Day 13 - Remember that time when…

” Remember that time when you and I first started dating? It was such a huge shock to all our friends, for they all thought we were absolutely no match for each other. But we’re still together now, five months later. I was still a little shy on those first few dates, and it was still a little awkward. But you tried your hardest to make sure I was having a good time.

You always came up with the craziest ideas for dates. I never was the type to be swept of my feet by just an ordinary date at some “romantic” restaurant – and oh you were so creative! We went skiing in the middle of the summer, in one of those indoor skiing halls. We would go to a random city we had never been before and explore, sometimes even spent the night. Every date seemed like some sort of - mini vacation with you. How I loved to tell all my friends our crazy adventures the very next day, in the greatest detail.

Oh and remember that party two weeks ago? We both had had a little bit too much to drink, quiet scandalous really, and then we snuck out when we thought no one noticed. We stayed away for a whole hour while everyone inside was wondering where we’d gone off to. And we were kissing in your car parked up front, not the least embarrassed when someone would walk by. And we were just laughing the entire time, like two complete idiots! We really were a little bit too drunk you know, what shameless behaviour! I know for a fact that we got talked about after that. Seriously.

Everyone always said that I was your queen, for you were always so attentive. Hanging my coat, opening the door for me, pulling back the chair for me, carrying my purse. I even heard someone say, though no-one in particular, that it got a bit sickening how much you doted on me. But a smile from me could make you do anything. As it can still, right baby?

And that one time you threw me a huge surprise birthday party. Inviting all my friends and family and you organised the entire thing by yourself. There was an enormous cake, the brown chocolate one I like so much from that special bakery down town. And you had bought me the most astonishing present! A diamond bracelet I had seen in a magazine at a friend’s house, four whole weeks before. You had remembered it. But well, how couldn’t you? During that visit I must have mentioned it at least twenty times!  And at the end of the evening, when we all thought there couldn’t be any more surprises, surely, you announced we were going away for a romantic weekend!  You remember all of that?Don’t you, babe?

Oh, of course you don’t. No no, that’s right.. That is probably because you did all those things with her, not me. While I was sitting at alone at home, wasting my time. Aching for you. “

Day 10 - Something you hate

Arrogance. Discrimination. Selfishness. Anxiety.  Shallowness. Writers block. Uncaring. Slyness. Oh yeah, and spiders.

I will not elaborate about these things, or name anymore.  Because yeah – that’s how much I hate them.. xD

Day 3 - Write about something ugly - but find the beauty in it.

“Lot 435.. 15 Droverslane, In Liberton, close to where we are now.” The auctioneer swallowed as he looked down at the papers in front of him. “Well, everyone has seen it in the booklet I dare say.. Just a lick of paint and it’ll be fine I think.” He chuckled as he looked into the room, hoping people would laugh at his obvious joke. When no response came his smirk vanished from his face and he looked down again at his papers. “Right.. Some nice grounds come with it though..” He sighed. “Let’s start at 15.000. Anyone?”

He was about to write down the property as unsold without really looking around, when someone in the room cleared their throat. Annoyed, expecting to only see someone with an apologizing look on their face and the gift of extreme bad timing, the auctioneer looked up. But it wasn’t so. Sitting in the middle of the third row from the front, a young woman, he’d guess her to be in her twenties, had raised her sign. The auctioneer was quite bewildered and turned slightly red, embarrassed that he had missed her as he had been assuming no one would be so crazy to spend even 2000 on this decayed property. He straightened his back as he his eyes shot nervously, from one side of the room to the other. “Right..” His voice was shaking just a little as he tried to come across as a professional to cover up his recent mistake. “15.000 – the lady in the third row… Anyone 15.500 …. 15.250.. maybe?”

She felt their eyes burning in her back as she raised her sign up in the air. They must think her absolutely nuts bidding on such a slum - not even waiting for the price to be brought down just a little. Sarah was aware of what she must look like. Most people here were experienced property developers who’d run and hide if such a lot as this would cross their path. And most of them were male. She had caught quite some eyes as she had entered the room and had found a seat.

