LIFETIME

"Lyza…"

Ashton called out from outside as he wrinkled his eyebrows wondering where she had gone. He walked over the slightly overgrown grass, looking for her in all directions and was surprised to hear a feeble voice coming from a distance.

"Up here!"

She shouted while gazing straight ahead, to let the scenic beauty consume her inner self through its tranquility.

"What are you doing up there? Get down!"

Ashton exclaimed as he saw her resting calmly on the tall and sturdy tree which he avoided every time during climbing, in his good old childhood days.

"Come up! It is beautiful!"

Ashton couldn't decide on what she meant, whether it was the evergreen nature or she herself.

Lyza stood up as she saw Ashton in thoughts and walked slowly over the old branches to flaunt her skills to grab his attention.

Ashton looked at her in admiration with his hands crossed obsessing over those seemingly supernatural things she could do in a split second.

'I don't know why God is acting biased!

I guess you never give the stick to the person who knows how to throw…Eh...!'

Ashton complained as he gazed at her in fascination.

The things which he felt peculiar at first have become his new normal.

…..

"Hey Ashton! What you doing there?"

His thoughts were broken by a familiar voice which came from the direction of iron gates.

'What the hell is he doing here?

Ashton freaked out as he saw Jerry unlock the gate. He looked at both Lyza and Jerry alternatively.

'How am I going to explain Lyza 'dancing' on that damn tree?' Ashton thought as he trained his mind in explaining the never ending questions which Jerry had.

But what had happened was much more than what he anticipated.

"Ash…Here I come!"

Lyza called out to Ashton as she jumped down from one of the branches which seemed at quite a distance from below. Ashton knew that there was nothing to be afraid of in her doing so, but the thought of Jerry finding out the truth did have a huge impact on his actions which were to follow.

"Lyza stop! Do not jump!"

Ashton cried out trying to stop her from jumping to avoid Jerry seeing her land on 'all fours'.

But it was too late. Lyza held her hands high as if she was flying while she closed her eyes letting the gust of cold wind blow through her tousled hair to oblivion as she descended down through thin air.

'Oh my God! What this girl is doing??'

Jerry shrieked as he ran to her in panic.

'Is she suicidal?'

'Did he ditch her?'

All kinds of thoughts swarmed through his crooked little mind as he witnessed her falling down from a great height.

…..

"Ahh…" Ashton shrieked as he held on to his right hand tightly.

He had slid over the harsh gravel in an attempt to catch her to avoid the bizarre scene from happening. And to an extent he was successful. Lyza crashed on to his body so hard that Ashton groaned in deep pain.

"Are you okay?" Lyza cried out as she saw Ashton in agony

"Okayy?? Can't you see he is dying??"

Jerry shouted as he pushed Lyza away to the hard ground.

"Are you out of your mind, you sicko? Trying to get us all behind bars??"

Jerry kept on blaming Lyza as he held Ashton up to rush to the hospital.

"I didn't mean to cause the accident!"

Lyza tried to explain. But Ashton signaled her not to tell anything as he clenched his teeth to bear the excruciating pain he felt, from the dislocated shoulder joint. He knew how much time it took him to believe her, and for Jerry it sure would take a lifetime!