HIGHFALL (novel based on a true life story - EPISODE 2)

Did you miss Episode 1 of Highfall? If so click here to catch up. 

 

“I think it's time for us to have a coffee and celebrate the fact that after bumping into each other we're still alive.”  

The car stopped next to the cafe in the center. They both got out and went inside. He headed to the small table in the far corner. She followed.  

Once they had sat down and relaxed, Annika finally spoke.
 

“I guess it's time to find out your name,” she said.

“Stefan,” he smiled with the warmest smile she had ever seen. It warmed her inside.  

Annika felt as if they had known each other for ages, yet they had never met before. They both spoke nonstop, questions tumbling out, each asking about the other, sharing their thoughts and values and swapping their life stories.  

After a few hours Annika knew more about Stefan than did some of his friends. Still, Stefan  knew a bit more, since he could find out more things by intuition. She was a teenager and he was nine years older, which meant that he definitely had the edge on her in terms of wisdom and experience. 

 “The sky’s the limit,” said Annika, pronouncing her favorite slogan at the time. “I think people should not be limited to stereotypes; they should have freedom of choice and get the most out of life.” Teenage maximalism and her adventurous nature showed through her innocent looks.  

“I totally agree – been following that line since I was your age,” Stefan was teasing her.  

“Very unexpected for an old bank executive like you,” Annika teased back and they both laughed.  From time to time, people at other tables would turn round as they laughed. 

None of them would think that, just a few hours ago, Stefan had almost killed Annika. They looked like an ordinary couple that had just started dating and couldn’t get enough of each other. Each word, each smile, each look soothed away the shock and stress. At some point the rain stopped. It was as if there hadn’t really been any bus stop and what had happened had just been a nightmare. And they’d woken up! 

 Time flew by and neither noticed that they’d been chatting away for four hours. Stefan offered to drive her home.  

“But before that, I have to see a friend and get some keys, if you don't mind.”  

How could she mind? Of course she didn't...  

Stefan's friend's name was Don and he had a pub in the old town. It was small and cosy.  

“Wow, look who's here!” Stefan's friend came out from behind the bar and hugged them both. 

 “Who is this beauty?” asked Don, raising an eyebrow. 

 “This is Annika.” Stefan didn’t feel like telling the whole story and decided what he’d said was quite enough. 

 “Ok,” Don winked to show that he got the picture, “but I am not letting you go before we have a drink together, so don't even argue.”  

Don poured three martinis and Annika just knew she wouldn't be getting home any time soon.

 The pub's customers soon started to appear. Stefan seemed to know most of them and they got surrounded by a crowd.  

“Wow, Stefan, who is she? Where have you been hiding her?”  

 “We are so happy for you!”
“We can see how crazy you are about each other.”  

Their reactions amused Annika and they decided to make no mention of the fact that a day before they’d been complete strangers. Although, to be fair, you’d have to admit that after four hours drinking coffee together, they were anything but strangers. 

The band started playing and the pub filled with the sounds of the music which drowned out the crowd's conversations. Annika didn’t notice just when it was that Stefan took both her hands in his but after that, he didn’t let go of them. 

His big, masculine hands enfolded her tiny little ones, as if wanting to protect them.  It was an evening of discoveries, new faces and new experiences...  

That day was the first extraordinary day in Annika's ordinary life. From that point on her life stopped being ordinary, and she could feel it.  

It appeared that Stefan had been playing with the band for several years. The only time he let go of her hands was when he went onto the small stage and performed a song. Stefan was singing for her, looking straight into her eyes and touching her soul with his deep voice. She felt like someone from a book or a movie; she couldn’t believe that what was happening was real. Microphone in hand, he looked even better than Kurt Cobain.  

When Stefan took her home, it was pretty late already. The car parked next to the entrance to Annika’s building but neither wanted to part. It felt like two teenagers in the car, not just one. 

He gently touched her cheek with one finger. She was looking into his black eyes. The air was tense and his car too small for the feelings they couldn’t put into words. His mouth found hers and although both were far from new to the kissing game, this kiss was special and something completely different for both of them.  

Annika looked around several times before going into the building. She flew up the stairs feeling easy, happy and completely different from the girl who’d been waiting for the bus in the rain. It all looked different to her: the entrance to the building, the front door of their apartment, even the apartment itself.  

Annika turned the key to open the door and felt as if she was turning a whole new page of her life. A nicer, happier, more exciting page...  

The day had been filled with so much adrenaline, emotion, stress and happiness, that she fell asleep as soon as she got into bed. To look at her sleeping, you could see the smile on her face.  
 

To be continued...
 

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