The last message sent to Arabella, by Jacob.

Press play before reading. Salute.

(A lone voice whispers)

Whenever I pause in these quiet tranquil moments 

Sat in here 

By the moving rocks and swirling grey smoke 

That would make any living person choke

Now I'm a fully paid-up citizen of The Great In-Between 

I sometimes still think about all those long hot summer nights 

When we once walked by the Hawaiian blue sea and we were totally unafraid to be seen

I still get drenched by the sweetest thoughts of you and me

Memories of a fierce love which shone like a lighthouse 

High above the hot yellow city lights

Of an extraordinary time, where we held each other's soft hands 

And everything seemed to be just alright 

But like a pale white vulnerable feather

Blowing carefree in the Four Winds of Change 

I then always remember 

How you foolishly surrendered to the whims of the Gatherer of all Temptations

And like an act from the Devils favourite playbook

Our intense love was viciously ripped from our carefully constructed cross of truth 

By slanderous accusations 

Spoken by jealous crooks

To then be slowly and tragically forgotten 

And in turn depressingly by so many newly enabled others 

Casually dismembered 

With their judgemental narratives singing sad songs of theres no chance of redemption

Now I guess when I reflect

We were like two painful characters from a dystopian fantasy called Twelfth Night

A terrible version of a classic Shakespearean Play

No one cares or even wants to remember

But I'll still treasure and carry those beloved beautiful memories everywhere now I'm free 

Recollections of four footsteps walking in unison 

By the Hawaiian blue sea

Where I get sometimes drenched and soaking wet by the sweetest thoughts 

Of just you and me

Memories of a fierce wild unrestricted love

Which still shines so bright today like it once originally did

Towering all above the hot yellow city lights

Of a time we once held soft hands 

And the future seemed so full of auspicious things which resonated with so much bright light 

Beloved memories of us entwining to make love by candlelight 

To keep warm throughout all those cold but soul-thrilling 

December winters nights 

When the world seemed so still and perfect 

And all the gossips and racketeers were carefully hidden

By Life

Out of sight

I still miss you 

My Arabella

If only to just hear your lovely voice 

In this neverending twilight

If you know Arabella de Santiago 

Dear reader

Will you please just tell her

I still and will always miss her

Copyright John Duffy