Chasing Rainbows

The plane journey was relatively short but strained, her pilot making it clear from his body language that he was not interested in passing the time with small talk. Apart from the occasional words about their progress he remained silent. Clara studied his profile from where she sat, but found no emotion there, no clue as to his thoughts. She supposed he must be concentrating on the flight, and for that she was grateful. She’d never flown before and was nervous.

Eventually Clara tired of staring at him and wondering, and so she looked out of the window and let her mind wander instead. Watching the countryside, then the cliffs and then the sea go by was disconcerting but amazing too. Once over the sea rain began to fall and they entered frequent patches of low cloud. Clara closed her eyes for a while, not liking the feeling of nothingness now that she could not see the ground or horizon. After a time the pilot spoke what were to be his first and only words of the journey,

“Nearly there”.

Clara jumped a little but the surprise at hearing his voice unexpectedly was instantly forgotten as the sight before her took her breath away and made tears spring to her eyes. There in front of the plane was the most beautiful rainbow she had ever seen, it seemed to sparkle iridescently in the sky, and as the plane flew through the sky it seemed to be following the rainbow, keeping pace but never catching it. Eventually, as their destination grew larger in front of them, the plane began its descent, and as they dropped lower and lower it seemed that the rainbow ended on the other side of the island. For a time the sight made her happy and as she gazed at it her spirits lifted a little. She felt for the first time since her journey had started that she was making the right decision.

Eventually the plane juddered to a stop in a large field at the side of a small road. Clara looked around her until she saw her destination, the place that she would be calling home for the foreseeable future. Clambering out of the plane, Clara dragged out her bags and then paused to face the pilot. He was checking over his instruments, flicking switches and peering carefully at gauges.

“Thank you” she said, trying to keep the expectant tone from her voice, but knowing that she failed.

The pilot looked at her now and for a moment as their eyes met Clara thought she saw a flicker of emotion, possibly anger. Whatever it was, it was gone before it was there and he simply nodded his gaze even and brief.

Clara did the only thing she could, she turned and walked away. She thought she felt his eyes upon her as she trudged across the field, over the road, and down the winding rough path to her destination. Although it was not far, her bags seemed to weigh more with each step she took, and despite the autumn sun she felt no warmth inside her. Instead she felt empty, blank; like a page in an exercise book, waiting for that first splash of ink to define its purpose.


As she reached the door to the small wooden house Clara hesitated. The key was already in her hand, as it had been ever since she’d left the airport but still she paused. After a moment she turned slowly to look back at the plane that had bought her here, watched as the pilot made his routine external checks. When he climbed back inside of the plane Clara looked for a moment longer at his profile; heard the engines start again. Just before she turned away, she saw him look back at her. She couldn’t make out the expression on his face and his wave was brief as he turned again from her.

Clara unlocked the door with shaking hands and once inside quickly shut it. Dropping her bags down in the hall she entered the small living area and saw that the fire was made up. Taking a box of matches from the mantle she dropped to her knees to light it. Although the days were balmy still, the house was cool from standing empty for a while; and besides Clara needed the warmth that her heart could not give her right now. The crackling of kindling and paper filled Clara’s ears and as she sat and watched the flames she was glad too, that she would not hear the sound of the plane leaving.

Immersed in her own thoughts Clara also didn’t hear the latch on the front door go, was unaware of soft footsteps across worn bare floorboards. It wasn’t until he sat down behind her, his body inches from hers that she felt his presence. Still though she did not look round, dared not for fear that her imagination was playing cruel tricks on her.

She listened to the fire crackling gently now as it’s flames rose to consume thick logs and nuggets of coal. She could hear the beating of her own heart and the blood rushing in her ears. And then she heard the faint rustle of clothing and as she did she felt her hair gently swept to one side and as her body was pulled towards his she felt his breath on her skin.

They stayed like that for what seemed an eternity, the silence between them thick with emotion as he pulled her tighter towards him, her hands holding the arms that were wrapped around her now.

Eventually she felt him shift, pull away a little and as she turned to look at him she noticed that the room was darker now. The fading light casting shadows across the room and across his face making his expression hard to read. When she felt his hand behind her head pulling her gently to him, she did not hesitate and as her lips met hers she felt herself spiraling down a familiar path of need. Slowly at first they kissed, hands entwining in hair, bodies moving closer together, the only noise an occasional murmur.

****

Clara woke to find herself still in front of the now fading fire, hazy morning sunlight streaming through the room. She was cold, for although her head was on a cushion from the sofa, the blanket that had covered their naked bodies was now tangled in her legs, leaving her upper body exposed, especially the side not next to the fire, and, she noticed with sinking heart was not flanked by her lover. Sighing Clara sat up and pulling the fleecy cover up to her chin, reached out to throw some more wood on the fire. Then, pausing to pull on her shirt and jeans she made her way to the front door. Had it all been a dream? In many ways Clara knew it had, but no, he had been here, she could still feel his touch on her skin and she shivered at the memory. Pulling open the front door, she saw what she expected to see. The plane was gone, he was gone, and neither would be coming back.

Closing the front door Clara walked back into the lounge and sat on the sofa. Glancing at the fireplace she noticed something hanging from the mantle. Getting up to retrieve it Clara smiled as she recognized what it was, a thin gold chain with a tiny enameled rainbow pendant. Holding it up so that it glittered in the sunlight Clara looked at it for a moment before letting it drop into her other hand and placing it in her pocket.

Clara sighed and felt for the first time since her journey had begun yesterday that she was making the right decision. Here she was to start a new life, let go of the unreachable and move on. She had the job, the house, her new life all set up waiting for her.

Her days of chasing rainbows were over.