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, 09/20/2006 - 14:28

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In the midst of a sunny and lush island setting a couple find their way back to each others affections. After voicing misgivings they are able to move on with their lives. Its all about the interplay of decisions--often very hard to make. This is a charming story with lovely imagery.

-C.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 09/26/2006 - 16:41

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The twist at the end when its really James the whole time was amazing. It wasnt predictable, which is good. Watch out for spelling errors, such as beech instead of beach in the very last paragraph. Also, I wanted to know more of what happened with her miscarraige and marriage. It seems to me that the story was mostly about how she was feeling and why, so including more about the past would be helpful.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:02

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Got as far as the Sand between her toes and skipped to the end. Nice Idea. Read the comments, which forced me to go back and read the middle. I was right the first time. Too much internal stuff gets raked over and an absence of meaningful dialogue. This is my first story on this site

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/30/2006 - 02:24

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The Story is really very nice.........and for one moment i thought that she found another man and then i failed to think this story other from any other story but when i reas She got james back then it seems to me more unrealistic.

I must say the definition of Love we face in real life is much more different than the way its deifed in Stories............and grief and sorrow never goes away so easily

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/30/2006 - 14:55

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I loved this story, it was not like your typical love story, where guy meets girl, they fall in love, they get married, they have kids, and they live happily ever after. It is a real situation that many couples face, and I though it was very well written. It was very discriptive, and defined true love, because they were willing to work things out.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/30/2006 - 14:56

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True Love? I often wonder if it is out there, in this crazy world we are all mixed into! Marriage is a very intimate and enduring bond, throughout the years, of two people who become one. If the bond is broken, you feel as if you’re left with no hope and lonely. This story reflects the hope and reassurance many marriages need today. I believe marriage is only the sugar coat of true, unconditional love! Great story!
:}

Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/15/2006 - 04:04

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Nice story.. though nothing much enteresting.. whats more important is that in every love story theres always be a happy ending. Thats inspires me in any way. Keep up the good work, Liz.

From : Elsa :)

Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/29/2006 - 20:07

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This story was very good and very believable. If youve never gone through the heartbreak of losing a child, you wont understand the inner turmoil. I felt that Eliza did a wonderful job of explaining the turmoil in very few words. The ending was very good although I did figure out it was James before I got to the end, but at first I thought it was a stranger. This is nothing like a soap opera and certainly not a garden variety story were guy meets girl. The fact that they are already married and fighting to stay together is true to life. It can take years to overcome tragedy and as humans we sometimes, unfairly, blame our spouse. This story was very moving.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 00:04

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Its my first time to go through a romance story. However I feel like I find my soulmate because there really exit someone who care and understand about the true value of love. It gives hope and faith for many years to come. Thank you very much.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/13/2007 - 14:36

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This was a very touching story. It definately kept pulling at my heart strings and allowed for many different emotions. Although I dont quite understand why her and her husband were talking about how she lost her baby because he already knows that and he had already been attracted to her before this point. But I did like the ending because I was not expecting it!

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/14/2007 - 20:47

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I read this story again and again, never feel bored. I have a question for many years that I can not solve. How can you hate someone so much but you still love him a lot with your heart? The story answers all and I understand the sentiment inside myself. You dont know how much someone means to you until you lost him.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 09:37

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i liked it even though it was full of pain!

i did guess it was james though it was still nice at the end.

the only thing that really bugged me was
you cant gaze at something if your eyes are shut.

i know this is just me being semantic1

great story keep up the good work

catscout

Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 15:27

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I very much enjoyed this story and was happily surprised by the ending. I also appreciated that the story was about working out the problems of a relationship and not just about falling love, a much easier task than staying in love.

I am shocked, however, but the cruelty of some of the comments in this discussion. I think that before posting a comment people should consider whether what they are saying is constructive or simply mean. I would urge anyone who posts a comment to be respectful, even if you dont like a story. Anonymity should not be a license for incivility.

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