Crystal Bella

by Marty Christopher

  “Oh good, I didn’t want to get in trouble with you,” Ethan said. Amy laughed, then Ethan said to Kali, “are you ready?”

  “Yep, are you ready?”

  Amy and Halo walked them to the front door, they all said bye and then Kali and Ethan jumped on the banana bike.

  “Handle bars or seat?” he asked.

  “The bars, I used to ride like that as a kid.”

  Just before she jumped on, she turned around and kissed Ethan, pulled her hair back from her face and said, “you look gorgeous.”

  She Jumped on the handle bars and they headed to the waterfront. They biked along with Kali on the bars at the front. Ethan could see her hair swirling in the air. She had tight jeans on and her bum looked quite cute sitting right in front of him. He went fast but was very careful with Kali at the front and stayed highly focused and alert. It felt like they were both 15 again, this young girl who was actually 8 years older, leading the way. As Ethan rode, it was as if something was lifting them, or that they had found a new dimension, it was love, and it was lifting them into new heights. Everything was changing, he was feeling so much and the only way Ethan could describe it, was that it was bliss. He felt blissful and it made his world feel like magic.

  They got a small takeaway toasted sandwich to share and a coffee each and sat at a park near the water. It felt so illuminating for them both now, to be able to chat and touch and be free.

  Kali’s husband, Jason had just seemed to have disappeared for Ethan. He didn’t really want to talk about it, but Kali knew eventually they would have too. A part of Ethan didn’t want to delve into it as he knew it would give him a negative feeling. But he knew he would have to talk about it, but not now. He felt the time would come where they would communicate. Ethan trusted Kali, the way she looked at him said so much, and it wasn’t just the look, it was the way he felt around her. It felt like nothing could go wrong and when those feelings emanated from within, the light, the love, everything would reflect that love back. Love conquers all he thought, and it would happen.

  Kali briefly felt Ethan’s thoughts about her husband. She also didn’t want to talk about it either. She was in a new world now and wanted this world separated from her old one. She would bring it up, but not just yet, she wanted to stay with the fun that she was having with Ethan.

  After locking the bike and walking around for a while together, they returned to the bike and rode home. Kali took turns on the handle bars and then on the seat. They arrived at Kali’s place and Ethan walked Kali to the front door. They kissed. It was becoming addictive for them both. They could not stop kissing, they couldn’t stop holding each other and they couldn’t stop talking. They laughed a lot. They were both in love.

  “I thought I might come back tonight,” Ethan said.

  “A bit like a vampire making a visit in the night?”

  “We’re swapping, me the vampire, you the angel.”

  “I am allowed guests over, you know, not that I’ve ever had one of course…well a sexy boy that is. So yes you can come over.”

  “I might drive this time though.”

  “No you need to keep your fitness up.”

  Ethan just looked at her, she seemed crazy, beautiful crazy. It was becoming so hard not to say it, not to tell her how he felt. He loved her, he was in love with her and not saying it was becoming harder and harder. Kali looked at him in this way that said, Say it, say it! I know it!

  Ethan looked at her like he was going to kiss her and he just surrendered into whatever he would be, he allowed her love to make him say whatever he felt. They both stared, looking. Say it! say it! He could hear her thoughts. Kali saw his eyes water and she knew he was close. She put her hand in his pockets and in this moment she was the boss, she was the woman and Ethan was becoming almost boy like. Then he chuckled at seeing the woman in front of him, because she was a woman now, that young girl from before had now transformed into a strong woman right before him. She was pulling him in, she needed to hear something and the woman with all she was, was going to pull those words out of Ethan. He moved forward, his face so close to Kali and then he said the words.

  “Kali, angel....” He paused, looked at her with every bit of love he felt and said, “I love you.”

  The boy just a moment ago, now looked like the man. His eyes sparkled when he said it, his look was soft and loving and she realized she loved him more than anyone in the world, now and ever, he had her, and above that she loved him for nothing more, she just loved him, and she said it, with her soft mouth, her gorgeous lips, the most vivacious face, she said it back.

  “I love you, I love you Ethan.”

  Their eyes watered, then over flowed and they kissed, both kissing, both opening their eyes and smiling, they were in love and they had said it.

  A few minutes later the door opened and it was Amy and Halo. Ethan pulled back and laughed. Like an electric shock had hit him, but the shock had love so it gave him an unusual look. Kali laughed as well.

