Sins of the Ocean

     How do you truly know when it's time to start over? What route do you take to make that happen? Who all do you include in your future? These are the questions that I ask myself on a daily basis. 

    For as long as I can remember I've always felt out of place, not an outcast perse but also not someone who is constantly noticed. With the total amount of people in the world I could understand not being seen because lets face it everyone can't be a shining star, but to feel like you don't belong within your own family is a little draining. At first it was painful to be the outcast of my family, but growing up I quickly learned to embrace it and just take things as they are. On the bright side I was never included in the day to day drama that happened in my house but I guess being an only child also put a limit on the amount of drama that was in our house.

   The first year out of high school was so exciting, I was proud that I had graduated and could get started with the next part of my life, little did I know the turmoil that would come along with trying to move on from past hurt. I'm renting a nice little studio apartment in the downtown area. I've been working and saving all of my money since I was fourteen years old, once i turned eighteen I opened up a back account and placed my money in there. This is that I have been waiting for, the moment when I can walk into my own place and not have to be bothered by a single soul.

    

Joy is Pain

 For the past two months I have done nothing but try to get myself together literally and figuratively. All of the hospital staff have been very supportive of my recovery and wanted to make sure I was in the best condition before they allowed me to go home. On the day I was discharged my twin sister Sindy was there to pick me up and take me back home, a home which I hadn’t lived in since my accident. I remember bits and pieces of what happened but not everything. The bits and pieces came back to me over time and although the memories are very painful I would rather know what happened than to be clueless out in the world and vulnerable. The one thing that I absolutely remember is the last time that I saw Markus he was alive. 

The ride back to the house was nice and quiet, it gave me time to reflect on everything that I had overcome and all of the obstacles that I would have to face. A bunch of flashing lights broke me out of my train of thoughts. Looking around I noticed that they were lights from a police car. I realized that we had stopped moving and Sindy had pulled the car over to the side of the road. I looked out my side mirror and saw an officer approaching my side of the car. Rolling down my window, I looked up at the police officer and realized it was Larry. Larry was the one who had saved my life right before Wilma made her move; he appeared out of nowhere and stopped her.

“How are you feeling Sapphire?” Larry asked as leaned his head in the window just a tad bit.

“I’m feeling better than what I should be thanks to you being good at your job.” I replied with a faint smile.

“Well take care of yourselves and call if you need anything.” he replied as he tapped the top of the car and then walked away.

“So how are you really feeling, honest answers only?” Sindy asked as she pulled back on to the road and continued the drive home.

“Honestly, I’m fine. I'm ready to try and move forward with life.”

“No to bring back bad memories, but what happened to Wilma?”

“I don't know, that’s a question that Larry and the police department has the answer to.” I replied, glancing out the window.

We rode in silence the rest of the way home, I sat in the passenger seat thinking about how I could no longer live the life I was used to all because of one psychotic person. When people warned me about working for Wilma I should have listened to them but because I didn’t my life is forever changed. Pulling into the driveway, Sindy turned off the car and hit the unlock button. I gathered all my thoughts and prepared myself for the walk from the car into the house. 

“You’ve got this, it's just a couple of small steps, you’ve walked this path a thousand times before nothing new.” I thought to myself even though there was something different. Now I’m walking on prosthetic legs, instead of the ones I was born with.

“Hey, are you alright? Do you want me to help you?” I heard Sindy asking in the background.

“Yes I am fine, no I don't need any help. Just taking everything in, ya know.” I replied as I shifted my legs outside of the car.

Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I used the car to pull myself up. Sindy and I walked side by side all the way to the front door. Once in the house I went straight to my room and grabbed an outfit that wasn't hospital issued. Then I went into my bathroom and ran myself a nice warm bath. I had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever. I missed my tub, my bathroom, my room and most importantly I missed Markus. As I sat in the tub and soaked I thought about how lucky I was to still be alive considering the fact that Markus was not. Markus with his infectious laughter and room lighting grin, Markus my Markus was dead and there was nothing that I could do about it. A knock at my bathroom door pulled me out of the downward spiral I felt myself going down.

