Gone Fishing

“In two miles you will reach your destination”. The monotone voice of the satnav announced for the final time.
“Finally, that took forever, remind me if you suggest a trip like this again to leave earlier or later next time”. Liam sighed throwing his head back against the headrest.
“Yeah, whatever, least you weren’t the one driving”. Lara arched her back and attempted to stretch her legs taking care not to accelerate into the car in front.
“My back is killing me”.
Liam pursed his lips as he attempted to come up with a snarky response.
“Well, I had to sit here quietly and not annoy you for the entire way, we’ve both had it hard on this journey…Me especially”.
Lara raised her eyebrows and slowly turned to face him. Liam pressed his lips together suppressing his nervous laughter as she glowered at him.
“How about fifty, fifty?” He murmered nervously.
Lara’s glare continued as her mouth narrowed into a hateful scowl.
Liam rolled his eyes and sighed. “Alright, alright…” He grinned widely as she focused back on the road. “Seventy, thirty final offer…OW!” He recoiled anxiously giggling as she punched him in the arm, her eyes never leaving the road ahead.
“Make yourself useful and find the directions for the room were staying at”.
Lara reached up for her phone and tossed it to him as he flicked it open to the page with the B&B’s details on it.
“West cliff”. He replied.
“No shit, which street?” She responded sarcastically.
“Hudson Street, the first turn off the D shaped ring road thing”.
They continued on down the long slopes and tight roads until the ocean was clear to see. Although the winds were rough, the skies were dark and the violence of the waves crashed aggressively against the pier a certain beauty still filled the pair with a comforting embrace of memories and experiences that came flooding back in an instant.

They parked up not long after and made their way down the steep slope towards the water’s edge in almost complete silence. The harsh winds and spray from the ocean constantly threatening to send them tumbling downwards. They cast their gaze towards the two tall pillars in the distance, each with a bright red light illuminating to warn boats of the dangers nearby.
“How are you feeling?” Liam asked, his tone more serious and solemn than before.
Lara didn’t speak, her gaze continued to be locked on the distant lighthouses, specifically on the small figures casting their lines into the waters below.
Liam nodded to himself and gave her the space she required.
They remained in silence for a few more moments until Lara took in a deep breath and sighed.
“It’s still crazy to think that one of those up there could be him you know. We could go up there right now and he’d be there”.
Liam nodded but remained quiet.
“It’s just not fair…I know nothings fair and there’s nothing we can do about it but…” She paused and took in another breath before wiping her eyes.
Liam moved closer and put an arm around her waist pulling her closer causing a choked sob to escape her lips.
“Fuck sake!” She spluttered removing herself from his grasp. “Even though I know there’s nothing out there I can’t help but hate the fact he’s done nothing to show me a sign”.
“He’s probably busy to be fair, imagine being able to be anywhere in the world in an instant, he’s probably fishing and saying to himself ‘just one more catch then I’ll go see her’”.
Lara choked out a laugh before rolling her eyes.
“Great! So I come second to something he can do whenever he feels like…thanks”.
Liam smiled. “In his defense, we’re no different, when we get into something you just lose track of time, it’s like those 2p machines, no matter how much you feed them you still go get more”.
Lara laughed again through her tears. “You’re just saying that because you want to go to the arcade”.
Liam shrugged. “Well, we are here and I do have a lot of loose change”.
She laughed again and turned to him. “You’re such a dick sometimes”.
Liam hugged her tightly. “But I’m your dick…speaking of which…”
Lara rolled her eyes again and pushed him away. “Always have to spoil a nice moment don’t you, can’t just be nice, always got to ruin it”.
Liam feigned shock.
“What? I was just gonna say that I could really go for a large sausage and chips right now”.
“Uh huh” Lara smiled.
“Don’t you uh huh me”. Liam grabbed her waist and lifted her off the ground as she giggled and fought against him. “Not so tough now are ya”.
Lara continued giggling as she was span around, the sea air filling her lungs and bringing back more pleasant memories.
He placed her down again as they both looked deep into each others eyes.
“Feel any better?” He asked her.
“Not really”. She returned honestly. “But it’s not likely to get better anytime soon”.
Liam jokingly rolled his eyes.
“Grrrreeeaattt! So, I have to put up with you moping the whole weekend then, knew I should have stayed firm on camping instead of getting the B&B. Could have saved myself a fortune seeing as you’d be miserable either way”.
Lara pursed her lips and thumped him in the arm. “Such…a dick”.
“Ow!” he exclaimed in a girly voice clutching his arm as if he’d been shot. “I think you broke my arm, ahhhhhh, I’m suing”. He dramatically dropped to the floor crying loudly in pain.
Lara smiled widely and pushed him over. “Get up or your not getting fed”.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy now, let’s not get too hasty”. He jumped to his feet and began following her back to the slope into town.
Lara turned back to him. “I thought you were dying?”
“Yeah well, as the man I have to look after you in case of wild animals or life-threatening attacks”.
She raised her eyebrows. “Wild animals?”
“Yeah, have you seen those pictures all around town, those seagulls are pure evil and will steal the food right out of your mouth”.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head once more as they headed into the heart of the town.

