convinced myself by these thoughts and I made my mind to go and check it out.
I grabbed my coat and left my slippers as they’d just slow me down. So I went on my way to the source of the light on the beach, it was pretty chilly out there but I kept on walking towards the mysterious light while having all kind of thoughts about its source as my mind kept playing with me the game of: “What if ...??” , I was walking as fast as a snail moving on a back of a tortoise as my hesitation was slowing me down, I wanted to go back but my curiosity took over control of my feet as I kept heading towards the light.
After a short while I could see the source of the light a little bit clearly, it was fire litten on the beach and I could see a shadow of a person created by the light -from the fire- on the beach’s sand, I thought to myself: “Who’s crazy enough to be here in such hour -beside me of course! -?, So I stopped to see that person more clearly but I couldn’t because of the darkness, so I started looking from my place to what’s around the fire, There wasn’t much just that mysterious guy and there was something laying beside him, I found out latter it was a dog -big black one- when he -the dog- stood up as he sensed my existence then he started staring at me through the darkness as the light -from the fire- was reflected on his eyes giving him a more fearsome look that he already had!, Then that person raised his hand ordering that beast to sit down, so he complied without any further delay. Only then I started pulling myself together and decided it was enough excitement for one night then I started walking backwards slowly but neither the dog nor the guy give any attention to me, so I started heading towards the villa and as soon as I reached it I went to my bedroom and jumped in my bed.
Next day I woke up and it was noon or something, I slept for so long that they -my parents- thought I was ill, but of course I didn’t dare to tell them about my little adventure the other night.
When the night came I tried desperately to sleep but I couldn’t so I gave-in and woke-up, I looked at my watch and it was midnight so I said to myself: “Here we go again!”, So I went to the balcony and there was that light again, so I decided that I should do something about it this time, something else than being scared.
I started thinking it over and I realized that it was stupid being so scared last night since neither the guy nor his dog did anything to me as the dog didn’t even bark at me, so why all this panic?
So I decided that I’ll go again to see what that guy story is...
So I went on my way through the night, I was less hesitated this time, and when I was close to the fire then I slowed down a little because I still wasn’t sure how that guy will react towards my intrusion and of course there was still the dog problem! Anyway, they didn’t give any attention to my presence at all, So I broke the silence by saying: “Hi!” then after a short while he said: -without changing his position or even looking at me-“Hi.”, Well, that was a little relief for me, Anyway, I collected what was left of courage in me and asked him if I may join him, then after a relatively long period of silence he answered: “You may.”, I was surprised that his beast didn’t tear me up at this point, So I sat near him but not too close because I still wasn’t sure of the guy’s intensions.
Anyway, I kept taking a peek to him every once and a while, He was kind of big
and he was wearing this long black leather coat which covered all his body but his face and though I couldn’t see his face because the lack of light -since the fire was behind us-, and during the time I was there next to him he didn’t speak, look at me, he didn’t even move a muscle.
I kept staring at him not caring about looking like a child and he just kept watching the sea ignoring me, seeing him like that you can feel the sadness in him, and if there was one thing I could see through dark it was his eyes. They were full of agony, just seeing him there astray staring at the endless sea made me get attached to him as I wanted to know the reason of his sadness!...
Then when the darkness started to decay slowly it was the nature way to tell us that the dawn is near, only then I knew how long I’ve been sitting there, I wondered: “How could the time pass so quickly? And I didn’t even feel sleepy!” And suddenly I was pulled out of my thoughts by his sudden movement as he stood up straight -he was fairly tall- and he gave the see one last look then looked to his dog and started walking away, I didn’t know what to do, then I realized that he left his dog behind -I found out latter the dog’s name was “Shadow”- Then when I started walking home he -the dog- started following me, I got scared at first until I realized he was just walking me home! So I cheered up a little.
When we reached my villa, the moment I stepped foot in it he started walking away -towards his master residence I guess- , Anyway I went to my bedroom and then jumped in my bed and fall asleep for I don’t how long.