“Sapphire, you have some mail out here and dinners’ almost ready.” Sindy said through the other side of the door.

“Okay, I’ll be out in just a minute.” I called back as I let the water out of the tub.

I pulled myself out of the tub, dried off and got dressed. I slowly made my way into the living room and was greeted by stacks of mail that were placed in a tote. On top of the stack of mail was a box addressed to me, curiosity got the best of me so I decided to open that up first. The only two items in the box was a video tape with no words on it and a knife. I pulled the tape out of the box, walked over to the VCR, popped it in and pressed play. At first it was just a blank screen. I was about to press the eject button when Wilma’s image popped up on the tv screen, along with Markus and myself. I silently stared at the screen as the video showed Wilma butchering Markus like a pig in a slaughterhouse. I watched as Markus’s blood splattered everywhere, including my face. I wanted to stop watching, I wanted to press the stop button but I was frozen in place, I'm not sure if I was frozen by the shock of the video or from the fear that ran through my body. I continued to watch as Wilma walked over to me and sliced my right cheek with her knife. In the video I began to stagger backwards trying to get away from her but I tripped and fell to the floor. Wilma took her knife and repeatedly stabbed me in both of legs as I tried to fight her off. Lifting the knife above her head she then began to drive the knife into my chest but a single shot rang out in the distance. The knife fell out of Wilma’s hands and Larry had come into view and tackled her to the ground, after that the screen went black.

I grabbed the box off of the table and looked for a return address but there wasn't one, the knife that was in the box made a clunking sound as it hit our hardwood floor. 

“Sindy!” I yelled as I threw the box onto the floor.

“Why are you yelling? I'm right in the kitchen.” Sindy replied, coming to stand next to me.

“Who sent that box?” I asked, pointing at the box that was now on the floor at my feet.

“I don't know who sent it, what’s the matter.”

“This is what's the matter,” I replied as I hit the rewind button and started the tape over for my sister to watch.

“What sick person would keep this and send it to you?” Sindy asked, turning off the tv.

“There is only one person that would have had this sent to me. I’m going to call Officer Larry, maybe there are fingerprints on it.” I replied as I picked up my cell phone and dialing Officer Larrys’ cell number.

The phone rang about four times before Larry picked up “Hello Sapphire, what’s going on?”

“Hey Larry, are you able to come over and check something out for me? Somebody sent me a video but the box doesn't have a return address on it and there is no note either.

“Give me about thirty minutes and I’ll be on my way.”

“Okay, see you in thirty minutes,” I replied and then hit the call end button.

As I waited for Officer Larry to arrive, I continued to go through the rest of the mail that was in the tote. Most of the envelopes had a get well card in them twenty minutes had gone by and the doorbell had rang. I got up off the couch and slowly made my way to the front door. I unlocked it and then pulled it open expecting to see Officer Larry on the other side. 

“Didn’t expect to see me again did you? Did you like the video I sent you?” Wilma asked as she entered my house with a grinch sized smile on her face. 

All of the air left my lungs and all of a sudden I felt like I had a bad case of cottonmouth. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, Wilma inched closer to me and I tried to back away but I stepped on something and felt my prosthetics give way. My arms flailed aimlessly trying to grab a hold of something, so I wouldn't fall but it was pointless. My back crashed into the bottom of the staircase.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask Wilma as I looked up at her.

“Finishing what I started of course, why else would I be here?” she replied with the stupid grin still on her face.

“Leave my sister alone and get out of our house before I call the police.” Sindy yelled at Wilma as she ran into the little hallway.

Wilma’s smile seemed to grow wider and I could’ve sworn I saw some teeth begin to show. Sindy stood in front of me with her fist balled up ready to fight.

“I’m afraid your fist will be no match against my knife.” Wilma said with a slight chuckle as she pulled a knife out of the back of her pants.

“I’m only going to say this one more time, get out.” Sidney yelled again.

