Promising Yourself the World

Alec promised himself something the Autumn previous to that Spring...

He had written it down

carefully on a piece of browned paper in clean crisp letters.

Alec remembered that day very

clearly. It had been quite sunny though the trees were turned red and browned

orange, piles of the trees old leaves littering the ground. He had seen her

that day - he had asked for her to come for an outing with him and his niece.

She had laughed at all his bad jokes and frowned at his brother Magnus when

he'd sniped over some 'annoying' comment over the coffee Alec had bought for

him.

He had been embarrassed by

his family with their jibing and prodding over all things strange; the weather,

certain people, their friendship...

She had just laughed at him

and said she didn't care, that she would never care what they said and did

because she was more interested in what Alec

had to say.

Alec remembered they had gone

on from that little crowded cafe to the museum. She had wanted to see the place

where he worked part-time. He thought of how nervous he'd been when he asked if

she'd like to go to dinner with him sometime.

He had not expected a

positive response as she tended to be antisocial... like himself most of the

time. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes and her little smile she had so desperately

tried to smile.

"Alright."

One word.

And she'd lit up his world.

He was thrilled and relieved;

and so sick with nerves.

The dinner had gone rather

well, though it turned more into an en masse dinner special with their friends

and family. But Alec remembered her smile and how she had kept looking at him

through the day he had asked her and through all the other outings and catch

ups they had, together and with his little niece.

So, he had written that

'something' down and put it away in a little box, waiting till he read it again

on the scheduled day.

The first day of Spring.

Alec woke that morning,

having forgotten his promise, and got up and ready for the day.

He was drinking his fifth cup

of coffee that day when his brother Magnus came through, impeccably dressed as

always.

"What are you still

doing here?" he enquired suspiciously.

Alec looked up in confusion.

"What?"

Magnus sighed and picked up

the newspaper for that morning. He poured himself a coffee and drank long and

slow.

"Go open the

widow." And then he left the room once more, dropping the newspaper down

onto the table.

Alec wandered over to the

window.

It was sunny and beautiful, the

trees glowing green in the morning light, birds busy building their nests in

the nooks of the tree’s branches.

"Huh?"

He squinted out the window in

confusion.

Then, ever so slowly, his

eyes widened in alarm.

"Oh god."

He looked at the date on the

newspaper.

April 1st.

He ran to his room and got

the little piece of paper out of the box, slipping it into his coat pocket as

he ran out the door.

Alec drove his car to his friend’s

house, pulling outside the white-washed cottage. He took a deep breath and got

out of the car.

He knocked a rhythm on the

door.

There was a groan from the other

side. The door swung open.

"What do you want

Alec?"

Her rusty red eyes investigated

his for a while, her blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun. Her face was

still crumpled with sleep.

"Morning Rachel."

Rachel.

It was the one word on the

piece of paper from months earlier that year. His Spring promise.

He cracked his goofy smile

sheepishly.

"Wanna go

somewhere?"

Rachel stared at him then

checked her watch.

"It's 8:30 in the

morning!"

Alec grinned.

"Where we're going, it's

a good couple of hours drive!"

Rachel groaned and slammed

the door in his face.

Alec's smile faltered.

He heard crashes from the

inside of the house followed by some cursing.

Then she came out, bag, coat

and two plastic cups in hand.

Alec frowned at the cups.

"I'm presuming you

didn't bring any water?"

Alec chuckled.

"Nope!"

He helped her into the car,

then started down the road, blossomed Spring trees framed on either side as

they headed off to their mystery destination.

They drove through the countryside,

green fields with little sheep and cows, willow trees hanging over streams and

wildflowers choking around the feet of the trees.

"Where are you taking me

Alec?"

"You'll see."

They drove through a little

glade of trees and came out by a lake.

"Oh..." Rachel

breathed as she took in the sight of the trees and little meadow by the lake

shore, a huge estate peeking through the trees and gardens on the other side of

the water.

"Welcome, to the Alec

estate!"

Rachel stared as he laid out

a little picnic for them under the shade of a tree.

"Alec, this is so

sweet."

"Well, you know, think

rabbits and all that..." he joked. "I did say had a surprise for you

this Spring!"

Rachel glanced at him

suspiciously.

"What?"

"You're being very sweet

and..."

"Charming?" Alec

jibed.

"Alec, so help me!"

She looked at the view over

the lake as she ate part of the chicken sandwich Alec had made.

"I've never seen your

house before," she said.

"Well, I hoped this

Spring I could take you to heaps of places," he answered.

Rachel smiled.

"I'd like that."

Alec gripped his hands

nervously.

"Rachel, I made myself a

promise... and you too," he started.

Rachel's eyes met his. He

swallowed.

"I was never good with

words... and... well... oh, I'll just show you!"

He pointed out the estate.

"I brought you here

because it always looks the most beautiful this time of year. As a child,

Spring meant a lot to me; it was when we'd play outside and we made many of my

childhood memories," he smiled at the thought. "I was such a pain as

a little kid... but this place, this season was also the only time of year I'd

come back to this place after my parents died..."

Rachel held his hand.

"I know that Spring is

also most important to me, and I hope, to you, with our friendship," he

smiled. "For me, all the major events of my life happened in Spring; my

sister's marriage, my brother's leaving for Europe, your birthday," he

nudged her playfully. "My parents disappeared in Spring..." he

trailed off. "I also left Springtime... so it has a lot of history for me.

And I'm sure for you as well."

"You want to make more

memories in Spring, like you have before, but more of them with me," she murmured

in understanding, a smile on her lips.

He smiled at her.

"I have spoken a lot

about my history and my reasoning, so you'll understand what I'm talking

about... but Rachel, it is about you why I'm telling you this."

He reached inside his pocket

and brought out a little wooden box.

She frowned, and then gaped

in understanding.

"Rachel, my promise to

us both was one word... 'Rachel'... the most important word to me as it shall

always remain... Rachel, my world... Rachel, I love you, and want to ask you

with all my being to..."

"Yes..."

Alec stopped and stared wide

eyed.

"Yes," Rachel

laughed and threw her arms around his neck. His eyes filled with tears and he

laughed with her.

"You mean it? You really

mean it..."

She looked into his burnt

orange-red eyes.

"'With all my

being'..." she whispered.

And so, Spring continued to

be the marker of their lives, the most beautiful of reasons and a memories.

Spring, with its sunlight and

blossoms, birds and leaves, nature breathing, and continuing so, as Alec and

Rachel kept their promise.