A Short Story for a Writing Competition: “Eternal Summer”

Below is a short story that I made about a week ago to participate in a writing competition at my Campus. Please have a read and tell me what you think about it. What is your interpretation of it? What do you think happens?

Eternal Summer

There are infinite ways to tell you how much I love you:

A slice of chocolate cake on a summer’s evening. A glass of warm milk before bed. A tight hug to wish you a wonderful day in the morning. A kiss on the cheek to say “goodnight” and “sweet dreams” before you sleep.

The first thing I need to see every morning after I wake up is you. I need to see your face glow under the early rays of sunshine streaming through the windows as you sleep peacefully, waiting for me to wake you up. I need to see your beautiful face, the only face which sends those butterflies to my heart, which makes everything I do for you more than worthwhile.

You are so beautiful.

I remember the first time I saw you. It was a bright sunny day. I was bored and restless after an uneventful day at campus, seeing the same people, listening to the monotonous voices of the lecturers trying to explain philosophy in the most uninteresting way. I had decided to be an “exile” again that day. I separated myself from all the individuals by sitting under a tree and immersing myself in a book. It was a literature about William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18”. I remember the verse I was reading very clearly:

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate;
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date…

I was thinking about the possibility of such a beauty. Of course, Shakespeare was abusing his metaphors, as usual, in depicting women and love. I doubted that I would ever encounter such things and was skeptic to the prospect of both things ever appealing to me.

That was until you came along. You changed everything.

As I was musing over Shakespeare’s words, unfocusedly gazing into the distance, I noticed you. I finally understood what Shakespeare meant.

You were walking with a group of girls, talking about something that must have been funny because you laughed, exposing your wonderful smile. I saw your blue eyes twinkle merrily. I witnessed your golden hair play with the wind and shine under the summer sun. You instantly became my summer. No, you are more beautiful than the season of summer. You are the summer – the improved and perfected version of summer.

After that day, I literally felt that I could not live without seeing you. I hungered for you like a man who has fasted for days on the Sahara desert. I craved for you much like a pregnant woman craves a specific type of food. I was head-over-heels in love for you. I experienced all the sensations: irregular heart contractions, increase of body heat, frequent perspiration, and “butterflies”.

One day, I said hello to you at the library. You were alone without the usual accompaniment of the other girls. You smiled and greeted me back. I asked if I could join you and you nodded. I sat next to you and started to engage you in a conversation. We had a nice talk. You were so friendly and sincere. As I sat next to you, I could grasp your wonderful scent. You smelt like fresh violets, which further enhanced your beauty. I was intoxicated.

From that moment, I decided that I had to have you. I needed you. I could never want anyone else as much as I wanted you.

I tried so hard to be your lover, but it was so difficult because everyone adored you. Every man seemed to be enchanted by you. It was inconvenient that they were all physically superior compared me. I wasn’t handsome like them. However, I was smarter than all of them put together and you realized that, didn’t you? You enjoyed our talks because you admired my intellect. I could satisfy your hunger for knowledge. You frequently asked me to help you with your assignments. Most of the time, I ended up doing it for you, but I didn’t mind. It wasn’t hard for me and it meant I could spend more time with you.

However, some men succeeded in distracting you. One of them was called Eric. He was the typical stud plus an exceptional athlete. He excelled at every sport. The university had even granted him a football scholarship. He dated you for a long time. Unfortunately, he broke his leg terribly one day so he couldn’t play sports anymore. He became so immersed in grief that he decided to end his relationship with you. Luckily, you got over him quickly.

Another one was called Adam. He was the lead vocalist in a band. He had a wonderful voice and you developed a crush on him. However, he too was unlucky. He got very sick from food poisoning and permanently lost his voice. Feeling so depressed for his loss, he turned to drugs. He became a junkie and you had to leave him for your own safety. I’m glad you did that.

Then there was Michael. Michael wasn’t too special, just an average college student with no special abilities. He didn’t excel in anything. But you loved him very, very, much. It puzzled me a lot. How could you love someone that wasn’t special? I was special, unlike him. Unfortunately for you, Michael disappeared mysteriously one day and nobody knew where he had gone. The authorities looked for him everywhere, but they couldn’t find him.

You were devastated. I saw your sorrow. I saw you tears. I saw your glow gradually fade away.

I tried to comfort you. I sympathized as well as I could. I told you I would always be there for you. I expected you to turn to me since I had dealt with our “obstacles”. They weren’t going to disturb us anymore. However, you didn’t respond to me like I thought you would. You were in so much pain. You thought that life was not worth living anymore because you had lost your true love.

I nearly lost you.

Another summer went by. To my satisfaction and gladness, I became your savior. I could not bear to see your beautiful face stained with grief and pain so I did every measure needed to save you. Finally, you stopped crying. Your face was no longer so sad. Most importantly, you have me and I have you. You are mine and I will always be yours.

***

You are so beautiful. There are infinite ways to tell you how much I love you.

Every day, I am with you in our cozy little house for two. I look after you like a devoted and faithful servant of a queen. I bathe you and clothe you. I brush your beautiful hair. I even learnt how to do your make-up for you. Everything I do for you is worth it, because I get to have you. We get to be together.

Today is the same as any other day. This morning I woke up and tended to you, as usual. Currently, we are having breakfast together. I had prepared pancakes with strawberry topping. You have always loved strawberries, especially on a warm summer’s day.

“How are the pancakes, sweetheart?”

You don’t answer.

“What’s wrong, dear? They are good, right? I tried my best when I made them.”

“…”

“Okay then. Just drink your milk.”

“…’’

“You are quiet, as usual. I wonder what has gotten into you.”

“…”

I sigh. You haven’t said a word to me since that day. Never mind. It doesn’t bother me too much. I didn’t really expect you to talk to me. The important thing is that I get to have you.

I pick up the copy of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” in my lap and open the second page. I start to read my favorite verses to you:

“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

I gaze at you in admiration. You are as still as ever, but perfect, as always. I sigh and smile. Shakespeare was always right about your beauty and my love. It is eternal.

I give you a warm hug and whisper in your ear.

“You are so beautiful and I love you. Nothing can ever stop me loving you.”

 

“Not even death.”

 

Jogja, 13^th April 2012

By: Walissa Tanaya Pramanasari