Freedom

          Ed jumped out of bed this morning, eager to get back out amongst the waves. There is something invigorating about being caught amongst a thousand drops of hydrogen and oxygen collectively pulled by a giant rock thousands of miles away. Despite these attractions I made an alternative suggestion.

            “Perhaps we could do something… I don’t know… cultural?”

            They both laughed. In Virginia Beach? Come on.

            In the end we skipped along the coast a short way to the Waterbreeze water park. We spent all morning flying down water slides laughing. At one point I risked being thrown out by riding down one with Sharona in my lap. She tried to kiss me half way down but kept missing and we crashed into the water at the bottom laughing and throwing water at each other and Ed.

            When it was time to go we all went for a shower. I met Sharona outside the block before Ed got there.

            “You know what, Tom?” she said to me, “I wish life could always be so simple like this. I’d like to be free forever.”

            To be honest this moment brought a crashing end to the simplicity of the day for me. I was happy with freedom when it came subconsciously, but the truth is that freedom isn’t really my thing. How can a girl who lives for it be a match for me?

 

*

 

            When we got back to the hostel this afternoon I checked my emails. I had one from Annabell. The moment I saw it my heart start racing. I opened it, hoping against hope that it was at least personal – that it might betray some feeling.

            It did. She said she’d been thinking of me and wondering how I was! She wants to see me when I’m next about.

            But now I’ve got Sharona, and she’s coming all the way to England with me, for me. Suddenly that seems all the more terrifying. It’s choking, the idea of someone making a sacrifice like that for me.

            I get on the Greyhound tonight for the last time before getting to the airport. Right now I’ve got no idea what to think. I’m confused, but I can’t let it show until I understand it.

So I’ll let it all drag me along.