The Libration

Walking up the stairs to yet another institution was overwhelming for Ashley. She almost feared for her life. Her palms sweating and her breath abating, she reminded herself that this was a vessel for the thinking person and it was only a means to an end, or rather hopefully, a means to the true her and a better life. Bounding each step was representative of huge leaps of faith, and on each touch she had the opportunity to retreat and surrender or continue and conquer. She chose the latter, and made herself sprightly about it. Who knew what could happen, it could be the best thing in her life so there was no point becoming anxious about it until there was a reason to be so, she thought.

It was a Monday, and a sunny Monday at that and she was determined to make hey whilst the sun shined - but she was late as always, so she thought she had better hurry up about it. Scurrying through the corridors like her life depended on it, Ashley raced into the lecture hall forgetting her predisposed apprehension, so much so that she bulldozed through the doors without any thought to what or who was on the other side - and into a hall full of surprised awaiting faces; before the doors slammed back ensuring whoever wasn’t already looking, certainly was by now. Nervously brushing away her hair from her face and ruffling it as if by purpose, Ashley covertly scanned the hall for a seat and all inside until an eye lock of a stranger before her was captured, and an almost magnetic repulsion forced each of them to look away and recoil in shyness. Thank goodness the lecture hadn’t started already she exasperated to herself in gratefulness as she continued her search. Finally spotting an empty space she darted in its direction and unavoidably disrupted all in her path until she took her place. Sitting down in relief and in time to gather her bearings the lecture began. “Welcome all, to your first week of university and the beginning of a new era”, spoke a deeply booming and amplified voice from the lectern. All eyes diverted and transfixed towards the front. After a somewhat punctuated yet heavily content burdened address, the students, now of mob-like crowd mentality, were dismissed. In socially accepted ways in etiquette of refined public dispersion, Ashley looked to her left and guided a polite nod of hello to her neighbour and turned to the right to do the same. Oh shit she’s hot! She inwardly gasped.

“Hi.”, her breath whimpered as she let out a startled smile.

Little did she know that the one space available would be next to a raven-haired beauty. Adorned in black pants, t-shirt and a biker jacket flatteringly lay against her slender frame; a cross between black gold and the angel of death Ashley conceived - but we’d go well together! She internally panged.

“My name’s Ashley”, she quipped as her heartbeat increased, hoping her eyes hadn’t widened too evidently.

Before the dark temptress could answer, the baying crowd propelled her forward into an involuntary motion, and in domino effect forced Ashley to reluctantly turn away and walk towards the exit. How could I have been so blind not to notice her? She toyed with herself to turn back for one more look - she couldn’t, could she? But with a last close of the eyes, a hold of her breath and a wish, Ashley daringly peeled them open and looked back in great expectation.

Where is she? She gasped. The mystery girl couldn’t be seen, much to Ashley’s dismay.

Continuing to look around in puzzlement, Ashley began to wonder who she was, and where she had come from, and would they see each other again? Oh gosh, she thought. This new venture isn’t going to be as bad as I had dreaded…ahh, who am I kidding, she self jibed; I’ll never find true love!

Chapter 2

Taking the one mile walk to university was refreshing, though Ashley couldn’t lie to herself, she was still in trepidation of university life, though she was remaining hopeful of each moment and the outcomes that may arise. Maybe if I lived in halls, I would feel more connected, she pondered. In optimism she looked forward to the course content and making new friends with similar interests. There had to be interesting types that were majoring in History, right? If not I’ll join the union or an equally exhausting society of the ostracized she giggled to herself. The one thing, or rather the one person she could definitely look forward to seeing again was the darkened mystical surprise that managed to vanish into the crowd two days previously. Yet, the intrusion of the breakdown of Ashley’s previous relationship was still entering her mind intermittently. Whenever she took the time to decipher her feelings, she wondered if she would ever regain the sense of wholeness she had once possessed. A tut and a sigh overshadowed her mind until she reached the university campus and placed a smile and a readiness upon her face. This was the first group session and she was definitely without tardiness today. Ashley stood tall and postured her shoulders back in anticipation as she knocked, and half entered through the door.

“Hello, come in. Good morning, good morning take a seat, s’il vous plait”, pleasantly asserted a high pitched tone of French sounding descent.

Ashley sat down in delight within the predetermined seating arrangement as directed. There was no need to spend time deciding where to sit as only two of the five seats remained empty.

“We are waiting for just one more person then we may begin…hmm should we allow some icebreaking or jump straight in?” the Professor asked, just as the door knocked and opened in synchronisation. The group raised their heads in instinctual curiosity.

“Ah, Salut! Everybody, this will be our Administration Assistant Sophie. You will probably get to know her very well throughout your time here” she added.

Ashley and the others in the group smiled and said their hello’s as Sophie and the Professor began to talk between themselves, allowing the group to get to know each other too. A girl with a cool edgy bob and a New Wave look in her clothing began to talk to Ashley.

“How are you feeling? She asked. “Ha! I was nervous but settling in, you know…yourself?” “Yes, shitting an absolute brick if I’m honest!”

They both began to laugh between them. “Yes, I had bricks today too!”, Ashley retorted. “I think we’re waiting on my friend to be honest.” “Oh yeh?”, replied Ashley. “Yeh, we’ve been friends since childhood. I love her to pieces, I don’t think we would have come to Uni without each other, she’s running late today…what’s your name by the way?” “I’m Ashley, and yours?” “I’m Charlotte”, she beamed. As Sophie the Administrator left, Ashley, still in conversation with Charlotte, heard the Professor acknowledge somebody else coming into the room. “Nice of you to join us” she quirked. “Ah, this is my friend…Hi, yes very nice of you”, Charlotte mocked. “Hi Charl”, she countered, dryly.

Having just taken off her glasses to clean them, Ashley could only see in the immediate vicinity. As she attempted to lock her eyes on the presence before her, all she could see was an unfocused aura of blackness.

“Just another wipe and I’ll be able to see you” said Ashley, involving herself in the jesting atmosphere as she replaced her glasses back onto her face and squinted to adjust. The black blob had gotten closer, and was now towering next to her, in place to take the final chair. A hand held itself out. “Hey, I’m Alex…Alexandra, by the way”

Wow, and wow once more! Ashley thought. She couldn’t believe her eyes and her luck.

“I finally got your name”, she said wryly and smiling in content. “This is Ashley”, pipped Charlotte. “Yes, we’ve already met”, spoke Alex softly. “Cool”, she exclaimed back quirkily. “Fancy meeting like this”, Ashley said cheekily.

If Ashley could have had them meet again any way it would have been like this – kind of perfect she pined. It was beyond a nice surprise and completely unexpected, not to mention out of her control. She now had the best opportunity to be entranced by her deep and darkened mystery…or, just get to know her like a normal person would, she thought in quick rationalisation…ok, I better stay calm about this she thought as her heart pounded with happiness, hope and excitement. Ashley gulped…all I must do now is not make a fool of myself when I talk!