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 Mon, 11/14/2005 - 15:24

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I thought that this story was terrific. I really loved some of the word usage that the author had. I especially liked the reference to James no longer beign a stranger on a strange beach. On a scale of 1 - 10 I would give this story a 9. It was a really good realistic incite to how a lot of marriages probably are. It was hopeful that people can work their issues out.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 11/14/2005 - 15:52

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Everything that I thought about love before I read this story proved to be true with this story. I’ve always believed that if you have true love for someone you can work anything out. You may fight with the person you love, but in the end everything will work out for the better. If it’s true love, it wont die or weaken by fighting. If it’s meant to be it will happen.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/05/2005 - 23:19

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I love this story, its the best Ive read in a while. I love the honest fluency in which Riley writes. The beautiful imagery, and the twist at the end makes it not just your average story. I rate it as a perfect 10.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/23/2005 - 20:28

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I found this story to be a little broad. I never got any real feelings for these characters, even for the baby that was killed that supposedly tore her apart. Execpt for the end (which was very well written by the way), I never thougth to myself "This has something that falls outside of the garden-veriaty romance story.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/06/2006 - 19:57

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this story was not the best i have read. there should have been more of a connection between lisa and the stranger and then it would have been more interesting when she went back to her husband. i also would have liked to know a little more about the stranger and here a little about himself, not just the stuff Lisa was going through.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/18/2006 - 16:28

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The short story is beautiful. I like the suspense element that the guy turned to be James. I thought it was a stranger until I read the last paragraph. The character James and the plots need to be developed a bit more, though. What is the turning point that made the couple to think about a compromise? Inspired by a friend, a book, a dream, or self soul-searching by gazing out over the therapeutic water? Being a husband myself and got into arguments with my wife a few times, I think there should be an event that made them sit down and talk. I suggest you let James go to a different tropical island, do some sole searching and fly in to Lisas island later. Give a surprise to her. Do something nice and romantic ...

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/01/2006 - 22:22

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i loved this story. It brought me to tears because it kind of talked about my life. I thought i knew this guy really well and we shared our love and i became pregnant and at six months i had lost my baby son also so i made my best friend read it and she said that it sounded just like my story. Overall it was a wonderful story

Submitted by admin on Sat, 02/04/2006 - 08:03

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hi! actually i havent read yet the story. i was just reading all the comments written here for me to have a concept of how ugly or beautiful the story was. i just dont want to read an ugly story. now im sure that this story is really great because majority of the comments were positive!

Submitted by admin on Mon, 03/27/2006 - 07:26

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This story touched my heart because its very sad and we realise how difficult the loss of a child can be.
Moreover, the couple Lisa and James particularly Lisa who has a strong character, is very moving and we hope that they will eventually come back together.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 06:38

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hey i think the story is amazing i am only 14 years of age and that story has inspired my thoughts of writing my own story !!!!! its just so beautifully written and alot of thought put into it !!! i enjoyed it so much and that is from a 14 year old !!!! keep writing !!! youve got such alovely texture!

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/08/2006 - 13:23

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This story was very good. I liked the twist on it because it really makes you think. Not a lot of stories make you have to go back and read it again to make sure you are actually reading the right thing. It was intelligently written. The only thing is that it could have had a bit more detail.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/08/2006 - 20:02

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I dont think it matters if this story was a little bit predictable. That’s what true love is. If it wasnt predictable then it wouldnt be as realistic. We have a set idea of what true love is. Lisa going off with some random guy and leaving her husband that she loves doesnt really fit into that box.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 07:43

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romance like this is empty trash. Try adding a little intellectualism into your writing. Overplayed, cliched and sentimental...writing for the masses?? I might as well click on a Tuesday afternoon soap opera after Oprah takes her turn killing my brain. I expected better from this site.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 07:45

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You have rave reviews from 9th grade students...what true critics...kudos...
how can a 9th grade girl relate to a story about marriage, dissolving love and premature birth?
oh yeah, because its trash. Right.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 20:58

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The story telling was simple.I didnt find the story coming out as a product of romantic thought process rather as some type of clothing over a prototype plot. I feel that she should have actually taken a more innovative plot than this.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/05/2006 - 22:09

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As a professional writer and owner of a publishing house, I have read quite a few stories good and bad and I have to say that this one was chocked full of potential. I truly enjoyed the twist on the plot with the stranger. The writing was concise and the imagery was beautiful. I feel like you really can develop this into a great romance novel. Your characters really have life. I hope that you do not allow the naysayers and the negative comments to put any damper on your wonderful talent and work. This is what writing romance is all about, finding an audience that can see love as you do and writing for them.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 07/20/2006 - 08:02

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Bare bones story, highly pridictable no material at all. Didnt find it romantic either. Neither enough grounds for divorce nor for reunion. All through I was praying it should not be James. - Paddy

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 15:08

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I thought that the story was amazing! This story really touched me, and it touched on some of the things that i believe in, things like there is one true love for everyone, and that no one can take the place of that one true love, also that bein truthfull and completly honest helps make relationships better. I loved this story, and i would definetly recomend it to the people that i know.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 15:14

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this was a good idea for a story however i didnt feel connected to the character therefor i didnt exactly care what happened to them. The author needs to add a little more detail to really intrigue people.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 15:18

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I really liked this story... It give me a deep view of the setting of each mood in the characters. I think that it was predictible about what was going to happen at the end though.......But it was a nice eye candy!!

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