Dearest Orla

                     Dearest Orla,

                     By Adam Kane.

 

 

It was a cold, blustery Autumn's morning.A dense fog hung ominously over the dew-soaked grass.It was, for the majority, a perfectly ordinary day.Not so for George Davies.Today was the day that he would reap the rewards of several weeks of careful planning-or would fall victim to the ravages of poor execution.This was the day that he would ask his dear friend, Orla Clarus, to be his girlfriend.

 

George had been smitten and enraptured by her, ever since that fateful first day of College.They had been placed beside each other in their Science class; which for George,was an unnerving experience to say the least.He had seldom spoken to girls his age before, and on the occasions that he had done so, emotional and mental injury were his only rewards.She had turned her head slowly and elegantly,smiled at him and affably said,"Hi!"

 

Surprised, pleasantly so by her courtesy, he turned his head and returned her greeting with equal good grace.After a moment, she launched into a long and open account of how she felt about the school.They had laughed, talked and joked together on that glorious first day.

 

It was by this that their friendship blossomed, like a graceful daffodil in the glory of the spring sunlight.It was several months into their first year, when his stomach began to do somersaults beneath her gentle gaze.Several months before his heart began to melt at the mere thought of her.It took him several months to realise, that he was in love.

 

Now, on that damp, misty Autumn's morning, he stood outside the school in the cold sunlight,his heart hammering within his chest, waiting for her to arrive.The mist reminded him of the love letter that he had once written to her.

 

He had been unsure what to write.However, as he pulled the paper and pen towards him, the words seemed to flow effortlessly from his mind onto the paper before him.Though, in spite of George's best efforts,he still felt as though the composition had failed to do his heart justice.The written word, he had reflected, was an inefficient medium for conveying as deep a concept as love. 

 

By the time he had finished,it was well into the night, but as he reviewed the letter, George concluded with satisfaction that it had been worth every moment.Having sealed it, he raised his pen and upon the envelope, inscribed the words: 

                                                         "Dearest Orla".

Even in the anarchy which had followed the letter's discovery, George regretted nothing.He regretted nothing, save for lacking the courage to sign it.

 

At last the mist was beginning to thin, and as it did so, a large, black beast emerged from it's depths.The beast continued to roll forward, the roar of it's Renault engine becoming more distinct with each passing second.

"This is it."George thought nervously, as the motor car finally ground to a halt.The door opened, and from it, stepped the graceful figure of Orla Clarus.

 

Her radiant blonde hair rippled in the gentle morning breeze, her sapphire eyes glimmered with all the majesty of their namesake.

"Bye Mum!"

At these words,George's heart melted.Her voice was so pure, that it could not be rivaled by even the Sirens, the beautiful nymphs of Greek mythology.

 

She was walking directly towards the main door."This is it."George thought.Sweat, cold and sticky, was pouring in waves from his brow.A feeling of nervous anticipation gripped his heart which was pounding against his chest, as though about to explode.Forcing his legs to move, he ploughed onward.This was the moment he had planned towards for months, and he was not going to let it simply slip away.

 

As George drew nearer, he saw a glint of recognition flit across her angelic features, the beauty of which was bolstered by a radiant smile, that grew as both sapphire and hazel met.However, as her eyes met his, she said with a faint note of concern in her voice: "Whats' wrong?".

 

George knew what he must do.Taking a deep breath and summoning all of his courage, he said in a voice scarcely more than a whisper:

"Nothing, except..."

"Except what?"

"Will you go out with me?"