The Light on the Hill

It was a murky afternoon, the atmosphere around me seemed bleary. It just wasn't my day, 'I knew that surprising my fiance was a bad idea', I muttered to myself, but no I just had to listen to my blah blahing cousin Rachel, she insisted that I go to meet Brandon because she thought it to be a romantic idea. "Romantic my foot!" I muttered again angrily as I stared ahead on the narrow road with not a house or car or a donkey cart in sight!1

As I was driving my car, my new Honda civic, which I daresay that I love with my life even though its only been in my care for one fabulous month, anyway back to the story....yes as i was driving my car through the  secluded forestry area, the sound of thunder and a stroke of lightening stopped me dead on my tracks. The lightening had struck several trees behind and in front my car. 'Oh great, now its really really bad' I muttered and slapped my hands on the steering wheel. I was trapped in the middle of lord alone knows where!, I got out of my car and stared in amazement, wondering how this could happen to me. It was only five thirty in the evening. "Maybe I can call Brandon from my cell and tell him what happened, yes! that's exactly what I'll do", I said cheerily to myself as I yanked the cell out of my handbag. As I dialed the number waiting for it to ring, I heard the beep, "Low battery! yuh have to be joking, can anything else bad happen to me!", I shouted angrily as I glared at the sky looking for some sort of reply, which of course I knew was ridiculous but it was the only sane thing I could've done at that time.2

I got back into my car, and steamed a bit in my seat before I decided to go hiking through the woods because Brandon had to live somewhere around here, at least I hope it wasn't to far and it had to be around here in this area. Without another thought I grabbed my little bag pack I had in the backseat, locked up my car doors and proceeded my 'I have no idea where I'm goin' journey.3

Thirty minuted after, it was terribly hot and humid, my clothes were dirty, my hands felt blistered from a fall I took when I tripped over a stupid log, I paused to wipe the perspiration out of my eyes, leaving a black streak across my face. My breath rasped in my throat and I oh so longed for a cool drink of any kind. After an hour or so passed, what little little light there was disappeared as the sky took on a yellow tinge colour and grew darker. I stopped again when I heard the distant rumble of thunder and almost immediately a great wind came roaring through the forest, bending even the great crowns of the trees. I grabbed at a nearby tree bark and held on as if my life depended on it, I whimpered in fear, looking all around myself, sensing danger but not knowing where it was coming from. Then the clouds burst violently open and all of heaven came rushing down in solid sheets, lashing down onto the trees with a noise like buckshot on an iron roof. Within seconds I was soaked through and shivering. The rain poured off every leaf and branch and soon I was standing in a puddle that grew into what looked like a small pond.4

Immediately I panicked and began running blindly. It was dark and I was cold, not knowing where I was heading I ran into a forest path. Pushing the branches out of my way with my arms, my breath coming in terrified sobs. Twigs and undergrowth caught at my hair and clothes, only when I had no more breath left did I stop and leaned, with my chest heaving, against a tree, tears running down my face, more afraid than I've ever been in my life. Afraid to move but even more afraid to remain still. I began walking, slowly, then to my surprise I thought I saw a flash, some sort of light in the distance, I grew more determined to see it again, after what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, I saw it. There it was, a light, a light on the hill. I looked up at it and started laughing, I never saw a better sight in all my life at that moment.5

Relief flooded throughout my body, I ran, with my bag pack on my back. I pulled myself up with the roots that was sticking out on the side of the slope and with my last strength heaved myself on the top. It felt like forever to reach the place where I saw the light but as I came closer I saw a house, a villa of some sort. The rain had eased up a little, I ran till I was directly in front of the door. I pounded on the door, silently praying that someone would be inside and that the place wasn't deserted. I raised my hand to pound again, to my relief, it opened and a confused Brandon peered out in astonishment. Without hesitating I threw myself onto him, wet, muddy and all, and then I surprised myself, not wanting to ever let go of him, I cried my heart out. He lifted me up and walked inside,6

sat me down on top of him and held me, soothing my fear and trying to calm me down. 7

After a few moments, sniffles and all, I heard a growl I looked at my surroundings, glancing towards the entrance we came through and saw two huge beasts, well what looked like beasts actually, with their teeth's baring and their growls um growling I clung to Brandon tighter and he laughed, that fool of a man laughed. "Beauty and Beast, my pets", he said sheepishly, mad for being an idiot I glared at him and his beasts. Then his eyes narrowed and bore into mine.8

"How...where, I mean what happened to you? are you hurt? are you OK? tell me if you're injured!" he said, all sheepishness gone and now was a concerned face hovering in front of mine.9

"I'm fine", I replied and told him what had happened. After I bathe, ate and I'm lying in his arms he looked down at me and said " So, you saw the light on the hill huh", I playfully swatted his hands that were now rubbing on my cheek and with a humorous laugh he said " I liked that one, I'm goin to enjoy telling our kids, grand-kids and great-grands this story for sure." Snuggling closer I closed my eyes and fell asleep.10