Run the Tape Backwards

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Sarah Thomas

Run the Tape Backwards

I had just arrived home at about 1am, I had just finished work, and Joe had just walked me home. We had had a busy night at work and a lot of fun. After running round in the kitchens all night I was so tired I went straight to bed. Whilst laid in bed starting to drift off I began to think about Joe, and how much I loved him, until I finally dropped off to sleep, and became

 enveloped in my dream.

I was sitting in a room that I didn’t recognise. It was quite dark. There were no lights on and I couldn’t find the light switch, the only light visible was that of the television. I sat down on the nearest couch and stared at the T.V. All I could see was a snowy background. I heard the video player start up; it was making its usual buzzing noises as it ate whatever video was in the machine. The remote was lying on the floor next to my feet, and I was curious to know what video was in the machine. I pressed the ‘Play’ button. Nothing appeared on screen. I assumed that it must have reached the end of the tape so pressing the rewind button I sat and watched the tape it was of someone I couldn’t quite ‘make out’, running extremely quickly backward. My curiosity got the better off me so I pressed the ‘Play’ button.

 I could see myself sitting at a round table with balloons in the middle. I could see myself staring at something out of camera shot. I could see by the look on my face it was a boy, because I had a grin on my face, and I looked warm and friendly. My cheeks were flushed. As I stared at the screen and looked into my eyes they were bright and wide, sparkling like stars, I liked this boy. I didn’t quite recognise where I was so I rewound it further, but this time more slowly. I could see my friends dancing; I began to laugh because they looked like they where having so much fun. I finally realised where I was; it was my Mum’s birthday party. It had actually only happened a few weeks previously. As the tape went back further I recognised the boy that I was staring at. I pressed ‘Play’ on the remote. It was Joe, standing at the bar. I remember that he was getting us both a drink. Again I rewound the tape more this time going back a lot further, earlier into the day of my Mum’s birthday. I press the ‘Play’ button. Joe is sitting on the couch. He is in my house. I can see through the front window that I am standing outside, I am greeting four of my friends that have just arrived, Alex, Tiffany, Becky and Katy. I look back at Joe’s face. He has a look of anxiety on his face. This is the first time that all my friends have met my new boyfriend.

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I pause the tape for a while and sit and think, I can remember the way I felt that day, I was so happy. This is because I was with all the people I love with a lot of my family having come down for my Mum’s birthday. I was with my dearest friends, and of course my boyfriend. All I can see on the screen is Joe smiling through the window with that smile that makes me shiver, but on screen I don’t notice him smiling because I am busy greeting friends. I decide to carry on rewinding ...

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