The following day I was so excited to see that mysterious guy again so I kept waiting for midnight and the moment my watch started beeping announcing midnight I grabbed my coat and ran to my destination, When I reached him he was sitting there as usual and his dog next to him, so I said: “Hi..” and he replied the same So I sat beside him just like the day before -but a little closer this time- Anyway, it was like the day before as nothing changed in his manner except when it was time for him to leave he said to me: ”Good night..” and I replied the same. I was very pleased as it was a progress to me since he doesn’t talk much, in a matter of fact he doesn’t talk at all!, Anyway, Shadow -the dog- followed me again this night to my villa, Well I was starting to like the idea of Shadow walking me home as it gave a sense of security.
I kept on this routine of going to the beach on midnight and sitting with the mysterious guy till dawn and then being accompanied by Shadow for almost a month, and during this period my relation with Shadow got stronger as I became afraid for him no-more and he let me touch him when I wanted, his fur was dark black but very soft and he became very friendly with me, we even used to play with each other while walking me home but in front of his silent master he acts as if he doesn’t know me -without aggressiveness of course- he only lies right next to him..
One time were walking home as usual then when we reached my villa and I was just going to get inside, then suddenly I heard Shadow growling from behind me, so I knew that there’s something wrong Then I realized that there was a snake hiding in the bush next to the door, I got freaked at first but it didn’t last long as Shadow jumped and grabbed that snake and torn him into pieces in a few moments then when it was over he came and sat next to me So I hugged him and gave some food as a sign of appreciation and gratitude, then he went on his way.
During that month he -the guy- didn’t say more than three words everyday: “Hi and Good-night” till I was almost convinced that those were the only know words in his dictionary!! , But I didn’t do the same as after I gave-up the idea that he will talk to me I started talking to him without caring about that he will not answer, I talked about all sort of things; about the see, the night, and even me!...but he never responded to my talk…not once…
Sometimes when I was thinking about this guy and how this bizarre relation will end I ask myself: “What kind of guys who ignores a girl this way in midnight as he didn’t even ask me my name???” and then the answer came to me right away: “A rare one!!”.
By the end of that month I became obsessed with the guy, Call me reckless, crazy or whatever you want but that won’t change the fact that I fall in love for that mysterious guy, Maybe I don’t know him nor even his name but something kept attracting me to him, and I loved him with his silence, agony, with what he are and what he aren’t, with what he said and what he didn’t, I just loved him...
At the last day of the month, while the moon was full that night, That day I decided that I should put an end for his silence and tell him what I feel and to hell with the consequences, This day I couldn’t wait till midnight so I went there a little early hoping that I may find him there but of course he wasn’t, so I lit the fire and waited for him till it was midnight -From my recklessness I forgot my coat and it was freezing out there but I didn’t care much- I saw him coming from far away and then when he was near enough to see the fire litten -and me waiting for him- he didn’t look surprised at all he just sat in his usual place -next to me- and started watching the sea as usual while Shadow on the contrary he seemed surprised for seeing me there as when he saw me he ran to me and started jumping and playing with me till he remembered the presence of his master then he went and laid down next to his master, By then I was too angry to shut-up -from being ignored like that from the man I love-, so I started saying -shouting- to him: “What’s with you man, you come here and spend about four hours every night staring at the sea, while ignoring my presence as if I’m not even there!!...” I must have looked really stupid for shouting like that but I couldn’t take the silence anymore, there’s a word saying: “Sometimes silence has a deafen sound!” well, I got the chance to find out how true that word is. Anyway, after I finished my shouting frenzy he said in his cold manner: “And what’s with you and the sea?...”, So I answered: “It’s not the sea I come for every night, can’t you get it?, I come for you...cause I love you...” then after a long period of silence in which I really had a hard time taking my breath from the excitement he -for the first time- looked at me with a smile on his face and said: “That’s a serious talk you said!”, then I said; “Of course it’s serious, maybe I don’t know you or your story or even your name but all I can say that I love you , I don’t know why or how but all I know is that I do love you and that’s it...”, “My story is too sad to be told and even if you’re willing to hear it I’m not willing to tell it, and about my name it’s not that important.” Said he, and during his talk I was watching his face as it was the first time that I could clearly see it and the presence of the full moon helped in that, He was handsome simple but his eyes were full of sadness, Then when he finished talking he stood up straight and he took off his coat and put it on my shoulders, then he said; “Thank you for you sincere feelings as they made a difference already, but I want you to promise me that you won’t follow my path....”,“Promise me.” He repeated, then I said: “I promise...”,
Then he started walking away but this time Shadow followed him but before he -Shadow- left he looked at me and then he started howling in a very sad way that made my body tremble then he went on his way following his master and left me alone, I started heading back to my villa and while I was walking I remembered his words telling me not to follow his path, I didn’t understand what he meant then, Anyway, I decided to know more about my mysterious lover whether he liked it or not, “But how?” I said to myself...., I remembered that there's an old man living not so far away from here; he used to take care of the beach and the villa when we aren’t around, so I thought I ask him about that guy first thing tomorrow.
