Chapter 228

Its been days since he left the bungalow.

 He left Point Pleasant that morning as if the hounds of hell were yapping at his heels, rode his bike relentlessly until he the road took him to Mystic island. As luck would have it, he found a little bungalow looking out over the lagoon. It was a far cry from the upper class hotel rooms he were used to but it fitted his mood perfectly. Hidden away from nosey people, small and intimate, easy to keep clean, what more did he want anyway? He wanted to lick his wounds not fun in the sun.

 Easy to keep  clean? Gmmfff..he flicked a disinterested look across the small room. Pizza boxes, Chinese left over, and mountains of empty booze bottles were everywhere. Maybe it was time to clean up a bit, he might just break his fucking neck trying to clamper over the shit in his drunken stupor.

Arggh what the hell..one more day wont kill him...

Grabbing his always present pen and notebook he stared at his work in progress.

I was walking on a wire

Looking down, there was no net

Now, I’m standing at your door .Me and my last cigarette.....

Talking bout cigarettes..the lighter flicked to life, taking a deep breath he savoured the nicotine filled pleasure.

Scrunching his eyes trying to keep the smoke from burning them even more, his fingers stroked the strings of the guitar. A song came to life and he felt the familiar warmth of accomplishment nesting deep inside his soul. Words came tumbling into his tortured mind and he discarded the guitar, grabbing at the pen again...

Yeah we’ve been through this before

Too late the cover up my tracks

Damn the fool who begs for more

I’l take my past and paint it black

Now this circus has left town

This clown has got to get his feet back on the ground.

I’m learning how to fall

Learning how to take a hit

Had to walk before I crawled

It was winner take it all

Now I’m learning how to fall

Yeah, I got the hang of it.

As the ink flowed from the pen so did the festering wound in his soul, cleansing him as the words poured out one by one.

I was flying through the clouds

Pucker up, it’s time to kiss the ground...

Scraping his chair backwards, he stood up, opening the door, staring over the water. He felt lighter, not completely healed but it has begun...the puss was working its way out and he could breathe again. The dark sludge was exposed and transferred onto pure, white paper...its wasn’t his pain anymore. It was time to let go...the sting chafed at a raw nerve but Jon forced it to the background...I might have taken the blow but fucker I aint gonna stay down without a fight.

Another emotion bloomed to life and a certain pair of shining dark eyes swam into view. His baby....his heart and soul....suddenly the sky seemed a bit bluer. She was waiting..how long has it been? God too long!

Words came rushing towards him, playing it over in his mind he made his way towards the shower , giving his thoughts free reign.

Time to get clean and grab something to eat because God knows the leftovers might just land him in hospital.

Rubbing over his growling stomach he snorted.

“Yeah, yeah hold ya horses. Need to clean up first.”

He dragged a hand across the stubble on his face. MAN! He really let himself slip this past week! A shower would have to do for now, he’ll have to grab a blade from the shops after he had breakfast....

Raiding the local supermarket Jon felt the need to make himself a hearty dinner, steak, a nice thick, mature steak with all the trimmings...Bursting open the door of the intimate little bungalow, he unpacked his findings, blowing the stubborn strands out of his eyes.

An hour later he was settled at the table, the freshly grilled steak wafted into his nostrils. The aroma of sweet wine and a blend of freshly prepared food brought a mighty growl from his stomach.

“Damn! I’m hungry!”

Before long the food lay half eaten on the plate, the wine bottle almost empty and his fingers scribbling excitedly over a new piece of paper. The words flowed out, coming to life in his mind, the dark, loving eyes of Megan the force behind the sudden inspiration.

Slipping another chunk of steak into his mouth, he slouched back , his feet propping on the table next to his glass. His eyes flew eagerly over the lines, the familiar warmth spread in his belly...he had to go back..she had to hear this....and soon.

You know your favourite old pair of shoes

The ones with the holes in the toe you won’t lose

Your favourite record thats all scratched and used

But still love to play it when your feeling blue

That faded rose thats all dried out

Those Bukowski poems we couldn’t live without

Your highschool pictures when you had wild hair...

The vision of the young, innocent girl balancing a huge tray in her two small hands came to mind..Long wild curls framing her face...lanky legs with  ass hugging shorts....Oh man!

Oh, you better believe there’s just one thing you need

Cant you see....

Its just me baby

Its just me baby

If there’s just one thing that you should keep

In your book of dreams

It’s just me baby....

Just like a shadow 10 feet tall

Standing right behind you should you fall

Ill be the one to hold you up to walk

When this wicked world makes us wanna crawl

And if your waves should ever break at sea

I’ll be here waiting, I’m that sandy beach

I’m that same old dog, scratching all the fleas

I’ll be by your side, you can count on me....

As if coming out of a slumber, he mind rocketed to life...all he needs is her...her gorgeous eyes, those lips curled into a smile, her welcoming arms taking all the pain away...it was her he needed all along..not some bungalow and loneliness eating at your gut! In his blind fury he had pushed her love away...when she was there for him he couldn’t accept the pillar of strength that was her unconditional love....Oh baby girl! What have I done?!

Tomorrow will be a brand new start, his ass is heading home to his Megan and his kids.