KIERAN
......
I stepped into the quiet refuge of the park. The night air enveloped me like a shroud. The echo of my footsteps is the only noise of the place. My eyes scanned the familiar surroundings, seeking solace in the tranquil darkness, like every night.
As I moved forward, I spotted a silhouette of a woman perched upon the bench. It's strange, because nobody knew about this place.
I made sure of it.
"What are you doing in my sanctuary?" My voice was cold and detached.
The subtle movement of her head conveyed that I had her attention.
"I could ask you the same question. This park doesn't belong to anyone." Her voice was soft but unwavering, with a slight British accent which cut through the air like a razor.
"You're not from around here." I narrowed my eyes at the back of her head. She hasn't turned around yet.
"What makes you say that?" Her tone soft with a hint of curiosity.
"You're not scared of me." I stepped closer and she finally met my eyes.
In the darkness, her face was mostly hidden, but there was a subtle glow about her, as if she carried a quiet radiance with her.
"Should I be?" Her gaze was sharp and shone brighter in the moonlight.
"Everybody are." I carried firmness and conviction in my statement.
"But you're-
"Not?" She cut me.
"Different." I replied, approaching her slowly.
She didn't flinch.
So I moved further and occupied the empty space on the bench beside her.
There was no other response except the subtle shift of her shoulders.
"This place is unusually quiet tonight." I spoke after a moment.
"One of the reasons I am here. Solitude helps me think." She crossed her legs and folded her arms. Her gaze fixed straight ahead.
"Solitude can be a double-edged sword. It either clears your mind or consumes it." My voice cut through like a sharpened blade.
"I suppose it depends on what demons you're trying to escape." She turned to me again.
"We all have our demons, don't we?" I fixed her with an intense gaze.
"Some just hide them better than others."
"And some wear it like a badge of honour, I suppose." She met my gaze with defiance.
A faint smirk played on my lips.
"Perhaps. Or maybe they simply don't see the point in pretending to be something they're not."
"Is that how you see yourself? A man unapologetically embracing his darkness?" She asked with apprehension.
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just tired of pretending to be something I'm not." I slightly narrowed my eyes at her. Neither of us broke the eye contact yet.
"And what are you, then? When you're not pretending." She asked with a genuine curiosity.
I paused and replayed my whole life for minute, before I answered.
"Alone. Always, alone."
She moved closer to me despite her reservations.
"You're not alone tonight."
I studied her for a moment, searching for any sign of weakness.
I found none.
"Maybe not. But you have to keep up with the darkness if you want to stay by my side."
"I am not afraid of the dark."
A ghost smile crossed my face at her statement.
"You might regret those words when you see what lurks in the shadows." I dipped my head closer to hers.
"I'm not afraid of what's hidden in the darkness. Sometimes, it's the light that blinds us the most." Her voice was steady and confident.
I paused for a moment to look at her. Rarely anyone looked into my eyes, and especially with such sincerity. I returned her the look with a hint of amusement.
"You're different. Most people recoil from what they can't see."
"Maybe I'm just tired of living in the light. Maybe I'm ready to embrace the unknown." She has an intensity in her low soft voice.
"You're not like anyone I've met before." I admitted despite my resistance.
"And you're not as cold as you pretend." She casually stated.
Neither of us looked away from each other.
"You haven't seen the depths of my darkness yet." I said in a low hoarse voice.
"Then show me."
I caught my breathe at her boldness. Damn this girl.
"Once you see what lies within, there's no turning back." I whispered.
"Even in the darkest corners of your soul, I see something worth holding onto." She moved her lips closer to my ear.
I fought the urge to touch and feel them.
"You're a dangerous woman, you know that?" Our lips were at a very unsafe distance.
"Maybe I'm just the right kind of dangerous for you."
My defenses almost crumbled when her phone rang shattered the tension like a sudden clap of thunder. She froze momentarily, her eyes widening in disbelief at the ill-timed interruption.
She distanced herself from me and picked up the call. She didn't say a word, but her expressions most definitely did, which the moonlight could not help me read.
She cut the call with a sigh and quickly stood up.
She's a good 5'6 without the heels.
She collected her coat which sat on the bench.
"Going somewhere, Cinderella?" My voice startled her for a split second before she regained her composure.
"Well, yes. You're not my Prince charming, are you?" She stood tall, her posture exuding confidence.
A smirk played at the corners of my lips.
"Perhaps not a Prince charming." I replied.
"But then again, who needs fairytales when reality offers so much more intrigue."
She looked at me with a hint of curiosity and a faint smile appeared on her face.
God! How much I wished for the moon to come and flash it's light on her right now.
She moved closer to me as I stood up, and dipped her head forward, her lips almost touching my earlobe and whispered,
"I found your depths in the shadows, let's explore my light in the daylight."
Her sudden movement caused me to catch my breath for the third time tonight. She moved away from me slowly, walking backwards. She stopped, casting one last sincere glance my way, before turning on her heel and walking away leaving me momentarily breathless as a pang of regret settled in my chest.