English
My First Love
It was a cold evening. The leaves were rustling. It was getting dark outside and even the birds seemed to be in a hurry to fly home. The streets were empty except for one forlorn figure. She was nicely dressed up in a buttoned up woolen coat but her whole demeanor right from the eyes to sagging shoulders spoke of profound sadness and heavy burdens. She was an unusually beautiful girl with striking green eyes and long beautiful hair. She did not seem to be in a hurry at all. In fact, she was dragging her feet as if great unpleasantness waited for her at home. She kept on walking and finally stopped in front of an imposing beautiful house on the street. She took out the key from her bag and was about to open the locks when she thought better of it and retreated her steps.
She had walked only a few paces away from home when she saw an old lady waving and quickly walking towards her. She waved back at the lady with the first genuine smile of the day on her face. She knew the old lady very well, having lived all of her life next to her little cottage. The old lady was short heighted with a kind and crinkled face. She said “Hi! Mrs. Parker. How are you?” The old lady replied “I am fine Jenna. How are you coping up, dear?” She nodded and
English 2
did not say anything. The old lady could see the tears pooling in her eyes. She patted her kindly on the shoulder and invited her for a cup of coffee.
She was about to refuse but then a sudden and strange feeling of loneliness engulfed her. She did not want to be alone and was grateful for the offer. She accepted her invitation graciously. The old lady was genuinely pleased. She was really fond of Jenna since her childhood. She had been a very beautiful child of very wealthy parents. Her parents were greatly in love with each other and their life seemed like a fairy tale until that fateful day which had taken away her handsome father and her mother had gone into coma.
She had no one else to call her own except her grandmother who had not given the poor child the love that she needed. She was always busy with her social calls. Her mother had died two years after her father’s death. Jenna was only five then. The child had more or less brought herself up with the help of a gentle housekeeper.. Despite all the wealth that surrounded her, she was very humble. Her grandmother had also died two months back. Jenna got the shock of her life when she came to know that her grandmother’s expensive lifestyle had left her almost penniless. She was left with the house she currently lived in and only a small trust in her name after settling all the bills and gambling debts that her grandmother had left behind. She was heartbroken after that and lost her trust in everyone. Mrs. Parker wished that Jenna would one day find someone gentle yet strong to hold her hand.
She sipped her coffee, drawing comfort from Mrs. Parker’s company. She thanked her and started back home. The cold wind outside soothed her. She was not ready to go home just yet. So, she decided to take a walk to the park. She was glad of the quiet company of the stars. She sat down at the park bench, closed her eyes and breathed in the cold wind and relaxed.
English 3
“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?” She heard a melodious voice and opened her eyes. She found a young man sitting next to her. His eyes were also closed. She looked at him. He was about her age and good looking in a cute way. “It is”, she replied. The young man extended a hand and introduced himself. “Hi, I am Oliver.”
“I am Jenna”, she said shaking his hand. His touch was reassuring. They did not speak for some time. Then, Oliver started talking to her. He told her that he was a musician and lived all alone in the city. Jenna was surprised to know that he had also lost his parents in an accident but that was not his only loss. She was surprised to know that he had also lost his eyesight.
She said, “but..but you told me the night was beautiful. How is it possible if you can’t see?” Oliver replied with a smile, “I might have lost my eyesight but not my spirit or soul. I am a fighter, a survivor. God has given me a chance in a million to live and breathe in his nature. So, I don’t think its fair to him if I start crying over trivial issues.” Jenna was surprised to hear such optimistic words from one who had lost even more than her. She bade him goodnight and went back home thinking about him all the way.
She slept peacefully that night and an involuntary smile would come on her face whenever she thought about Oliver. In the evening, she went to the park again telling herself that she wanted some fresh air. She sat on the bench and waited. She was deep in thought when she heard the same voice again. “I was hoping that the lure of the fresh air and my scintillating company would somehow bring you here and I am glad to find that I am irresistible.” Jenna heartily laughed at this. “Ouch, watch out Miss you are hurting my male pride in my good looks and my witty sense of humor.”
English 4
Oliver sat down next to her and after asking each other about their day, both of them sat quietly for some time. Jenna broke the silence and told Oliver how she loved to come to this park with her house keeper but her grandmother had refused her this also. Her grandmother had told her that public park was not the place meant for people like them. Jenna told Oliver about all the lonely days of her childhood where she was always somehow in the way of her grandmother. Oliver listened patiently. Jenna said, “I walked in my home, afraid of my own shadow, my own laughter, afraid of offending my grandmother, afraid to be in her way. I would go to sleep afraid of the fact that my grandmother would also leave me for good like my parents if I irritated her too much.”
Oliver felt Jenna’s pain and held her hand. She was sobbing. He felt angry at the callous behavior of her grandmother. After she ran out of tears she felt free of all the shadows of her past. She went back home after promising Oliver to meet him next day. They would meet every day in the park and would then take a walk talking about almost everything they could think of. These meetings held a special place in Jenna’s heart.
She had found her little piece of heaven. Her feelings for Oliver scared her. She was afraid that if she will tell Oliver he might also want to leave her and go away. She went to the park as usual that day. After walking for sometime Oliver suddenly stopped and threw his walking stick away and held Jenna’s hand firmly. He said, “I know I am not much of a bargain but I can assure you that as I am holding your hand today I’ll be your shadow and your friend. I love you for your strength, your beauty and your compassion.” Jenna could not say anything. She was delirious with sense of belonging and joy. Oliver was not only her first love but a love for life and beyond. As, she hugged Oliver she realized she had ,finally, come home.
