Jeremy-Part Three

I walk into my house. Slightly dazed by the events of today, I walk to the dining room without taking in anything of my surroundings.I sit down to find a cold pasta sitting at my seat.

"Where have you been."I look up to see my Mother addressing me. With her pale flowered dress and softening features she looks so vulnerable, as if a gentle breeze could lift her off her petite, heeled feet.

"Your mothers talking to you, answer her!", My Fathers advancing years made him no less intimidating. He's wearing the same beige shirt he always wears, a chequered brown tie and a shiny, chocolate-coloured blazer. Under the table he wore dull, brown trousers and brown shoes that were always impeccably shiny, although I had never once seen him polish them.

I often wonder if he has anything other in his wardrobe other than these identical suits he wears, but I'd never dare to go and look though.

"I've been... Sailing"I say uncertainly.

"Not with that Jeremy boy again?" moans my Father.
Then I realise, I'm going to have to tell them, one way or another.

"Mother, Father", I must be more easy to read than I thought, as Mother and Father seemed to be able to sense something was wrong."I'm moving to Australia."

For a few moments there was silence. Then chaos reigned.

"Why!", demanded my Father.
So what could I do, I told him the truth about Jeremy and the proposal and the University of Melbourne. I see their shocked faces.

"Sapphire Devereux Horizon", funny, two people had called me by my full name today. Jeremy and my Father."You are not leaving this house!"

"I'm an adult now, and I'm going!", I shout, standing.
"You've just gone twenty, you shouldn't be getting married, you're a chi-"
"Derek...", My Mother lays a hand on my Fathers shoulder. He sits, bristling.

I nearly sit down, but then my Mother starts.
"How could you do this to us, at such a fragile time, what about Danny?."

Danny, how could I have forgotten about Danny.

My Mother starts again.
"He won't be able to live without you, you know how he is."

Danny. Poor, poor Danny. His mental disability stops him making friends, I'm all he has. He confides in me, I'm his air. Take me away and he might... Do the unthinkable.

Unfortunately, at moments when you're angry at the world, this logic doesn't go through your mind. And you say things you may live to regret.

"It's not my fault he's a retard!", I shout.
My Mother is aghast, she looks at me, on the verge of tears. And my Father, the only two emotions i have ever seen hom display are neutral and angry, but now he just looks ashamed.
"Go." he whispers,"Just go"

I run, I run as fast as I can. Over the sand, I dive into the water fully clothed, I'm attempting to drown myself.

I'm starting to slip out of consciousness, about to take my first breath of the water. When I feel a strong pair of hands grip and pull me. I don't have the energy to refuse.

Jeremy lifts my head above the waves. I take the breath my burning lungs so strongly desire.
I bury my face in his shoulder, and cry.