Unquenched Read online

  UNQUENCHED

  _____________

  Jorie Dakelle

  Copyright © 2012 by Jorie Dakelle

  All Rights Reserved.

  Published by: [email protected]

  Cover Design by Miloš Ristović

  Unquenched is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents

  either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used

  fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

  events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  ********

  Working in media, both old and new, has allowed me to be part of history, a growing and ever changing world. Change is what moves me, inspires me, scares me; it’s a part of life I depend on.

  Photography, my hobby, has given me the luxury of looking at life through many different lenses. Through this I have learned, have created, examined; it shows me that there is more to life than what lies on the surface.

  Having lived and traveled around the world, I cherish what I have experienced. It has taught me to go beneath the surface to experience the deeper meaning. Because of this awareness, I treasure every journey I have taken.

  My thirst for knowledge and lust for languages has given me insight to cultures I never thought possible. The arduous task of learning native tongues is something I will never regret.

  Outdoor adventure is just something that is in my blood; it’s the fire beneath my soul. It’s the determination and test of endurance; it’s the team spirit and adrenaline that helps me through that last step.

  And then there is writing. The culmination of all my energies. The biggest part of me, yet one that only surfaces when I feel there is something to tell. And when there is, I draw from my ventures, my wanderlust, and my burning urge to release. And I know, silently, that because of what my eyes have seen, because of what my ears have heard, but also because of the things they haven’t, my mind has the need to conjure up a story. A story that takes us on a mental journey, in order to satiate the curiosity, and longing for adventure, that people will always have. And because I know that I can produce a story, I feel a rush of adrenaline. So as my fingers complete each page, I smile to myself with the hope that someone, somewhere, will read it and I can help them encounter feelings they never knew they had.

  UNQUENCHED is unique in the intimate style that it is written and therefore readers will feel that the story is about them. It sates their hunger for the new and exciting in a way that people only dream about. It is a refreshingly short, fast-paced novel about people today in the ‘00’s. It is a complicated story that is simply written as if it were a story being told to you by a friend. Unquenched, while it is suspenseful, intriguing, romantic, and introspective, takes you on a trip to a place that most have not been. The story unfolds in Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia, and then finds its way to New York. As both places are of great interest to people all over the world, the exciting locations of this story and the visuals they conjure up, only add to its appeal.

  As the beginning of the story progressively picks up, it will shock readers in the end as it reaches a climactic ending.

  I grew up in the suburbs of New York and live in Manhattan with my 8 year old son. Over the years, I have written several published articles for newspapers, magazines and websites. I have also had my photography exhibited in various places including galleries in Soho, NY.

  This is my debut book however my story has waited 18 years to be shared. With self-publishing, I have finally been able to bring my story to life. If you are reading this, thank you!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ********

  To my mother, Sandy, who endlessly supports my reality and dreams and is

  the best mother and friend a girl could want.

  To my father, Marvin,

  who helped inspire my dreams and made me understand

  early on, that there are no boundaries.

  To Joel, my uncle, my friend, who has been consistently present

  and has played an active role in helping me achieve my dreams.

  To my son, Jaden,

  who is my dream, and my reminder, every day,

  that I don’t just have dreams, I live them.

  Thank you for making me laugh in that special way that only you can do

  and for sharing your dreams with me. I love you!

  To my sister Cheri and lifetime friends; A, H, J, K, N and R who have

  listened, and shared, step by step.

  Thank you all for the unique ways that you add to my life – I am very lucky!

  PREFACE

  ********

  As I glance at my watch the time is 7:30 p.m. In Europe the time is six hours ahead. For him it is late and he is probably sleeping.

  It seems like hours that I have been staring at the Macintosh, mesmerized by the logo I entered five months ago. The screen in front of me reads "Unquenched". The word alone is enchanting.

  Not a day has gone by that has altered what transpired, on December 8, 1992. In some ways I wish it had, it would be easier. The feelings that dictate me now would not exist. But I am afraid to let go, in fear. In fear that I will never feel this way again and of the certainty that I will never be content feeling anything less. It is clear to me now, that the emotion I have always dreamt of is utterly and thoroughly attainable.

  After months of internalizing and digesting these feelings, I have a real need to release them. I need a channel that will allow me to exercise all these encompassing thoughts. Two weeks ago I began reading a book, a best-seller that deeply touched me. One night later I finished the book and I knew what I had to do. I have never in my life written anything that was published, except an article in my college newspaper. I have nevertheless, always thought of myself as a writer. It was just a matter of timing and the time has now come. A passion has erupted inside of me, leaving me no choice but to share my story. It is a story of dreams, emotions and experiences. By sharing it, I hope to set myself free.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ********

  We had been traveling together for almost two weeks and I was content with our closeness and compatibility. If I had only known then what I was about to experience, the beginning of our trip would have felt different. I can see the truth now, although I realized it all along, I just never had the courage to admit it. There was something missing. In a word, passion. I wanted it to work, I really did. But I know now, wanting it wasn't enough. I had to feel it...