The next day I went to that old man in his cottage, he recognized me at once since he used to play with me when I was a child, and he welcomed me, then I asked him if he knows anything about a tall guy with a big black dog, He seemed a little surprised of my question as if he didn’t expect it then he smiled and said calmly: “So, you met him!, I was afraid you will...”,”What do you mean by that?” said I, ”Let me tell you a story: A couple years ago came a young man and stayed here in some villa with his dog, and this guy had a habit as everyday in midnight he goes -and his dog- to the beach and sit there watching the sea till the dawn and then head back. He was gentle, tough and polite but most of all he was sensitive, latter I found out that he loved a beautiful girl, they loved each other for a long time and they agreed to get married but before the wedding she had a car accident and she passed away…, so he couldn’t stand the idea of losing her, so he came to this place -exile as he liked to describe it- searching for internal peace but didn’t find it as he couldn’t stand the pain, so one day he went as usual to the beach on midnight but this time he never came back...,nobody ever found his body nor his dog but there were stories about light seen on the beach and a howling being heard from the same spot that he used to sit in every full moon, but nobody dared to go and check it out even me, until you came...”said the old man, and he continued saying: “My guess that he drowned himself in the sea and his soul is still disturbed so it wanders around the place he used to sit seeking comfort, I’m sorry my dear that you had to go through this painful experience but I hope that knowing that your feelings for him will help him rest in peace once and for all may give you some comfort...”,by then I lost control of myself as I started crying and I kept saying to the old man: “No, this can’t be true , you’re lying” then I ran back home waiting for midnight to go there and prove that the old man story is wrong and my lover isn’t dead.
At midnight I went there running but when I reached my destination there was no one there, no fire, no dog, no guy, no nothing, and then I started waiting for him to show up but down deep inside of me something told me that he won’t, so I started crying, I cried till I could no longer see from my tears, and I kept asking myself questions like: “Why? And how?...etc.”, and suddenly I remembered his words, then and only then I found out what he meant by wanting me not to follow his path, and I remembered my promise to him but I couldn’t, I couldn’t stand the pain, the silence and the agony, so I decided to follow his path defying all laws of sense and logic and breaking my own promise to him, but I kept telling myself that he from all the people should understand why I had to do it, why I had to break my promise, then I started walking but this time not towards home but towards the sea...the water was very cold but I didn’t care as the pain will stop soon, but suddenly I heard a deep long howling from behind me, so I turned to see Shadow standing there under the moon light, then he ran towards me and started dragging me -from my coat- towards the shore, I was still crying, I kept begging him to let go to but he didn’t let me go until I was far enough from the water then I fall down on my knees crying and I kept telling him: “Why???” then I hugged him and after I stopped crying and clamed down a little I gave one last look to the sea and said: “Good bye, good bye my love...” then we started walking back to my villa but this time he didn’t go away he just laid down in front of the door step so I took off my coat -his master’s coat in a matter of fact- and I covered him with it as it was quite cold out there.
The next morning I decided to leave this exile so I went back to town and Shadow with me as I became his new master now, and every year we come once to honor my beloved’s soul by going to the beach every night from midnight till dawn, And while I’m there with Shadow I keep asking myself the same question over and over again:
“Why?..., Why did he had to leave me alone......alone in the Dark...?”...
THE END
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Submission Name: Alone in the Dark
