The Girl With the Purple Scarf

By Dipika Patel

Laura Shaw struggles to live her life because of the tragedy that took away the man she loved. As each day drags by she becomes weaker and the point of her existence lingers in her thoughts. How can she stop the ache that has taken over her life?

Moving away seemed like the best idea but no one can fix her broken heart that shreds away each second. No one can bring the love of her life back. No one can make her happy the way he did.

However, there was one way she knew and she was not going to let anyone stop her. That one journey she had to make would diminish the dire pain she felt or at least she thought it would.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326190378

Book preview

The Girl With the Purple Scarf

The girl with the purple Scarf

Contents

The girl with the purple Scarf

By Dipika Patel

Chapter one- one way journey

Chapter Two- Unexplained

Chapter Three- The one

Chapter Four- Evidence

Chapter Five- Through another perspective

Chapter Six- Unforgotten

Chapter Seven- Two years ago

Chapter Eight- (Two years ago) gone

Chapter Nine- (Two years ago) deception

Chapter Ten-One month after

Chapter Eleven-Revealed

Chapter twelve- Deja vu

Chapter thirteen- So close, yet so far

Chapter fourteen-Bringing back the dead

Chapter Fifteen- Two ends meet again

Chapter Sixteen- The escape

Chapter Seventeen- Barns park

Chapter Eighteen- Final farewell

Chapter Nineteen- Forgotten memories

Chapter Twenty- Visitors from the past

Chapter Twenty One- Leaving

Chapter Twenty Two- Class of 2006

Chapter Twenty Three- The reunion

Chapter Twenty Four- Hidden identities

Chapter Twenty Five- Acceptance

Chapter Twenty six- Old beginnings (one month later)

By Dipika Patel

Chapter one- one way journey

Laura watches as the tall woman in front of her grabs the little boy’s hand and drags him to the counter.

Don’t push me, Corey! she shouts.

Laura stares at the little boy whose eyes turn watery and his cheeks begin to turn a bright red. He looks at his mother.

Argh! I hate you mummy! he screams.

As his screams get louder he gets more aggressive and starts to push his mother. He realises his mother is not paying attention to him so he starts to stamp his feet. The woman looks at her son, pays the man, grabs her tickets and then turns to face the people in the queue.

Laura quickly turns and starts to fiddle in her bag, as does everyone else in the queue, pretending that they were not staring at the mother and her child in disbelief.

Sorry about this, she says in a sincere manner.

She walks away as her son, who stops shouting, dawdles behind her.

Mummy…mum...wait, he cries.

Laura watches as the little boy runs to catch up with his mother.

Next please, says the man at the counter.

Laura looks up and walks towards the man. She looks at her watch. 10:05.

Could I have a one way ticket to London, please?

One way? questions the man.

Yes please, replies Laura.

That’s £8.00.

Laura searches through her brown bag and pulls out her small green purse. She takes out a ten pound note and folds it. She passes it to the man, moving her brunette hair out of her face as it brushes against her cheek.

Could you tell me what platform tha-

Platform three, says the man.

Okay, thanks, replies Laura as she takes the change and puts it into her purse. She looks at her watch and starts to walk away.

10:07.

Excuse me…hey you with the purple scarf! shouts the man.

Laura halts and turns round with a confused look.

Why is he calling me?

She sees the man flapping his arm like a penguin holding her ticket.

Oh crap, mutters Laura under her breath.

She walks over and feels her cheeks getting warmer as if the temperature in the room had been increased. Everyone in the queue watches her as she approaches the man.

Sorry, she says, snatching the ticket.

She turns round trying to avoid the eyes that prey on her but as she walks away, she catches a glimpse of a guy frowning at her. She stares at his brown eyes but the guy doesn’t look away, making Laura shudder. He looks familiar.

She quickly looks at her watch. 10:15. She sees the big hand move to the next minute. 10:16. She looks up at the screen hanging from the ceiling as she walks towards the platform three sign and notices that her train will be coming at 10:25. That’s way too early. She walks down the stairs slowly, listening to herself breathing and trying to synchronise it with each step she takes.

You stupid thing, get up, curses the woman.

Laura glances over at an old woman, wearing a long black coat which touches the ground each time she tries to heave her flowery suitcase up and watches as people rush down the stairs with their bags, which seem to have a life of their own as they swing side to side.

Do you want any help? questions Laura as she walks over to the fragile woman.

The woman freezes, her insides tighten as she looks up and stares at the young girl. She clutches onto her suitcase and pushes it into her chest.

You’re not getting anything, she snarls.

Laura steps back, alarmed by the woman’s reaction.

I thought you might want some hel-

That’s what those boys said. She looks around her as if she was looking for someone. Then they ran off with my things. I could have throttled the lot of them but…

If you don’t want any help, that’s okay. I’ll just g-

No, no, interrupts the woman. Wait- you don’t look the type and I can do with your help young lady.

