Scarlet

    The fogged-up window blocked the beautiful scenery behind the glass. Morning dew still lingered on the windowpane and the sun’s warmth was slowly evaporating it. I smiled. Looking downward, youngsters could be seen scattered along the dwelling. The shop downstairs attracted residents of all ages as they bought their daily goods. Chirping birds circled the gardens and the greenery was incredibly lovely. Cats roamed the grounds leisurely, without the supervision of their owners.

    In the teeming crowd, soft beautiful humming could be heard. Isaac knew exactly where it came from. He spotted her almost instantly, hair crimson and iridescent under the sunlight, caramel skin and mesmeric dark eyes. “Scarlet,” he whispered to himself - and as though she heard him she looked up and found his eyes, holding them both in place. As cliché as it may sound, the world around them seemed to stop at that very moment, there was stillness in the air. Isaac found himself hurrying down the steps and within moments they were in each others' arms, causing disorientation and amusement to the crowd but the couple seemed unfazed. Her head was buried in his chest; she inhaled and smiled, taking comfort in the fact that he always smelled of the same musky of old spice.  Unwillingly, he pulled away, his hands on her waist, and pointed behind her. Without even asking, she quickly nodded her head mouthing ‘the lake’ and they started running off in the opposite direction.

    The lake was the paramount of beauty. The color of the lake reflected the azure pebbles that decorated the bottom, switching between blue and a silvery hue. There were also huge dark russet rocks that stood at the edges of the lake as a form of embellishment; towels and slippers sat by the sides. The paddlers’ relentless movement made the water’s calmness turn into unusual waves. Splashing and diving added to those waves and the sunlight that reflected off the faces of each individual almost made the scene appear like a painting. Looking beyond the water there were mountains that stood tall and firm, circling the back as if they were shielding the town from lands beyond; the peaks a lighter hue, slightly hidden behind the clouds. The weighty and murky clouds suddenly released the multitude of droplets they were holding in. Just like that, the compact streets quickly emptied as the villagers hurried off to find shelter while others danced in the rain and to their liking the pool was soon left unoccupied.

    Worried they’d be caught in the rain, they swam, each arm moving in and out of the water consistently without looking at each other, knowing they were right by each other. Fortunately, it was only a short spell and it was finished by the time they emerged from the water, inhaling the sweet air. They gazed at the enthralling sky. The colors of the skies mingled and merged with the colors of the stunning sun that had started to set, resulting in a magnificent sight.

    “Years from now,” Isaac mused.

    “Years from now,” continued Scarlet gazing pensively into the sundry mix of the beautiful colors painted on the canvas ahead of her, “We might reach an age when all we have is our memories. How distressing will it be when all there is to reminisce about are ‘what ifs’ and ‘I should’ve’.”

    “Indeed. The worst regret, I think, would be the moments in time you wish you could change.” Isaac added, “We should live in the little moments which makes everything worthwhile.”

    “Little moments like this...” Scarlet smiled and trailed off, ending their philosophical and mawkish discussion like she always did.


Written by Leena Osman
Cambridge A-Levels Program,
Editorial Board Writing Department.