Contemporary story
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Return to Paradise

Lisa gazed out over the Caribbean Sea, feeling the faint breeze against her face - eyes shut, the white sand warm between her bare toes. The place was beautiful beyond belief, but it was still unable to ease the grief she felt as she remembered the last time she had been here.

She had married James right here on this spot three years ago to the day. Dressed in a simple white shift dress, miniature white roses attempting to tame her long dark curls, Lisa had been happier than she had ever thought possible. James was even less formal but utterly irresistible in creased summer trousers and a loose white cotton shirt. His dark hair slightly ruffled and his eyes full of adoration as his looked at his bride to be. The justice of the peace had read their vows as they held hands and laughed at the sheer joy of being young, in love and staying in a five star resort on the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic. They had seen the years blissfully stretching ahead of them, together forever. They planned their children, two she said, he said four so they compromised on three (two girls and a boy of course); where they would live, the travelling they would do together - it was all certain, so they had thought then.

But that seemed such a long time ago now. A lot can change in just a few years - a lot of heartache can change a person and drive a wedge through the strongest ties, break even the deepest love. Three years to the day and they had returned, though this time not for the beachside marriages the island was famous for but for one of its equally popular quickie divorces.

Lisa let out a sigh that was filled with pain and regret. What could she do but move on, find a new life and new dreams? - the old one was beyond repair. How could this beautiful place, with its lush green coastline, eternity of azure blue sea and endless sands be a place for the agony she felt now?

The man stood watching from the edge of the palm trees. He couldn't take his eyes of the dark-haired woman he saw standing at the water's edge, gazing out to sea as though she was waiting for something - or someone. She was beautiful, with her slim figure dressed in a loose flowing cotton dress, her crazy hair and bright blue eyes not far off the colour of the sea itself. It wasn't her looks that attracted him though; he came across many beautiful women in his work as a freelance photographer. It was her loneliness and intensity that lured him. Even at some distance he was aware that she was different from any other woman he could meet.

Lisa sensed the man approaching even before she turned around. She had been aware of him standing there staring at her and had felt strangely calm about being observed. She looked at him and felt the instant spark of connection she had only experienced once before. He walked slowly towards her and they held each other's gaze. It felt like meeting a long lost friend - not a stranger on a strange beach.

Later, sitting at one of the many bars on the resort, sipping the local cocktails they began to talk. First pleasantries, their hotels, the quality of the food and friendliness of the locals. Their conversation was strangely hesitant considering the naturalness and confidence of their earlier meeting. Onlookers, however, would have detected the subtle flirtation as they mirrored each other's actions and spoke directly into each other's eyes. Only later, after the alcohol had had its loosening effect, did the conversation deepen. They talked of why they were here and finally, against her judgement, Lisa opened up about her heartache of the past year and how events had led her back to the place where she had married the only man she believed she could ever love. She told him of things that had been locked deep inside her, able to tell no one. She told him how she had felt after she had lost her baby.

She was six months pregnant and the happiest she had ever been when the pains had started. She was staying with her mother as James was working out of town. He hadn't made it back in time. The doctor had said it was just one of those things, that they could try again. But how could she when she couldn't even look James in the eye. She hated him then, for not being there, for not hurting as much as her but most of all for looking so much like the tiny baby boy that she held for just three hours before the took him away. All through the following months she had withdrawn from her husband, family, friends. Not wanting to recover form the pain she felt - that would have been a betrayal of her son. At the funeral she had refused to stand next to her husband and the next day she had left him.

Looking up, Lisa could see her pain reflected in the man's eyes. For the first time in months she didn't feel alone, she felt the unbearable burden begin to lift from her, only a bit but it was a start. She began to believe that maybe she had a future after all and maybe it could be with this man, with his kind hazel eyes, wet with their shared tears.

They had come here to dissolve their marriage but maybe there was hope. Lisa stood up and took James by the hand and led him away from the bar towards the beech where they had made their vows to each other three years ago. Tomorrow she would cancel the divorce; tonight they would work on renewing their promises.

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Average: 4 (3 votes)

Comments

Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/24/2004 - 21:29

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REALLY GOOD

Submitted by admin on Sun, 05/01/2005 - 19:36

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This story was beautifully written, a true romance. The loss a woman who has lost her child is felt here, truly, touching my heart. This shows how much a friend helps, even just a stranger who understands. Someone you can confide everything in. The description here is amazing, it paints a vivid picture, with images, emotions, and words.

Submitted by admin on Sat, 05/07/2005 - 14:59

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I think the story is quite good and i like the sentiment in it. However it is kind of unrealistic, why would you be able to get quickie divorces in the caribbean?? why would you wan to fly all the way out there to get a divorce? and why would newly married couples want to be surrounded by newly divorced ones. Secondly the characters should have been more developed so the story felt more real, the settting although beautiful made it seem slightly unreal/artificial. However i do like the concept of keeping his identity a mystery and some of the descriptive bits even though because of the above comments it made it seem rather cheesy. However keep at it and you should develop. Ana, London

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/01/2005 - 10:35

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I thought this story was wonderfly written and I enjoyed it greatly. This is the second time i have read it and the first time it made me cry. I was amazed at how the story had an unprepared twist at the end. Emily G

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/24/2005 - 02:26

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Great story, I feel like though I want to say it was predictable, I saw it only as a possibility, and not as a definite ending, and thus it really was a bit of a wonderful surprise! Communication is the key. nice story. -DCBSupafly

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/24/2005 - 13:48

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I really love this romantic and sad story. I can feel her pain I feel like is talking about me, but my is sortof different. But it really bringd out they loneliness and the end was a happy sense I would maybe do the same thing if I was her.

Submitted by admin on Sun, 07/03/2005 - 14:38

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This is fab! In our english lesson your story was the example my teacher gave us, as you are in the year above me, its for our fiction coursework- in other words, you go to my school!

Submitted by admin on Fri, 07/15/2005 - 00:55

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i thought the story started out kind of cheesy: overly romantic setting and flowery language, and the man watching from a distance seemed too typical lovey-dovery-romance fiction. The ending sort of changed my mind, though, it made the story more realistic. ~Y.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/26/2005 - 22:49

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What a beautiful love story! I was angry when she met the stranger as i thought it was going to be another pathetic loose moraled story where committment meant nothing, reinforcing the commonly held view that one is stupid to ride out the tough times in a marrige. How wrong this view is, and how well eliza has illustrated this in such a satisfyingly romantic story.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/09/2005 - 01:03

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it is nice

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/29/2005 - 15:33

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I really liked reading this story. It kind of gave a sence of hope to all the couples who have a hard time. I was really surprised at the ending that it was her husband that she was talking to and sharing her feelings with. The story really showed how much they were in love and even though they had some rough times that they would always come back to eachother in the end.

Submitted by admin on Sat, 09/10/2005 - 16:43

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Hi, I would just like to say that that story was incredible and could so easily be turned into a real length story. I really did love the end, as well as the beginning and middle! Thank you for writng it! Regards, Rachael

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 07:45

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nice....

Submitted by admin on Sun, 11/06/2005 - 19:28

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not bad....it does drag a bit and get just a little boring but i think the central theme is brilliant....i love the idea that you can work through problems, no matter how big....too many people give up too easily...that really made me want to read it again....

Submitted by admin on Fri, 11/11/2005 - 13:32

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nice

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