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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Comments

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 04:22

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interesting!

Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/14/2012 - 04:30

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I really enjoyed your story and it had a great suprise at the end! You have done a fantastic job with the setting it was so easy to imagine and your descriptions were wonderful too. Congratulations on writing an amazing short story romance piece. :)

Submitted by admin on Sun, 01/13/2013 - 19:06

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A real heart breaking story, but with hope in the
end. It was lovely, it has a easy flow to it. Creation
of comfortable reading.

There is also so much potential for something
longer, more emotion, and maybe a little more
dialogue but still a nice story.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 15:34

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So much story in so few words! Well done! I must confess I was a bit put off by Lisa as the story progressed. How could a woman who has gone through what Lisa had be immediately attracted to some random stranger? But of course that all dissolved in the sublime beauty of the ending. Well done, dear lady! You have brightened my day and brought tears to my eyes.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 05:33

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At first, I cant understand why she finds
hope when talking and looking in the
strange mans eyes but taking Jame hand
(her husband who she hated) and thought of
a bright future. Just in a second, I
realize that stranger man is Jame. So
surprise! That makes me read again details
of the story and feel more interesting
about the way Author describe Lises
feelings and action with the strange guy.
very very good. "It felt like meeting a
long lost friend-not a stranger on a
strange beach"

Submitted by admin on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 02:22

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as an upcoming young writter i can say this is so wonderfull. Itz a book in 3 pages.. A story well told...it leaves you with that thirsty to wonder more details..what went on one detail after the other in 3yrs and it also gives a lesson of hope. At the point of divorce Lisa and James still find a way to fix their marriage. Also a lesson of communication between people in a relationship can prevent a lot of things. Dear writter...thank you for this i have learnt a lot. God bless every word you write.

Submitted by admin on Sat, 02/15/2014 - 17:43

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An exciting story, easy language-good for language learners, although the author made a spelling mistake in the end with "beech". Surprising ending! Thank you for giving belief that it is never too late to work on relationship, instead of giving up and looking for a new partner.. We all make mistakes, sometimes, and as my teacher said to me at school 15 years ago - here you can come rewrite the test, but in life you will never have a second chance..so be prepared!

Submitted by admin on Fri, 03/07/2014 - 05:59

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beautiful

Submitted by admin on Mon, 03/24/2014 - 21:08

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i like this story because it make my
heart was feeling good. we already know
that nobody perfect in this world so why
we just accept and forgiveness then
forget all. we have to learn to
appreciate what we have now and do not
just keep complaining. i LOVE this story!

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/23/2014 - 10:23

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Not ambiguous. She married James on this spot three years ago, returned not for marriage but for quickie divorce. Now, they would work on renewing promises. That’s nice, Just read and feel it.
-BR Raksun

Submitted by admin on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 21:48

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*SPOILERS!* This is an interesting story about a couple Who returned to the dominican Republic for a quick divorce. Three years before they had been married in the same place the place is well known for the quick marriages and divorces after getting married liza got pregnant but the baby diet.Now liza and her husband are back wondering if they divorced or if they will renew there bows. I LIKED THE STORY VERY MUCH.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/17/2015 - 01:41

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Incredibly difficult to tell such an emotive tale, in such a short story.
But, from the get-go, the reader is perfectly "misled". I loved the way it was told, and the melancholy of her thoughts.
That the man looks like a "predator", and not her potential ex, is also brilliantly done. It explains why hes keen to try again, without having to explain it. That info drops into place, when she changes how she feels about him.

The twist at the end was a nice touch, albeit a little too brief and thin, to fully capture the "renewed hope", and recovery from the past trauma. For both of them.

"Tomorrow she would cancel the divorce" really jars in the middle of the change of direction. It could easily be left out. The intended direction "They had come here to dissolve their marriage" is all that was needed. From then on, it should all be positive, and forward looking. Mention only the rebuilding, the renewing, and the rediscover of the love they had. Throwing in the reminder about divorce damages taht warm glow.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/21/2016 - 09:36

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Awesome!

Submitted by admin on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 14:01

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So romantic

Submitted by admin on Fri, 09/16/2016 - 13:12

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good

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