  Jordan was wonderful in every sense of the word. He had a masculine face with a sweet boyish grin, and light hair that contrasted mine. The qualities he possessed were what every girl dreamed of. He was what I had always dreamt about. I thought I had found the man I was going to spend my life with on the day that I first met him.

  Only nine months before, on a Sunday in March, I met him on the east side of Manhattan. I had been waiting in a restaurant to meet some friends and I stood by the bar as I waited. Although it was winter, the day was glorious making it feel more like spring. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and the light took the chill out of the air. I leaned on a stool and waited patiently as I noticed four handsome guys come in. At first they appeared to be walking rather strangely but then I noticed their roller blades.

  "Hello," the guy with the light hair said to me. "Can we please be seated by the window?" he asked.

  Smiling, I responded, "I don't mind if you sit by the window, but you might want to ask the hostess."

  I laughed a little at my own sarcastic tone but it was clear that I had been flirting.

  "I guess that means that you don't work here," he replied, with a friendly but embarrassed smile.

  "Well, today is actually my only day
off,” I added, letting him know that I was still kidding.

  I wasn't sure why but I enjoyed his presence and I hoped the conversation would continue.

  "Well, these seats seem to be available,” he said to his friends, pointing to the stools at the bar.

  I returned a smile as I admired his determination and his obvious self-assurance.

  "So, do you always come to restaurants wearing your skates, or is it strictly a Sunday event?" I asked, encouraging the conversation playfully.

  "Probably as often as you stand by the bar pretending that you are meeting your friends," he answered, quickly, with a smile that conveyed an overwhelming sense of victory.

  We both laughed with ease and continued to converse as our interest in each other had become blatant. Just when you least expect it, I thought. A good-looking guy with a sense of humor who appeared to be in his thirties. A rush of adrenaline ran through my body as I realized that I wanted to know him better. Our banter persisted as our exchange was fluid and when my friends finally arrived, we all shared a cheerful afternoon together.

  "By the way," he said to me. “My name is Jordan."

  And when the phone in my apartment rang that night, I hoped it was the beginning of something special.

  It had been an unexpected day filled with jokes and laughter and it completed what had already been a good weekend. The night before, I had received a call, from one of the leading toy companies, FUN. It had been from their newest, expanding division, and what they called, Global FUN. They had offered me the job. It was what I had been waiting for and was ecstatic that it had actually come through. I had accepted immediately over the phone and was feeling extraordinarily good. Ironically enough, I had been working for the company, at the time, for six and a half years. But to me, the call had been the opportunity of a lifetime. I wasn't even leaving the company itself but I was thrilled to explore the international side. It was the only growing area of the entire company and definitely the cutting edge. I had to admit, I felt proud and lucky to be part of that select new team. I had been working on the domestic side which had become incredibly routine. This was my chance to run my own show and grow the FUN brand around the world. It was my chance to develop, strategize and build something entirely from scratch. My energy was boundless and I could barely wait to get started. There were so many challenges coming my way, and I was nervous, but I was also motivated by fear. Yet it was more than my pending role at FUN or the opportunity that awaited me; my surroundings were about to change. There was my apartment uptown and comfortable office on Fifth Avenue and 53rd St. But none of these things were really changing; it was me who was leaving it behind. And I knew that Manhattan would be there when I returned, I just wondered if it would feel different. Global FUN was about to be launched and Asia would temporarily be my home. The job would require me to live in Singapore, probably for a couple of months. But I didn't have to leave until the beginning of fall so there was plenty of time to explore Jordan.

  But time passed quickly, September arrived, and my new job required me to leave. Jordan and I were still together but there were so many unanswered questions. The level of passion I had hoped to feel never fulfilled my dreams. On an everyday basis we were more than compatible but my heart was somewhat unsettled. I was unsure. He knew I was unsure, but he was more certain and determined to give it his all. I felt his hunger, his will, his urge, and thought maybe my doubts were unfounded. Maybe the future would hold something different. But I had always expected to share intensity and anything short of that felt wrong. And more than that, the feeling of certainty was something I yearned for as well. I didn't want to guess. I didn't want to wonder. And I didn't want to make it happen. I wanted it to be so blatantly clear that the decision did not have to be made. Yet I cared for him and enjoyed his presence and hoped that with him it was just different. I thought to myself, just give it time, don't think too much and your feelings for him will grow.

  We opened our souls and talked it through before we agreed he should visit. I planned to be away for approximately three months and then he would join me in Singapore. We decided to give it one last chance and would explore our feelings when he came. But Singapore was a long way from home. It wasn't just a trip for the day. So we committed to taking a two week vacation upon his arrival in Asia. But I was concerned. My concern was for him. I didn't have faith I'd have a change of heart and the last thing I wanted was to hurt him. But he was a fighter. And he wanted it to work. Somehow being with him made me want it to work too. So he came to me, with open arms, and I respected his commitment to try.

