Santi: The Devil's Pioneer

Chapter 44 - The Summer Remiss

The day was bright, though my heart was heavy. It had been around a week since I made the bold move to move out of Emily's apartment. Emman has stopped trying to contact me around that time, as well. Chilling by the patio of Lola's homey garden, I hear the doorbell ring.

As I was the only one in the house, I stand up from my cozy position and fetch the door. Well, I wasn't surprised. But definitely, unhappy about the person in front of me. Emily stood in front of me, with some warm wine and gingerbread in her arms, and appeared exceedingly good-natured.

We both stood in silence, but I was unable to take the awkwardness and tension in the air. Giving her room to enter, I leave the door ajar and sit in the living room. Emily sat in the armchair in the far corner, and I in the little rocking chair on the hearthstone, and I can't help but reminisce about the time we'd find ourselves in moments as simple as this, and yet we found the heart to laugh and talk so merrily, and we had so much to say: we planned where we would go, and what we would do in summer. How silly it was to think she was backstabbing me all along.

However, there was a point when we were on the verge of a fight. She had said that the most ideal way to spend a hot July day was sitting on a bank of heath in the center of the moors from morning to evening, with the bees buzzing dreamily amid the bloom, the larks singing far above, and the clear sky and dazzling sun beaming continuously and cloudlessly. That was her idea of heaven's happiness: mine was rocking in a rustling green tree, with a west wind blowing and bright white clouds flitting rapidly above; and not only larks, but throttles, blackbirds, linnets, and cuckoos pouring out music on every side; and the moors had seen at a distance, broken into cool dusky dells; but close by great swells of long grass undulating in waves to the breeze; and woods and sounding water, and the whole world awake and wild with joy. She wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; I wanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee. I said his heaven would be only half alive, and he said mine would be drunk: I said I should fall asleep in his, and she said shecould not breathe in mine, and began to grow very snappish. At last, we agreed to try both, as soon as the right weather came; and then we kissed each other on the cheek and were friends.

After almost an hour of sitting motionless, I glanced at the big room's smooth uncarpeted floor and thought how beautiful it would be to play in if we removed the table; and I had almost let my range and myself go, and maybe beg Emily to invite Peter, Kiki, and Emman in to assist us, and we'd play some boardgame we found in the cupboard, Monopoly, Jenga, or something. She would attempt to mock our little tradition. Emman would huff and puff in boredom. He stated he wouldn't since he didn't enjoy it, but he agreed to play ball with us sometimes. We discovered two among a jumble of ancient toys in a cupboard: tops, hoops, battledores, and shuttlecocks. I was repeatedly beating him, and he became irritated and coughed, and returned to his chair. Every night after every game though, he easily recovered his good humor: he was charmed with two or three pretty songs - your songs, Emily; and when I was obliged to go, he begged and entreated me to come the following evening; and I promised. Emman and I went flying home as light as air, and I dreamt of another game night as fun as the one that had passed before, and my sweet, darling Emman.