Page 191 of Ruins
The door slides open, we pass by my home gym and make our way to the garage. I grab an extra helmet and lead her to one of my prized possessions - a sleek, powerful motorcycle. But as soon as she sees it, she stops dead in her tracks.
“Absolutely not,” she declares, taking a step back like the bike itself is a threat.
“Why not?” I ask, genuinely confused by her reaction.
“It’s a motorcycle,” she states matter-of-factly, looking at me as if I’ve just suggested something absurd.
I let out a gentle laugh and place the helmet on her head, carefully strapping it on. “It is, and here’s a helmet for you,” I take her jacket from her arm and put it on her.
She shakes her head, “No way, these are dangerous!”
“I assure you, I’m a skilled driver and it’s perfectly safe,” I put on my own helmet and take a seat on the bike, steadying it for her to get on. “Come, hop on behind me.”
She hesitates for a moment before cautiously getting on. “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tight,” I instruct her.
Her arms encircle me tightly and secure. With a flick of the ignition switch, the engine roars to life and we speed out of the garage onto the open road, soon we are speeding down a scenic route. As we zoom past trees and fields of wildflowers, she squeals with both excitement and fear but holds onto me tightly.
A thrill of satisfaction courses through me at her trust and I can’t help the wide grin that splits my face.
The wind whips around us, tugging at our clothes. It’s an unusual sensation, feeling her body pressed against mine. Between the roaring engine beneath us and the feel of her body against mine, I am hyper-aware of everything around and within me.
Her fear seems to ebb away with each mile we cover. The death grip she has around my waist stays secure but less intense.
I feel her head lean against my back. Her fingers begin tracing patterns against my stomach through my shirt - absent-minded doodling or a silent communication - either way it seizes my attention instantly.
It feelsright.
As if every wrong turn in life has finally led me to this spot on earth where everything feels balanced.
As we arrive at a small lake surrounded by towering trees, I cut off the engine and steady the bike helping her off first. Her legs are a bit wobbly from the long ride, and she stumbles slightly before steadying herself against me.
We remove our helmets, and she breathes out “Wow.” taking in her surroundings.
She looks utterly amazed, her eyes drinking in the serenity of the lake under the golden sunlight. Her awe makes a smile tug at my lips, and I feel something inside me stirring.
“I used to come here a lot,” I start to explain, “to think...to just get away.”
When she turns to look at me, there’s an understanding in her eyes that makes my throat tighten. She doesn’t say anything but gives me a small nod of appreciation and understanding.
We walk along the edge of the water in comfortable silence, watching as ducks float idly by. She seems lost in thought, gazing at our reflection on the shimmering surface of the water.
“It’s beautiful,” she says softly, not tearing her eyes away from the scene before us.
I glance at her, watching the way the sunlight dances on her golden hair and adds a soft glow to her features.
She is beautiful, in a way that is indescribable. There’s a pang in my chest, a strange mix of longing and fear.
“Yes,” I find myself saying, “it is.”
I love this place, but the woman standing next to me… the woman who makes my cold heart feel a warmth it hasn’t felt in a long time;she’swhat’s beautiful.
“These are so pretty,” Vasilisa says crouching down to admire the bluebells growing by the lake bank, careful not to touch them.
“My mother loved them too, always said they were beautiful but knew better than to handle them.”
Vasilisa stands and regards me, her eyes on my profile as I look at the steady water. “She came here with you?”
“She introduced me to this lake,” I reply, “When we were younger, she would bring my siblings and I to have picnics, and she would read to me. Angelo would get bored, and he’d always end up jumping in the lake.”
