The Sun is not Just a Star

A short story I had to write for my Literature class.

Jade was leaning against the moldy railing of the local pier, observing the world around him. The weather was cold and windy, and the dark clouds above were holding a promise of rain. He sighed and furrowed his dark eyebrows as he watched the mist leave his mouth and dissipate in the freezing air. He hated this weather - for twenty two years all he had wanted was to get out of this place, to live somewhere warm where he could step outside and not have to worry about the cold. His eyes lifted to the sky as a flock of birds sung out, fluttering excitedly south. Jade’s dark brown eyes followed them for a long time, until they disappeared over the horizon. He had a heavy, sad feeling in his stomach.

 

With one last glance at the spot where the birds had disappeared, Jade turned to make his way home. He thought of sandy beaches and palm trees.

 

“I’m not genetically engineered for this weather…” he said out loud to himself, referring to the Filipino half of his lineage. He headed in the direction of home, his mind wandering until it landed on the reason he couldn’t leave this chilling town.

 

Images of honey hair and emerald eyes flooded his mind and a warm feeling replaced the heaviness in his torso. The corner of his lip twitched upwards as he thought of her, and he could almost feel her warm hands on his cheeks.

 

The loud slap of his boots on the moist pavement brought his mind back and he was miserable again. It had started to drizzle and goose bumps were raised on his neck.

 

It seemed like an eternity in the rain before he finally arrived at his apartment. She was waiting for him, and the smell of something sweet entered his nose as he stepped through the door.

 

“Hi honey.” She said, greeting him with a kiss.

 

“Hi Penny.” Jade replied solemnly, returning her kiss and peeling off his dripping jacket.

 

Jade had asked her to leave with him so many times. He wanted to take her to a place she’d never seen, where the people are relaxed and happy, where the sun always shines and where the waters are warm. But Penny wouldn’t leave. She had too much here, she would say, a family, friends, and a career.

 

So Jade stayed, and most days, he suffered. He stayed not only because he loved Penny, but because he didn’t want to hurt her. He knew if he left, she would be heartbroken and angry. This had been the only thought, on many occasions, that had prevented him from suddenly packing his things and taking the next flight leaving for the Tropic of Cancer. Recently, Jade had felt a hint of resentment towards Penny picking at the back of his mind. He had made it obvious, at this point, that he would stay in this miserable place for her. But she wouldn’t sacrifice any of her wants for him.

 

Jade pushed the thought from his mind as he watched Penny cleaning the counter. She is my sun. He told himself, the quiet smile gracing his lips again. He flicked on the television, and not long after Penny came to sit next to him on the comfortable couch.

 

“Jade…” she said timidly.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Are you okay? You seem so miserable lately…” she spoke sweetly, touching his arm.

 

“The weather is kind of depressing me… I can’t remember the last time I saw the sun…” he trailed off. “I hate this place.”

 

A sharp pang of guilt hit Penny. She thought back to when they were graduating from high school. If it hadn’t been for her, Jade would probably be in Hawaii or Florida, spending all of his free time at the beach and working at a surf shop. Sometimes she felt like she had taken away his happiness.

 

But her own selfishness prevented her from giving him this happiness. She didn’t want to leave her home. It was where she was born and raised and where she planned to settle down. It was her or Hawaii, she had told him once.

 

“Winter will end.” She tried to reassure him, but he gave her an irritated look.

 

“Don’t worry about it, Penn.” he said softly, not wanting to hurt her feelings. They had had this conversation plenty of times, and he was sick of going through the motions.

 

“I’m sorry.” She sighed. The rain splattered the window and it seemed that the coldness of the storm was seeping through the insulated walls of the apartment.

 

“It’s okay,” Jade sat up and hugged her. “You know I love you Penn. I’d rather be here with you than anywhere else without you.”

 

Penny didn’t believe Jade when he said this. She knew he loved her, but she also knew deep down that he would be happier somewhere else.

 

But she played along and nodded her head delicately, and he placed a kiss on her forehead.

 

The days went by and the weather grew colder. Every day, it seemed he spotted at least one flock of birds flying free through the sky, and he would watch them go until they were small pen dots on the horizon.

 

On the first day of December, Jade came home to find Penny sitting at the kitchen table waiting for him. The expression on her face was a mixture of worry, sadness, and the smallest hint of anger.

 

“Penny, are you okay honey?” He asked, laying a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and her eyes began to tear up. “Penny?”

 

“Jade I don’t want to be with you anymore.” she said suddenly.

 

He was frozen still as he tried to comprehend her words. He thought back to every conversation they had had in the past week, trying to find something he had done wrong.

 

“I want you to leave.” She cried, burying her face into her hands, her body shaking with the pain of what she was doing. She was lying. Penny did not want to break up with Jade, and she did not want him to leave. But he had grown more and more miserable every day, and she knew he would be miserable for the rest of his life before he would leave her, so she dropped all of her selfishness. She was setting him free.

 

He didn’t reply. He simply turned around and started gathering his possessions. He wouldn’t argue with her. Jade assumed that Penny was fed up with his miserable composure, and he had tried and tried to hide the signs of his unhappiness, unsuccessfully.

 

It took him just over forty five minutes to pack his things. He loaded them into his car, and went back inside. Penny was still sitting at the table. Cautiously, Jade touched Penny’s hair, and kissed her cheek lovingly.

 

He left without a word.

 

Jade was leaning against the sunburned wood of the local pier, his eyes roving across the beach that stretched endlessly. The sun was at his back, warming his dark skin and hair. He sighed deeply, and looked up as he heard squawking. A flock of birds were headed north for summer. He frowned as he watched them go.

 

The weather was beautiful, the sun shone, and everyone was happy. Everyone except Jade. He had raked his mind, finding small and insignificant reasons for his unhappiness, because he didn’t want to admit the real one.

 

He missed her.

Author's Note

Critique if you think it's needed, but this is a very special story to me, so be gentle :)

Reviews

[Scene, not herd]

This is good! I have goosebumps. I'm not usually one for the romantic, relationship stories, but this one was beautifully rendered and not overly dramatic. Love the conflict you've put your characters into. Will there be another installment?

[Rocki-san]

Awww, I loved it :D