  For the first time since we began our travels, we joined an organized activity. It had been two full weeks on our own together and I looked forward to meeting other people. The sun was shining and the weather was warm, another beautiful day on Bali. Jordan had wanted to go scuba diving on a small island situated off of Bali. The island was called Menjangan. The diving there was supposed to be spectacular, an opportunity he did not want to miss. I was a little nervous at the thought of diving, so I decided to keep him company and just snorkel.

  The pick-up van arrived at 8 a.m. We were running a little late, and when we went out to the van, we were surprised to find that it was empty. So, we got in the van and waited there patiently. About fifteen minutes later, the driver, who we later learned was the dive master, arrived with four other males and got in. They all appeared to be somewhere in their twenties, or definitely close to our age. It never even dawned on me that I might be the only female, but I knew it would be fun and didn't think more of it.

  They were all foreign, as were we, and some of them were European. One guy was from Switzerland, one was from Germany, and the other two were actually Australian. We all began talking as the van headed toward Menjangan. It was easy conversation as everyone spoke English, and I could tell the hour's drive was going to be fun. There was playful banter among us, and already a sort of camaraderie, as we were all on foreign turf exploring territory that was new. Only the Australians were traveling together, but the commonality of diving provided us with a shared interest and a day we would all remember.

  The pick-up van held long seats across, one behind the other in back of the driver. I was on the far right, Jordan to my left and Tristan was sitting next to him. Behind me was John, Tomas to his left and Greg to the left of him. As the conversation progressed, I felt Jordan place his hand on my leg. I somehow sensed that he needed to declare me as his and wanted everyone around us to know. He could read me well as he had sensed what I was feeling, probably before I even knew it myself.

  But before long, I realized it too. There was no doubt. Only minutes had gone by and I suddenly felt energized. But it was more than that. I felt exhilarated. My laughter alone was a clear indication of my elatedness. It was a sudden high that I did not understand. I could not conceive of its origin or its ability to penetrate me so quickly. But there was chemistry. That much I knew. A chemistry that is born of two people, but magic that one only dreams about. It was almost surreal but the true intensity of it made me know I wasn't dreaming. Tristan. Even his name was alluring.

  The drive exposed us to beautiful and unique scenery, the vegetation was indigenous of Indonesia. My memory does not serve me with details of the drive, as my clearest thoughts were of Tristan’s eyes and their candid stares into mine.

  My giddiness must have been apparent, at least to Jordan, whose hand had begun massaging my leg. I knew he was confirming his existence to me, without even realizing he was doing it. I felt for him, I really did. And yet, I never felt so strapped in my entire life. I was more alive than I had been in two weeks, and in reality, more than I had ever been with Jordan. I had gotten so accustomed to our lack of laughter, that I actually stopped noticing when it was missing. It wasn't until then, that the spark in me had been ignited and I consciously became aware of my apathy.

  I felt my heart stop as Tristan spoke. It wasn't anything he said or the way that he looked. But just listening to him,
I could feel him. Somehow his words were paralyzing. I found him addicting. His eyes never swayed away from mine as if he could see right through me. I feared that he could see deep into my mind, exposing my thoughts which were all suddenly of him. The irony was, I knew that he could. That was one of the things that drew me to him. His style was intimate. He was direct. Both with his words and his eyes. And his smile, which had an undeniable power, one I found hard to resist. It was infectious. He knew how to laugh and make me laugh and share himself with me. In five minutes I felt as if I had known him a lifetime. I felt as if he knew me. I couldn't comprehend it, but somehow I knew that he did.

  As the van brought us closer to the breathtaking sea, the glistening clear turquoise came into sight.

  As we all exchanged information about ourselves, I turned to Tristan with confidence and said, "And you're from England, right?"

  I wasn't even sure why I had asked that question after everyone had just stated where they were all from.

  He laughed and questioned with a smirk on his face, "England? I'm from Germany, can't you tell?"

  Having had done some extensive foreign travel, it was ironic, but somehow, I couldn't. He sounded very British to me. His accent alone compounded by his vocabulary and the fluid way in which he spoke, made him sound so British and also very intelligent. I became intrigued with this man wanting to know why he could speak English so well and suddenly wanting to know everything else about him.

  His golden hair and gray blue eyes were not the highlight of his features. His characteristics were nice, but to me, dark features exuded strength. Light hair usually meant a softer look and dark was what I considered sexy. Men were not supposed to be pretty or cute. I preferred an outdoorsy look, maybe even a little worn. But despite his light shading he possessed that look. One that signified experience. It wasn't his hair or the color of his eyes. It came from his intensity. His chiseled face, his rugged stance, and confidence, that together, conveyed an undeniable sense of masculinity.