Laura watches as the woman’s face lights up, like a switch had been lit up inside her. She walks towards the woman’s suitcase and lifts it up to the next step.

You’re not as weak as you look, smiles the woman.

Neither are you.

The woman throws her head back and laughs, uncontrollably. I’m Sally. What’s your name young lady? she finally asks, touching Laura’s shoulder.

It’s Laura.

Oh I had a friend called Laura. She’s dead now.

I’m sorry to hear that.

Oh don’t be, she replies, smacking Laura’s back. She was a pain in the-

Umm, so where are you going today? interrupts Laura, wondering how those boys got away with her bags.

Harpenden, she says. My daughter lives there with her menacing little monsters.

Laura winces as silence draws upon them and wonders if she should laugh or keep quiet, she decides to do the latter.

I’m joking honey. I love them really. They can be a handful though. Oh that reminds me.

Laura stops, placing the suitcase against the wall and faces the woman. She watches as she searches through her handbag, panic streaked on her face.

What’s wrong? Are you okay? asks Laura, concerned.

Oh here there are, she shrieks as she pulls out a box of opened tablets. I need these so those monsters don’t drive me mad.

Right, here you are. Platform one is that way, says Laura as she points to the sign, still unsure about what she makes of this woman.

Thank you so much darling! God bless your little soul.

Umm… that’s fine, replies Laura smiling nervously. Have a great journey. Laura rushes back down the stairs, looking at her watch. 10:28. Right that’s enough time. Thirty two minutes left till the second train comes. She walks over to the benches in the centre and notices how they are made from steel and not wood. She feels safe in knowing that they’ll be strong enough to hold her as the pressure in her head mounts up, streaming all the weight through her body.

I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing.

She takes her bag off her shoulder and places it on her lap, trembling as she does. She starts to look around to disrupt her emotions from overpowering her. As her eyes scan the room from the old man at the vending machine, to the girls talking, she catches the view of the same familiar looking guy, holding a brown briefcase. The two guys stare at the screens hanging from the ceiling unaware of Laura staring at them. Laura pinches her arm to stop the pieces of her memories fitting together again in her head. The voice of the man in the intercom sucks her back into reality.

‘The 10:25 train will be delayed. It will now be arriving at 10:40.’

That’s fine. I’ll stick to the 11:00 one. Then they’ll be even less people.

She slides off her purple scarf from her neck and runs her fingers through it. The delicate feel of the scarf swarms around her fingers making them tingle and she remembers why she’s here. Three years have gone by but everything is still the same except she’s 21 now.

Laura unzips her bag, frustrated that she had allowed herself to remember the past. She ties her scarf around the handle of her bag and tightens it, causing her hands to ache as she stabs her nails into her palms. She groans, letting go of her scarf and pulls out her phone from her bag. She switches it on and waits. No contacts. No messages. She turns it off and puts it back into her bag. She looks at her watch. 10:41. Nineteen minutes left.

Not long yet.

That took bloody long, says one of the girls at the back. Laura turns round and sees the two girls giggle and rush into the train.

Laura leans forward as shrills from their laughter echoes in her ears. She opens her eyes into the darkness of her hands and feels the heat of her breath clogging the space. As her hands catch her tears she feels the barrier around her heart slowly trying to break away.

No, I can’t let this get to me. Stop thinking about it!

Instantly Laura lifts her head up and presses her hand against her chest. She pushes her hair back and moves round the bench, breathing in the air. She looks round and sees the guy with the brown briefcase staring at her. She swiftly gets up and goes into the little shop on her left. As she walks in, trying to compose herself, she sees a girl stacking items.

The girl in the shop stacks up the chocolate bars and sweets on the front counter. She picks up her favourite sweet and puts it into her pocket. She looks around to see if anyone had seen her and stops as she watches a young brunette walking into the shop.

Oh. My. God!

Laura looks up at the girl behind the till, her mouth wide open with her hands on her cheeks.

Laura Shaw, is that you?

Laura continues to stare at the girl as her expression changes from clueless to bewilderment. She feels her face turning to the colour of her swollen eyes.

Umm…yes that’s me. I’m sorry I don’t remember you.

It’s me… She steps in front of the counter and smiles. …Claire Culling.

Laura’s expression doesn’t change as she tries hard to remember.

We went to the same college. You were in my English class. I used to sit opposite you and give everyone-

Sweets, Laura interrupts as she remembers a chubby girl with a blue sweater walking round the class offering everyone Chewits.

Yes you remembered, replies Claire, gleaming with excitement.

How you been? asks Laura as she watches Claire walking back to the counter.

I’ve been good. How are you?

Laura looks at Claire unable to answer as she realises that it had been a long time since anyone had asked her that question. Everyone that knew her well knew never to ask her that as Laura never meant her answer.

I’m good, thanks.

Oh good. We should go out for a coffee or something. You can bring…

Laura looks down at the counter and pretends to look at the chocolates and sweets as she tries to blank the words from her mind. The words start to jumble around making her feel dizzy.

