Read Online Through Her Eyes by Ava Harrison - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ava Harrison
Tags: Novel
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holding back my amusement, and my lips turn up.
“Oh, shut it, Princess. I know I look good.” He waves me off and reaches for another hat. This one has a neon pink ribbon, and I burst into a fit of hysterics as he begins to model his new look. He continues to rummage through the bin and then his eyes widen and I wonder what has him so perplexed. When he pulls out a pair of lace bunny ears, I understand completely.
“Why would anyone buy these? They’re ridiculous,” he says as he places them down and walks over to the other side of the store. I know that they’re the perfect purchase. Chase is going to die when he sees it. I bite back a smile and walk over to the counter to buy them before he notices. This is going to be fun.
A little while later after hitting up a few more gift shops, we finally make it to the gelato stand. We have a perfect view of the Fontana and the Spanish Steps. My eye catches on the shape of the Fontana. It resembles a sinking ship, and it fascinates me. I remember an old legend Parker once told me when we discussed traveling to Rome. It stated that the ship was carried all the way to this exact spot during a massive flood. As I recall this old folktale, I can’t help but think of the parallels with my own life. I too have been swept to Rome during a storm.
“Since I doubt you ever had gelato as a kid, what was your favorite ice cream?” As I try to recall what my favorite flavor was, a memory stops me dead in my tracks.
Owen and I were at the beach, the water stretched out for miles. We had spent countless days there that summer, Owen, Park and myself. Today was different, though. Parker was out with his family, and it was just the two of us. We were bored and had ridden our bikes there to pass the time. There was something frightening and ominous about the ocean on that particular day. There was nothing on the horizon, just blank, empty space. Endless ripples of uninhabited water. I should have known. But at twelve, I thought I was a good swimmer. I thought I was invincible.
There was no lifeguard patrolling that part of the beach. It was privately owned and was practically empty. A family playing Frisbee was our only company for a mile up the beach. There was not even a warning flag to enter at your own risk. Owen said we shouldn’t go swimming. He thought the undertow seemed strong. I sat restlessly, the water beckon to me. It spoke to me, and I answered.
Within a few minutes, I realized I’d made a huge mistake. I started to choke on the water first. My arms fatigued quickly as I pushed against the tide. I remember screaming Owen’s name. I remember the frantic feeling of becoming weightless. I remember the world becoming darker. I remember staring up to the sky one last time and seeing the clouds above me as my vision started to become speckled. Later, I was told I had passed out.
I found out Owen jumped in after me, and much later, I found out what pain really was. I found out what it meant to lose a part of yourself. When another swimmer jumped in to help, Owen passed me off to him. I learned that as the stranger was saving me, no one was left to save Owen.
I learned what hate was . . . because I hated myself.
The worst day of my life. The day we buried Owen.
I watched as my older brother was placed into a wooden box for all of eternity. My heart was hollow. One minute, I was admiring the beauty of the ocean, the next it was stealing something so precious from me. No words could ever describe the anguish I felt. It was my fault. He was in the water because of me. I hadn’t spoken since he drowned five days ago. Not one word. What was the point? What could I say? Nothing would bring him back. Nothing would wake me from this nightmare .
“Ari? Can you hear me, Ari?” Parker lifted the blanket from my head.
“I think you need to come out. Can you do that for me?” As the blanket was pulled fully off of me, our eyes met. His were red-rimmed and swollen. His teeth
“Oh, shut it, Princess. I know I look good.” He waves me off and reaches for another hat. This one has a neon pink ribbon, and I burst into a fit of hysterics as he begins to model his new look. He continues to rummage through the bin and then his eyes widen and I wonder what has him so perplexed. When he pulls out a pair of lace bunny ears, I understand completely.
“Why would anyone buy these? They’re ridiculous,” he says as he places them down and walks over to the other side of the store. I know that they’re the perfect purchase. Chase is going to die when he sees it. I bite back a smile and walk over to the counter to buy them before he notices. This is going to be fun.
A little while later after hitting up a few more gift shops, we finally make it to the gelato stand. We have a perfect view of the Fontana and the Spanish Steps. My eye catches on the shape of the Fontana. It resembles a sinking ship, and it fascinates me. I remember an old legend Parker once told me when we discussed traveling to Rome. It stated that the ship was carried all the way to this exact spot during a massive flood. As I recall this old folktale, I can’t help but think of the parallels with my own life. I too have been swept to Rome during a storm.
“Since I doubt you ever had gelato as a kid, what was your favorite ice cream?” As I try to recall what my favorite flavor was, a memory stops me dead in my tracks.
Owen and I were at the beach, the water stretched out for miles. We had spent countless days there that summer, Owen, Park and myself. Today was different, though. Parker was out with his family, and it was just the two of us. We were bored and had ridden our bikes there to pass the time. There was something frightening and ominous about the ocean on that particular day. There was nothing on the horizon, just blank, empty space. Endless ripples of uninhabited water. I should have known. But at twelve, I thought I was a good swimmer. I thought I was invincible.
There was no lifeguard patrolling that part of the beach. It was privately owned and was practically empty. A family playing Frisbee was our only company for a mile up the beach. There was not even a warning flag to enter at your own risk. Owen said we shouldn’t go swimming. He thought the undertow seemed strong. I sat restlessly, the water beckon to me. It spoke to me, and I answered.
Within a few minutes, I realized I’d made a huge mistake. I started to choke on the water first. My arms fatigued quickly as I pushed against the tide. I remember screaming Owen’s name. I remember the frantic feeling of becoming weightless. I remember the world becoming darker. I remember staring up to the sky one last time and seeing the clouds above me as my vision started to become speckled. Later, I was told I had passed out.
I found out Owen jumped in after me, and much later, I found out what pain really was. I found out what it meant to lose a part of yourself. When another swimmer jumped in to help, Owen passed me off to him. I learned that as the stranger was saving me, no one was left to save Owen.
I learned what hate was . . . because I hated myself.
The worst day of my life. The day we buried Owen.
I watched as my older brother was placed into a wooden box for all of eternity. My heart was hollow. One minute, I was admiring the beauty of the ocean, the next it was stealing something so precious from me. No words could ever describe the anguish I felt. It was my fault. He was in the water because of me. I hadn’t spoken since he drowned five days ago. Not one word. What was the point? What could I say? Nothing would bring him back. Nothing would wake me from this nightmare .
“Ari? Can you hear me, Ari?” Parker lifted the blanket from my head.
“I think you need to come out. Can you do that for me?” As the blanket was pulled fully off of me, our eyes met. His were red-rimmed and swollen. His teeth
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