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Summary

Carly, a London office worker, meets Zeb and impulsively decides to leave her life behind to join him in Ireland after a night of romance, only to be separated by her untimely discovery of acrophobia at a lighthouse rendezvous, leading to a lifetime of wondering about the path not taken.

Abstract

The narrative follows Carly, who on a weekend getaway, meets Zeb at a club and quickly falls for him. He invites her to join him in Ireland, where he will be working, and despite the whirlwind nature of their meeting, she agrees. Their plan is to meet at an old lighthouse where Zeb has been staying. Carly's journey up the lighthouse stairs is met with unexpected fear due to her acrophobia, causing her to retreat and miss their night together. The next morning, she finds a note from Zeb, who had waited for her until dawn. Thirty years later, Carly reflects on the life she might have had with Zeb, contrasting it with her eventual marriage to someone else, a marriage that ended in divorce, and her enduring memory of Zeb.

Opinions

  • Carly views her office job as boring, suggesting dissatisfaction with her current life.
  • Zeb is portrayed as a romantic figure, a "modern-day nomad" who is passionate and impulsive.
  • The lighthouse serves as a pivotal location in the story, symbolizing both the potential for a new life and the barrier that Carly's fears present.
  • Carly's acrophobia is a significant plot twist that alters the course of the story and her life.
  • The story implies that Carly's marriage to "Dan" was not fulfilling, as she did not consider him "the one" and the marriage ended in divorce.
  • The narrative suggests a sense of regret and wistfulness for the "life that could have been" with Zeb, indicating a belief in the transformative power of love and chance encounters.
  • The mention of a conversation with Posy Churchgate and the writing prompt about acrophobia indicates that the story was inspired by real-life discussions and a specific psychological condition.
Image from Deposit Photos Standard Licence

Written for the Lighthouse Prompt, Micro Monday

“Come away with me,” He Said

Light Me Up #2: I tiptoed over the beach stones towards the entrance — my mind awash with optimism, my heart bursting with love

Previously: Carly was on a weekend break and met Zeb in a club. By the end of the evening they were smitten with each other…

At 2 am, he took my hands and kissed the fingertips before saying, “Come away with me? It won’t be easy. I’m a modern day nomad really, and tomorrow I leave for Ireland, where I’ll be working the fields for the summer. I can promise you one thing though… I will love you until the day I die.” Previous Episode One.

Sounds unbelievable but that’s what he said.

I didn’t need to think twice. I had a boring office job in London. What did I have to lose? Throwing my arms around his neck, I screeched,

“YES.” Feeling brave, but something told me to risk, I knew he was the one for me too.

He’d been sleeping rough in the old deserted lighthouse for a week and we arranged to meet there as soon as I had gone back to the hotel and collected my case.

“If you don’t come, Carly, I’ll understand. But I know — in my gut — you’re the one for me.”

When I tiptoed over the beach stones towards the entrance — my mind awash with optimism, my heart bursting with love — I could see a small nightlight at the top.

I reached the spiral staircase with my bag on my shoulder and started the climb. Immediately I felt woozy. I’d never been in a lighthouse before. By the time I reached the first landing and window, I looked out and thought I may be sick.

Image by Francis from Pixabay

I could hear the faint sound of rhythm and blues music from above and covering my mouth tackled the next stairwell.

Halfway up, I collapsed onto the stairs, dizzy and disorientated.

At that point I realised I was suffering from acrophobia. (Vaguely I recalled a time as a child when my dad was driving over a bridge and I looked out of the car window, down into the valley, and nearly vomited.)

I knew, I couldn’t go up any further.

I called out to him.

Waited.

Nothing. Zeb couldn’t hear me above his music.

I decided the best thing would be to go back to my hotel and return in the morning.

Laying on my bed, I slept until daylight — still dressed — and then, with hope in my heart, I ran back to the lighthouse.

There on the door was a message —

“I waited until dawn. But still you didn’t come. Couldn’t miss the train. I forgive you and will remember you always.”

What could I do? I didn’t even know his full name.

Now looking out at the lighthouse thirty years later, I wonder what my life would have been like if I had managed to climb those stairs?

Instead, I returned home and within a year had married a neighbourhood lad, Dan. He gave me two wonderful kids and a divorce.

To be honest, it’s surprising the relationship lasted three decades. He wasn’t the one, and I never forgot Zeb and a life that could have been…

To be continued… Maybe!

This story was written for the lighthouse prompt and inspired by a conversation with Posy Churchgate - Writes & Edits Fiction about acrophobia.

Another writing prompt from Posy

Microfiction
Flash Fiction
Fiction
Romance
Short Fiction
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