Highmere

The sun was setting over the water as Ginny sat on the water’s edge. The wind playing in her hair making it dance around her neck. The water washed over her toes and sent shivers through her body, she wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and watched as the sun sunk lower into the ocean. The shoreline where she sat was shielded by rows of trees, hiding her from the rest of the island. Closing her eyes she let her other senses take over, the sound of the small waves, the smell of the salt air and the feeling of the rocks she sat upon; the perfect escape from the news her parents had shared with her that night.

The evening had started simply with her mother making her favorite meal to celebrate her birthday, it was nothing fancy just smoked fish with vegetables from their modest garden. Her brother had sat beside her and when their parents were not watching he would push pieces of his fish onto her plate. Her father had been distracted and never took his eyes off of the door, waiting for a surprise guest who was supposed to be at dinner. Ginny had thought that her parents had invited her friends from the school house but instead, when the surprise guest finally arrived, it was Issac the island elder.

Her father led him towards the table and her mother quickly had her brother out of the chair and a new place setting arranged for Issac. He sat beside her and took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. “Happy Birthday Margaret. I hope you will enjoy the present I have brought for you.”

He motioned to a small package that he had discarded on the opposite side of the table, the brown paper wrapping tied neatly with a ribbon made from lace. Her mother watched as Ginny carefully undid the ribbon and slowly opened the paper, inside was a dress of pale blue with white lace ties on the bodice. She held the soft fabric in her hands and could feel everyone’s eyes on her.

“Thank you Issac, it is wonderful. However I can hardly accept something so nice.” she had placed the dress back in the paper and was beginning to tie it back up when her mother’s hands grabbed hers.

“Margaret! Where are your manners?” her mother hissed at her before she turned towards Issac, “of course she will accept such a wonderful gift. I am sure she will have many events to wear it to soon.”

“I was hoping that she would wear it for the wedding.” Issac stated, never taking his eyes off of Ginny.

“Who are you marrying?” Ginny could feel the unease building up inside and waited for him to answer, instead her father cleared his throat and delivered the words that changed her life.

“You will be marrying Issac this day next week.” He smiled as he said it, happy to have the social boost that would come from the marriage.

Ginny could feel the colour drain from her face and watched as Issac took her hands in his once more. “I promise I will make you very happy.” His voice sounded sincere however the look that Ginny saw in his eyes made her worry for what was to come.

Ginny opened her eyes and was brought back to the present. The ocean still washing over her toes but the sun had settled into the ocean and the moon took its place. She had run from the house after she had been told the news, her mother calling out to her and Issac saying to let her go and think. She wrapped the shawl even tighter and let the tears flow freely.

She wept and wished for a miracle, that her soul mate would appear as if by magic and sweep her off her feet. She wished for romance and adventure in her life but saw no way of that happening now. There was no chance that it would happen while she was married to Issac, a man 30 years her senior. A man who was feared by all for being ruthless and had convinced everyone that leaving the island was forbidden and no new people were ever allowed.

Standing, Ginny walked along the water's edge and looked out to where the moon had taken the sun's place. She was deep in thought when she stepped on the piece of wood, looking down at it she saw the scortch marks of fire. Further down the beach there was more wood and a figure slumped onto the rocks like the ragdoll she had when she was younger.