Bounded by fate

be

lowed in the sunset. He looked like a man from a magazine, I could stare at him all day. "Amber." I offered as I reluctantly looked away from him and towards the sea. I gasped when I saw him take a seat at a spot beside me. What was he doing? "The sea is beautiful, I used to come here with my mom when she was alive." I stared ahead not saying anything. “Do you come here often?” I hesitated for a while before responding. “Yes, I come here a lot but not alone... I have come here with my dad ever since my mom died.” “I’m sorry for your loss.” Empathy laced in his voice. “It’s fine, she died a long time ago. It’s been me, my twin brother and my d... ouch!!!!.” I screamed out in pain and clutched the ankle of my left leg. Alarmed, Jackson turned towards me, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He panicked as he watched the expressions on my face turn from calmness to anguish. “I...I think something just bit me.” “What?, let me see.” He grabbed my leg and did a quick once over careful twisting my leg from right to left. “Strange, I don’t see a bite mark.” I quickly repeated his action once again but found nothing too. I was so sure I felt something. I smiled awkwardly and replied, “I was probably stung by the tendrils of plants, I’m sorry I got you worried.” “It’s fine, I’m glad you’re okay.” We locked eyes for a few seconds but it felt like eternity. “I hate to break up our conversation but I have to go now.” “Thank you for keeping me company.” “Do I get to see you here tomorrow?” I paused for a while and nodded. He smiled and I watched his retreating figure. He was a fine man. I made to stand up but yelped at the sharp pain that coursed through my leg. I looked and saw that I had begun bleeding profusely. My breath caught in my throat as I clutched my bleeding foot as I leaped. I tore a part of my skirt to reduce the bleeding, the pain however was unbearable, I tried desperately to go back home. “Amber!" Leo’s voice echoed across the quiet surroundings as he dashed toward me, panic etched on his face. “What happened? Are you okay?” “I don’t know,” I winced, grimacing from the pain radiating from my injured leg. “Something sharp in the water jabbed me.” Leo knelt beside me in a flash, a concerned look in his eyes. “Let’s get you inside, we need to tend to your wound.” Leo placed my hand over his shoulder as he c