As they walked along the busy street Lara’s gaze began to wander once again, the cheerful smiles and happiness of all those around her was like a knife to her heart. Deep down she felt pure hatred for them all. Not because of anything they had done, nor for anything that was in their control. The hatred was that of loss and jealousy, all those around her were living their lives without a care and knew nothing of what she was going through.
“Food?” Liam interrupted her thoughts.
She shook her head to clear her mind. “Sure, which one are we going to?”
“Fish and chips, durr”. Liam retorted in a playful tone.
“Yeah…which one?” She returned just as sarcastically.
Liam paused with a dumbfounded look upon his face as he thought out his options then began pointing to the various chip shops along the street.
“Well, seeing as that one has a huge queue, that one’s closed, that one’s overpriced, let’s go with the Angel”. A bright beaming smile on his face. “You’re paying right?” He added smirking.
Lara let out a deep sigh. “Yesssssssss”.
“Woooo, foooooooooood”.
Lara was almost dragged along as Liam sped towards the chip shop.
“Two fish and chips please”.

They collected their order and strolled back down the street towards the pavilion. It was mostly empty due to the lateness of the evening and the cold wind blowing inland from the sea. As they approached Liam hesitated for a moment before turning and heading towards a bench close to the railing rather than taking their usual spot in the pavilion itself.
“You okay?” Lara asked in concern.
“Uh huh”. Liam nodded but his smile seemed forced.
“Did you just have the same feeling as I did about sitting there?”
“Uh huh”. He repeated before taking a seat at the bench and rubbing his face with his sleeve.
The seagulls that were not already nesting perched themselves all around the pair in hopes of the scraps that could be dropped or left behind. The loud screech a surprising comfort in the dark clouds that overshadowed the mood.
“Doesn’t take them long to sound the alarm does it”. Liam laughed nodding towards the noisy gull perched atop the building nearby.
“Nope and with no other targets you can guarantee we’ll get dive-bombed if were not careful”. Lara pointed towards one of the gulls that was slowly moving closer towards them.
“Nu uh, my food, steal hers”. Liam pouted towards the gull and pointed at Lara’s food.
“Oi!” She pushed him playfully. “If you want more food for the rest of the weekend you better be nicer to me”.
Liam sighed dramatically. “Eurgh fine…”He turned back to the gull. “You’ll have to starve, boss’s orders”.
It cried loudly before hopping onto a nearby bin, its eyes locked on them both.
Lara let out a long saddening sigh.
“You alright?” Liam asked.
Lara turned to him as if he’d just asked the stupidest question in the world…which he had.
“Yeah, wonderful, my dad’s dead and I’m in one of his favorite places where I have memories of him everywhere I look…I’m great”. Her tone was harsher than she had intended but not unexpected.
“Do you want me to shut up?” Liam asked softly.
“NO!” She replied sharply.
“Do you want me to leave you alone for a minute?” He asked again.
“No”. Her head dropped slightly.
“Do you want a hug?”
Lara shifted in her seat towards him as Liam wrapped his arms around her and held her close as she sobbed quietly against him.
“It’s not fair”.
“Why did it have to be him”.
“Fucks sake”
They remained like that as the sun began to set behind them and the screeching cries of the gulls began to fade. Lara took a deep breath again and sat upright wiping her eyes. Liam took her hand and squeezed it tightly.
“Can we go to the end of the pier?” Lara asked more composed.
“Sure”. Liam smiled brightly. He squeezed her hand tightly once more before getting up.

They continued down the pier, the spray from the sea already having soaked them through to the skin. The lighthouse towered above them as they passed, a brief blockade to the winds as they continued up the steps onto the wooden boardwalk. Lara paused for a moment, the winds causing the loose strands of hair to stick to her face. Liam waited beside her but remained silent.
Lara took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay”. She whispered softly before walking onwards.
Liam tailed behind staying close but not invading on her space as they walked to the end where a smaller tower stood, a small green light above flashing to warn those who may otherwise meet their end.

The crashing waves below were drowned out as the deep voices of laughter erupted beneath them. Lara froze again but Liam was right beside her. He put an arm around her and held her close as tears began to stream down her face.
“I’m here, I’m here”. He whispered holding her tightly against his chest.
The laughter continued then a loud cheer as one of them drew in a large catch. Lara choked out a laugh even as the tears continued to fall down her cheeks.
“Dad would have loved this right now”.
Liam nodded and pressed his lips against her head holding her tightly as he fought back tears of his own.
“I know”. He whispered. “I know”.
As the excitement continued beneath them the pair remained embraced under the light of the full moon above.
“Just remember he’s never truly gone”. Liam caressed her hair between his fingers as she sniffed against him. “You’ll always have the memories you made together, those are yours forever, the good and the bad”.
Lara’s sobs began to soften.
“And if there is something on the other side you know he’ll do whatever it takes to see you again. Maybe not today, tomorrow or even years from now, but one day something will happen and you’ll think to yourself. Yep that’s him. And of course you’ll be cursing the shit out of him for making you wait so long”.
Lara let out a small laugh and gripped his jacket.
“Don’t you worry I’ll let him have it as well”.
She let out another laugh and hit his chest before pulling away to look up at him again. They looked into each others eyes and smiled. Another cheer broke out beneath them causing them both to chuckle softly.
Liam wrapped his arm around her shoulder again and hugged her tightly walking her towards the rail as they gazed up at the moon above.
“But until then…” Liam continued.
“Let’s just say”
“He’s gone fishing”.