Wilma charged at Sindy and smacked her across the face with the end of her knife. The blow to the side of her head made Sindy fall against the railing of the stairs.

“Don’t touch my sister!” I yelled trying to pull myself up

“Say goodbye to your sister Sapphire.” Wilma replied as she raised her knife above her head the same way she had done when she had almost killed me.

I couldn't do anything but cover my eyes as she lowered the knife above Sidneys’ torso. Three gunshots ran off from the direction of the front door and I heard the knife fall to the floor. I slowly opened my eyes to see Officer Larry standing in the doorway with his gun still in his hand. I looked around the room and saw Sindy still cowering on the floor, a couple feet in front of her was the lifeless body of Wilma. 

“Are you guys okay?” Officer Larry asked as he stepped all the way into the house.

“I'm a little shaken up but I’ll be fine.” I replied pulling myself onto the bottom stair.

“Yeah I’m good, it feels like I just got hit by a rock though.” Sindy said as she rubbed the side of her head.

“Back up and the paramedics are on the way, let's get you two checked out at the hospital though.” Officer Larry replied, holding his hand out so I could grab it.

Is there hope for young love? pt 1

    At first, the party was going great, everyone was enjoying themselves. Then, Tracy’s best friend suggested that they play truth or dare.

“Since it's your birthday you should go first.” Tracy’s boyfriend, Mark suggested.

“Truth or dare?” Tina asked her.

“Truth,” Tracy replied confidently.

“Could Logan ever be your boyfriend?” she asked.

“If I wasn't with Mark, then yes he could be.” Tracy replied.

A couple of her friends gasped and some shook their heads. Most of them were most likely waiting for a response from Mark or Logan. When they did not respond the game went on. Around two or three in the morning everyone went to sleep. Tracy woke up around twelve o'clock, she woke up Tina and they got breakfast started.

When breakfast was finished, everyone grabbed their plate. As they ate their food they watched BET. As people finished eating, they left. Once everyone was gone Logan, Mark, and Tina helped clean up the kitchen and the house.

“Let’s go catch a movie,” suggested Mark.

“How about Joy is Pain.” asked Logan.

“Sure why not,” Tina and Tracy agreed.

As Tracy watched the movie Mark questioned her.

“Did you really mean what you said last night?”

“Yeah but don't worry I won't leave you,” she assured him.

He just nodded his head and turned back to the movie. After the movie went off they went back to Tracy’s place. Thirty minutes later they left and went over to Tina’s house, so they could prepare for the Valentine’s Day party. It took them forty five minutes to set the party up. People started to arrive ten minutes later. The music was loud and the food was on point.

As the chicken started to disappear Tracy went into the kitchen to make more. She opened the fridge and pulled out the pan of wings. Then she turned the oven on, opened it and placed the wings inside. As she closed the oven doors Logan walked into the kitchen.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked, grabbing some ranch out of the fridge.

“Yeah, how about you”

“I’m having fun now that I’ve seen you,” he said, stepping closer to her.

Tracy tried to move away from him but she cornered.

“Would you really be my girl, if you weren't Marks’?” Logan asked, moving in closer.

“Yes really” she replied, still trying to move away from him.

“You don't know how happy that makes me.”

“Um... Logan can you scoot back some please?”

“Oh my bad,” he said, moving back.

As Tracy was about to leave the kitchen, Logan grabbed her waist and kissed her. She tried to pull away but she couldn't move. As Logan continued to kiss her, Mark walked into the kitchen.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Mark yelled and then left out of the front door.

Logan pulled away from Tracy and she went after Mark. When she entered the living room Mark was gone.

“What’s the matter Tracy?” Tina asked her.

“Mark just caught Logan kissing me.” Logan came out of the kitchen with the hot wings and set them on the table.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Tina asked as Logan walked towards them.

“Ask Logan he’s the one who kissed me” Tracy exclaimed.

“I couldn't control myself, I mean you’re just so sexy Tracy.” he said standing next to her.

“So what are y'all going to do?” asked Tina.