“Are you quite sure about that lassie?” The older man who had sat down next to her and whom she had chatted with a little bit before the auction has started whispered to her. “People avoid it as the plague I dare say.. And you – only a beginner.“ Sarah knew he was being genuinely concerned, so she smiled at him sweetly and nodded. Seeing the look in her eyes, the man realised he could say all he wanted but that she was someone who had already made up her mind a while ago. He sat back straight in his seat, mumbling something about the young people these days… ‘careless’,  as Sarah cleared her throat. The auctioneer seemed to have written this lot down as doomed from the start, he hadn’t even looked up yet to see if there was anyone who’d place a bit. People around her started to whisper to each other as she cleared her throat again. The auctioneer finally spotted her, though he looked annoyed and ultimately, surprised. “Right… the lady in the third row…”  Yes, right indeed.

That had been three days ago and a few miles away, in Edinburgh. Right now Sarah was standing in front of her latest purchase. And in her mind – her best purchase yet. Instead of acknowledging it to be the dump people take it for, Sarah had seen its opportunities. Yes, only three of the thirty windows in the entire house weren’t broken. The roof was leaking in at least twenty different places, the front door hung out of its hinges, there was no electricity and the plumbing lay open and bare for everyone to see. And these were only but a few of its flaws.

Someone once said though that the weakness of ourselves and of our reason makes us see flaws in beauties - by making us consider everything piece by piece. So try to see it as a whole; something seen as ugly can actually be quite beautiful. Sarah didn’t see all those little defects creating all in all the dump everyone else seemed to see. She saw Chatsworth with its dark passages, Castle Howard with its shrieking staircases and Blenheim with its chilly hall. She saw through the obvious flaws and looked at the whole picture, she recognised its opportunity to be beautiful.

Day 2 - A Couple

The Perfect Couple.
Two items of the same -
Kind. Standing tall. A pair of two -
United. They are linked -
Together. At their everlasting wedding.
Forever. Strong. Perfect. They stand -
On sugar-coated frosting. Watching pairs –
Trying desperately. To be just as perfect.

Day 1 - Something you love.

“It is a truth generally acknowledged that we are all longing to escape.”

It is impossible for me to see clearly through the trees. Only a few rays of light hit the ground, coming through the high and mighty crowns of leaves above. The only things I hear are the thuds of my feet hitting the solid ground - crushing leaves and breaking the occasional stick - and my own panting, as I run for my dear life. The terror that possesses me keeps me from thinking straight, but also forces me on. Little drops of sweat are running down my temples and I feel a terrible sting in my side. I try not to think of my sore feet, the pressure on my lungs and images of me tripping and falling, that keep on popping in my head. I cannot distinguish his run from mine, but I know he’s there behind me. I just know it. In the corner of my eye I see something written on the bark of a tree, it’s in some kind of strange code. I don’t understand. And I can’t stop now. I’ve got to keep on running.  At full speed. The adrenaline in my veins pushes me forward.

Suddenly, the trees are gone. Everything around me sort of - fades away and turns into this bright and soothing colour white. My feet stop running, feeling no longer sore, as my heartbeat is slowing down. Around me I see now, fluffy clouds are forming. The constant anxiety I’ve been feeling starts to fade away. ‘He can’t get me now’, I think, as I’m floating through the sky. Hugging the wind while I poke every cloud that floats past me. My heart is filled with laughter.  I feel glorious.

I reach the place I suddenly realise I was running towards all along. I smile at my own stupidity. And there they are. Already waiting for me. My two friends and I grab our bells and something to eat and head out into the streets. When we turn into High Street we have finally caught up with the parade. We quickly merge between a group of little children and the local marching band. I look around, with the feeling I’m searching for something. When I look back at my friends – I find that not they, but Colin Firth and Neil Patrick Harris are accompanying me now. Good, found them. That my two friends have turned into two famous actors is only logical. We are going to the premieres of our movie after all.

I sit in the second row and the movie has only just started when I spot a really handsome guy coming towards me, finding his way down the aisle with a flash light. I can’t see his features, but I just know that he’s exactly my type. He stops dead in his tracks as he’s standing beside my chair. A huge smile appears on my face and all of the sudden my teeth are as white as those of a toothpaste model. Just when I think he’s about to propose to get the hell out of here ’cause he’s got us two plane tickets to Paris, the brightness of his flashlight blinds me. “Hey,” I squeeze my eyes shot as I move to push the flashlight away. “Cut it out will yo – “

My eyes open and I see the sky blue fabric of my thin curtains. Through a small crack the sunlight is pouring in. Down the hallway I hear the water of the shower running. I turn around and I see on my nightstand my alarm clock is showing 09:14. I sigh and close my eyes once more. Where was I?

(Day)dreaming – absolutely my ultimate pleasure. <3