Laura? Are you okay? asks Claire as she notices her stumbling forward.

Oh no, I’m fine. I was just thinking about some… Laura grabs onto the counter as she feels the blood rush to her face, trapping her words in her throat on the way.

Laura? Claire reaches out to help her.

Laura steps back afraid of the physical contact, knowing that Claire would probably be more concerned if she felt Laura trembling. The trembling of her body was like water left to boil but once it was touched it would react violently. Right now Laura couldn’t afford to react at all.

I’ll take these, rasps Laura unable to make the words out clearly.

Strawberry chewits-those are my favourite, says Claire as she touches her pocket.

Laura smiles faintly and places it on the counter.

That’s 45p please.

Laura places her bag on the counter, trying to stop the trembling and takes her purse out.

Oh, that’s a nice scarf, compliments Claire.

Thanks. I got it as a gift, replies Laura as she hands Claire a pound and puts her purse away. Keep the change. I won’t need it.

Oh okay. So who gave you the scarf? asks Claire.

Laura looks at the scarf, feels her hand through it which stops her body from trembling. She smiles as she feels her head clear, flooding back the memory of when she was first given the scarf.

Just a guy that I loved, sighs Laura as she walks out the shop.

Claire closes the till. Some girls have it all.

As Laura walks out of the shop she feels her body adjust to the more spacious area. She spots the young guys, who are now talking. Laura looks at the rail tracks and realises that the train will be here soon. She looks at her watch. 10:54. Six minutes left.

This is it, it’s time.

Laura rushes to the bench and sighs in relief as she remembers the steps that she needs to take to get it right. Teachers had always told her to plan ahead to get the best result and they were right. As Laura takes two steps to the right and six steps back, she feels her legs weakening, unable to keep herself upright. She withers around like a broken flower, waiting.

The two guys and the old man look over at the girl as she struggles to stand still.

What is she up to, Mike?

Mike shrugs his shoulders as he stares at the girl, trying to put his mind to rest. The distraction of the old man walking over to the bench and sitting down penetrates his vision away from her. The old man wipes the crumbs from his mouth and puts his walking stick beside him. He stares at the rail tracks and hears the sound of the train coming ahead. At last a place to sit.

Laura watches as the two young guys start to walk near the train. She swallows harshly to clear the dryness from her throat. Her mind stays focused on the task ahead. She notices the guy with the brown briefcase standing near the platform, blocking her vision of the tracks from the corner of her left eye.

I can still do this.

She takes a quick glance at her watch. 10: 58. As the noise of the train breaks the silence, Laura feels her body becoming alert. All her insides compress together sucking in all the blood in her. She hears her heart thumping loudly, taking over the sound of the train and feels it breaking free from the barrier that once captivated it.

Right this is it. Run. Run now.

Laura’s body starts to move forward and she realises that she’s running; running towards the train tracks. The cold air hits her face, pushing her back but Laura fights the forces of air resistance and speeds up.

I’m actually doing this.

She leaps forward towards the rail tracks and the sound of her heart stops as the sound of her screams fill the station.

Arghhhh!

The old man clutches onto his heart as he stares at the train in horror. He feels for his walking stick, unable to divert his eyes from the tracks. He slowly walks over and looks down at the two people near the tracks.

What happened? he asks, clearing his throat.

I can’t believe that…di-did you see that? Oh my God! cries Claire. She just jumped…just jum…ped.

The old man puts most of his weight on his walking stick as he looks over at the guy, who is knelling on the ground, his hands covered in blood. He moves his eyes towards the tracks and follows the trail of blood, leading to a bag. He looks at the scarf tightened around the handle and notices the splatter of blood soaking into it, as if taking away the evidence of the incident. However, nothing could take away what had just happened…nothing could make it disappear. He feels his body wretch forward as if it was trying to take the memory out of his thoughts but the failure to do so cause him to walk away from the incident.

In his 70 years nothing could prepare him to take in what he had seen and as he sits back down on the bench, he closes his eyes. But all that does is invoke the image of the girl lying in her own blood…dying.

Chapter Two- Unexplained

The old man opens his eyes slowly, hoping that he wouldn’t see the girl lying on the floor but the footsteps running past him makes him think otherwise. He watches as the young woman with the green apron runs into the shop, hysterically crying.

Mike? Mike how did you-

I don’t know Clive…I just…stopped…

Mike stares at the red substance that covers the concrete ground, revealing the extent of the accident. He feels his body shudder as he stares at the girl and then back at his hands.

Clive looks at the old man on the bench and walks over to him.

Are you okay? asks Clive as he touches the man on the shoulder.

The old man remains still, staring at the rail tracks and Clive notices the worry in his eyes. He leaves the man alone and decides to walk back to Mike. He looks towards the shop and hears the girl shrieking on the phone.

She just JUMPED! YES JUMPED! We need someone now!

Claire slams the phone down and feels her heart beating extremely fast. She takes in deep breaths as