  It was time for him to go, so he said his goodbyes and rode off. As he rode away knowing he would see her again, really soon, he realized he had never felt this high before. He loved it, the high, the love, but most of all he just loved Kali. It was becoming insatiable, the desire and the feeling; he was becoming one with her. He was on a high, but it was real, there were no near exits from this high plane, it only seemed to form higher grounds.

  ~~~~

  Amy had gone outside to do some gardening, Halo was with her. He was just plodding along, hanging about.

  “How was your hot day date? Amy asked.

  “Fuck,” Kali said and laughed, “it was wonderful.”

  “You have a…I don’t know, a lush, fallen look on your face. You look... quite angelic actually.” They both cracked up.

  “I truly adore him, I just love him, uncontrollably, I just do.”

  “What are you going to do?

  “I know who I want to be with.”

  “That’s it really, a choice and then proceed from there.”

  “It’s just so powerful. The timing is difficult but you’re right, a choice is the main thing and I choose him, I choose angel Ethan.”

  “So when do you talk to Jason?”

  “God...I have a flight on Monday, to return home for a week, so not looking forward to it. It was scheduled ages ago. I need to go. We’re shifting houses, so I need to help Jason with that.”

  “And tell him?” Amy asked.

  “Yeah, I feel terrible thinking about it. But reality has really hit home, I’m not in love with him. It all seems so long ago and I just cannot believe I spent so much time with him, or married him! Ethan must think I’m insane for marrying him!” She laughed. “But only partially though, Ethan adores me, he really does, I can do no wrong with him. I love him so much.” She went quiet and then deeply said, “I didn’t know I could love like this.”

  They both stood in silence feeling the peace of this exact moment, it all felt calm and soft, then Kali grabbed the small spade and pulled a weed out.

  “There I’ve pulled it out!”

  Amy had noticed the changes with Kali. She had in a short time become so much more quirky and fun. It was like Jason had made her so conservative and now she was turning into something else and Amy liked it. This was more her and her feeling was that Ethan was responsible. He was the one igniting the spark, bringing her back to life almost, and now she was becoming bigger than life.

  “With this time away, you’ve started the process, you’ll be okay. You’re just being honest with yourself,” Amy said.

  “I know, I’ve hardly thought about the break up here. When I’m with Ethan, I’m so in the moment, it’s just so easy and now I’m realizing the two worlds are going to have to come together…hopefully briefly. Do I tell Jason about Ethan?”

  “I don’t feel you need to, it will hurt him more than he can take. I know Ethan has come in and made you love again but Jason is just not the one, he doesn’t get you, doesn�
��t deserve you. You compromise and think it’s okay. Ethan has come in and has shown you love and passion.”

  “Ethan has shown me another world.”

  And he had and there was more to come with what he would show her.

  ~~~~

  Ethan arrived home, as his mom’s friend was just leaving. They said hi and Ethan jumped into the shower. It had been a long cycle. He wasn’t in the shower for too long when he felt it was the sea that he needed. So he quickly hopped out, threw some jeans on and got ready to walk down to the beach. He walked into the lounge where his mom was.

  “Hey mom,” he said and gave her a big hug. “I’m just going down to the beach if you wanna come?”

  “Sure, I was just making a coffee. I’ll bring the plunger down with us with a couple of cups.”

  “You’re a genius.”

  It was spring and not too cold so Ethan just had his jeans on with a few necklaces and he wore bare feet. Elisabeth had some jeans on that were ripped, Ethan laughed as they exited the house.

  “You’re looking really young.”

  “Thanks,” she playfully pushed him.

  They walked down the bank onto the sand to the beach and Elisabeth had some clothing she had wrapped around her, like a scarf and they used it to sit on. Elisabeth poured their coffees.

  “Man this is bliss mom.”

  The sun shined on their faces and the small waves rolled in, it was such a beautiful, perfect day. Elisabeth asked about the party and Ethan told her about the evening, purposely avoiding the topic of Christian.

  Eventually Ethan went into the water. It was always such a spiritual cleanse for him to go into the sea. It cleansed his aura and his emotions. The water did that for him and when he entered into the water for the first time, he always said a prayer or asked a question when he jumped in. He was waist deep when he asked the question, just a moment before diving in. He didn’t really need to ask as he already knew. He knew Kali was the one, he knew she was his soul mate, the one he would have chosen before he came down to this earth. So he didn’t really ask, but it was more of a thank you to the universe for bringing her into his life. Ethan knew it was God who had allowed them to come together, and it was both him and Kali that had been ready to meet.