“I have to make things right with Mark.” Tracy said.

“So do I.” Logan agreed.

Tracy called Mark's phone, but he didn't answer. She sat down on the couch and Logan sat next to her.

“I'm sorry Tracy I didn't  mean to get you in trouble.” 

“Why would you even kiss me in the first place?”

“I told you because I really like you and I couldn't control myself.”

“I'm going to sleep, I will see you two in the morning.” Tracy said going up to Tina’s room.

As soon as she laid down her phone started to vibrate. It was a text message from Mark that said “Hope you and Logan are happy together.” She replied “I don't want Logan, I want you.” His response was “I can't tell.” She didn't even respond back, she just went to sleep. When she awoke it was around ten o’clock.

She went downstairs and into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast.

“Did you sleep well last night?” Logan asked her as she stepped into the kitchen.

“I slept alright, how about you?” she asked.

“I got enough sleep to keep me awake.”

“Is Tina still asleep?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I talked to Mark last night.”

“Well what did he say?”

“He said he hopes that me and you are happy.”

“And what does he mean by that?”

“He thinks that we’re together.”

“That's ridiculous.”

“Evidently not to him.”

Logan and Tracy went into the living room and turned on the tv. The phone rang so Tracy picked it up.

“Hello,”

“Tracy, it's me Mark, we need to talk,” he said.

“Well I’m still at Tina’s house so you can come and talk to me here”

“I’m on my way then,” he said, hanging up the phone.

Tracy hung up her phone and got up off the couch.

“I’m going to take a shower, tell me when Mark gets here.” she said to Logan.

As Tracy walked into the bathroom Tina went past her and walked down the stairs. When Tracy got out of the shower Mark was downstairs in the living room.

“Can I talk to you in private?” Mark asked, standing up.

“Let's go into the living room then.”

They went into the dining room, Tracy turned around and shut the doors. She turned back around and looked at Mark.

“I think we should split up,” Mark said. 

“Mark, I told you it wasn't my fault Logan had me cornered, what was I supposed to do.” she asked him.

“You could have pushed him away or something.” Mark replied.

“I tried to but he’s stronger than me.” 

“Whatever, we just need some time apart.”

“Just give me a chance.”

“You had your chance.” he said, opening the doors back up.

Tracy followed him out into the living room and sat down on the couch. Mark said a quick goodbye to Tina and then walked out of the front door.

“So what did he say?” Logan asked when the front door closed.

“He thinks we need some time apart,” Tracy replied.

“Are you going to be alright?” Tina asked her.

“Yeah, I should be.”

“I tried to tell him what happened, but he didn't listen.” Logan said.

“Don't even worry about it, he wouldn’t listen to me either.” I replied.

Logan wrapped his arms around Tracys waist and pulled her closer to him.

“What do you think you're doing?” she asked, moving his arms.

“I can't hold you?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Put on a movie or something,” Tina said sitting down.

 There was nothing good to watch on tv, so they decided to go out somewhere.

“Why can’t you and Logan just leave me here?” Tracy asked. Tina asked as she got into the car.

“You need to get out and relax, that's why.” she replied, starting up the car.

As Tina pulled out the driveway Tracy reclined her seat back and went to sleep. Soon she was awakened by a kiss, thinking it was Mark she pulled herself closer. When she opened her eyes Logan was the first person she saw. She pushed him away and sat the seat up.

“What's wrong with you Logan?!” she screamed at him.

“Nothing, why?” he asked.

“Cause you just kissed me again!”

“Only because you wanted me to.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You were saying give you a kiss, so I did.” 

“He’s telling the truth,” Tina said giggling .

“Plus you pulled me closer to you, so you liked it.” he said.

“Whatever,” Tracy huffed.

“Why can't we just give us a chance?”

“I’ll think about it, Logan okay.”

 About five minutes later they pulled up at an all you can eat place. They got out of the car and went in. They were seated in a booth at the back of the restaurant. Logan sat next to Tracy as they waited for their plates.

“Tracy, can I ask you something?” Logan questioned.