  He dived in and felt the coldness hit his body, the cleanse came immediately and as he surfaced he felt the words of, ‘Yes she’s the one.’

  Ethan laughed, he felt so good. His mother was watching him swim. When she looked at him it was often like watching him as a young boy. The boy she knew, would always remain with Ethan, she adored him.

  Ethan got out of the water and went back to his mom. Elisabeth asked what he was up to tonight and he told her he was heading to Kali’s. Elisabeth told him she was having a small dinner party tonight and suggested that he attend and bring Kali over. They both decided that would be a perfect idea. Ethan couldn’t wait.

  With that event not too far away, Elisabeth next to him and the sea feeling almost like part of him he had to verbalize the beauty and with a sip of his coffee he turned to his mom and told her.

  “You know, mom you could never have given me a more joyous, beautiful life.”

  When Ethan said it, Elisabeth saw the glow in his eyes, the gorgeous boy she always knew. She smiled, giggled. She loved him with all her heart and it gave her joy to love him so deeply.

  “Thanks, sweet heart,” she said.

  In that moment she felt a piece of sadness at the beauty that bestowed her, everything was perfect and that too would change, it always changed, that was life, nothing stayed the same, always evolving, never still, the beauty changing form, but right now she had all her dreams. They got up from the beach and walked up the bank and returned to their home.

  Ethan called Christian to see how he was. They didn’t say too much, just being careful with what they said. Christian was always cautious towards information being given over the phone. He knew most likely it would be fine but he never wanted to give any proof to anyone, where it could be listened to. The main thing was Christian was okay so Ethan was cool with that.

  Ethan dialed Kali and she picked up the phone.

  “Angel,” he said.

  “Angel boy,” she said back and took a sharp intake of breath, it was a joy to hear his voice.

  “My mom is having dinner tonight with a few friends, she asked if you would like you to come over. What do you reckon?”

  “Gosh okay, I’m little nervous though.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Ethan laughed. “My mom will just love you.”

  They jumped off the phone and Kali knew she had a few hours to get ready. She was still a little tired from the night before. It seemed so long ago now. What was happening to time? She decided to stay in her bedroom and just read a book until it got closer to dinner.

  Two hours flew by as she read her book. Halo came in a couple of times and asked about Ethan and her sister Amy came in also to make sure she was alright.

  “I’m fine thanks,” Kali said, “I’m just getting some rest before I catch up with Ethan again tonight.”

  Kali was fine, she just needed some time by herself to reflect and relax. She was nervous about the evening but excited too. She just wanted to love Ethan, but she also had that nagging feeling that she had to bring up the subject about her husband. It was getting harder to bring the two together, they were so separate, but it had to be spoken about. When she was with Ethan she just closed that door like it didn’t exist. One thing for sure was Ethan had made it easy to move on, to move on from Jason. The old life and the newness that had entered felt almost like a tornado. So much had happened in a short space of time, wave after wave. Ethan was like a tornado, one of fun, love and warmth. He had come in with such an impact.

  As she sat there thinking about the night, she no longer felt trepidation. This was part of life and she was going to love tonight and deal with that past when it was ready to be looked at. When that happened she would deal with it then and be strong. Love conquered all, she knew that, and with that feeling she slipped into bed to have a quick doze before the night ahead.

  ~~~~

  Kali arrived at the door of Ethan’s. She rung the bell and three seconds later Ethan was before her. He opened the door quickly, dramatically.

  “Com’on in. You’re invited.”

  She walked in, he was so confident, he always kept her on her toes. She kissed him on the mouth and they walked down the hallway and she could sense the love in the home. It radiated and exuded warmth. Ethan turned to her.

  “Before we go in I just want to quickly say you look divinely hot.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you ready?” He could feel that Kali was a little nervous. “Aww” he said, “you look so cute. It’s pretty low key and my mom is pretty easy going, I know it will be super fine.”

  “You’re super fine.”

  “Yeah,” Ethan said nodding his head, and a smile broke out and they had to kiss and they both leaned in and their lips touched. It then became more passionate than what they were expecting and around the corner Elisabeth turned up.

  “Hi,” Elisabeth said.

  They unlocked lips and Kali felt a little embarrassed.

  “I wasn’t creeping up on you, Ethan,” she said trying not to laugh, “and this must be Kali.”

  “Hi,” Kali said.

  She looked cute and shy and Elisabeth really wanted to make her feel relaxed. She gave her a kiss on the check and hugged her.