Love Story
From Nov. 14, 2007:
She couldn’t believe she felt like this. Her mind had taken over her body and had driven her to the place that meant so much to her and so little to everyone else: the pier. The waves crashing sounded like him calling for her, and the smell of the ocean made her weep salt tears. The wind swept through her hair, like his hands had so tenderly done just days ago. She gripped the bench next to her, fearful that the lack of something to hold on to would cause her to fall – but wait, she had already fallen. Fallen into his arms, fallen into his love, fallen into a dream world…where she’d existed only for him.
She looked out, eyes swollen from hours of endless tears, into the ocean and remembered everything they’d shared and everything she already missed.
He’s gone, she thought with a silent sob. He’s all I had in this world and he’s gone.
She remembered the accident – the perfect evening cut short by the screech of metal on metal and the cry from her lips as the car ahead shot across the center line. Sometimes she could still smell the gasoline and the smoke pouring from the cars. But mostly, she remembered everything before that.
He had taken her out for her birthday that night. The Russian Ballet was her favorite thing in the world, but nobody knew that but him. When the performance had ended, he’d looked over at her with his beautiful green eyes and told her the thing she never got tired of hearing: I love you. I love you with every part of my heart. She’d turned to him and took his hand in hers. At that moment, not unlike many other moments before this one, she felt as though her life was complete. I’ve never been so happy in my entire life – every time I look at you, I’m breathless. Take me home now, my love; any more talk of hearts and I’ll forget we’re not alone in this opera house.
They’d gotten almost as far as the car when the rain had started coming down. She’d shrieked as he pulled her out from under the newspaper stand and kissed her – passionately, in the pouring rain. It was the kind of kiss movies were made of, she remembered with a sad smile. He’d leaned into her and whispered in her ear, marry me, my darling. Marry me and prove to me that heaven on earth exists. Marry me and I’ll live for you, die for you.
She felt the breath catch in her throat like it was happening all over again. She remembered the light in his eyes as she’d given him his answer: Yes, yes! She could barely feel her feet touching the ground. It was like the world had stopped turning – the city lights had given off a celestial glow, and the sidewalk suddenly had become sacred ground that only lovers could traverse.
When he’d kissed her again, it had meant to be a prelude of things to come that night, and every night after that one. She remembered the kiss, the anticipation for more of his touch. Anticipation, it seemed, was the purest form of pleasure…and the most reliable. She knew now that the things they’d never get a chance to share would be built up in that one last kiss.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a couple walked behind her as she looked out at the ocean. She tried not to stare, but realized in agony that she was already jealous of all the people in the world happier than she was. The pier had been their place to escape to – their paradise. They had both loved the ocean; loved the magic in it, the soul it seemed to carry with it in the tides. Her knuckles had turned white gripping the bench, almost as though it was the only thing holding her back from falling away into the night.
Now, with pain in her eyes, she remembered the day after the accident. Waking up in the hospital with his name on her lips, only to hear the deafening silence of family members avoiding the cold reality: He hadn’t made it through the night. She’d heard them say it but couldn’t believe it. Out of her mind, she’d ordered everyone out. Help! Baby, come help me. I know you can’t be gone. Come and take me away from all of this. Please help me! I can’t breath, what am I going to do without you? She’d panicked, nothing in her mind but his voice, his words…marry me. She’d cried and screamed out his name, there in the hospital room, until her voice became hoarse and her heart felt as though it could bleed tears.
Standing on the pier, she thought about the wasted life of the drunken driver that had hit them just days ago. It hurt, to think that he’d lived while her life had been cut into a thousand pieces. She closed her eyes as she pushed the driver out of her mind. She couldn’t think about that today. She knew why she’d been so driven to the pier. Her love wanted one last memory. He wanted her to remember the ballet, the rain, the kiss. She knew that’s why she was there. With a cry she slid to the ground, mindless of the few people around her, and fully aware of his voice in her head: I love you, my darling, with every part of my heart.
After what seemed like an eternity, she looked up, wiping away tears that certainly wouldn’t be the last, and went to go home. She glanced back at the rolling waves and blew a soft kiss to his memory. And with that came a sweet sadness – she knew she’d said her goodbye to him in that moment, but she also knew that the pain would always be there…
I love you always, my darling. With every part of my heart.
She couldn’t believe she felt like this. Her mind had taken over her body and had driven her to the place that meant so much to her and so little to everyone else: the pier. The waves crashing sounded like him calling for her, and the smell of the ocean made her weep salt tears. The wind swept through her hair, like his hands had so tenderly done just days ago. She gripped the bench next to her, fearful that the lack of something to hold on to would cause her to fall – but wait, she had already fallen. Fallen into his arms, fallen into his love, fallen into a dream world…where she’d existed only for him.
She looked out, eyes swollen from hours of endless tears, into the ocean and remembered everything they’d shared and everything she already missed.
He’s gone, she thought with a silent sob. He’s all I had in this world and he’s gone.
She remembered the accident – the perfect evening cut short by the screech of metal on metal and the cry from her lips as the car ahead shot across the center line. Sometimes she could still smell the gasoline and the smoke pouring from the cars. But mostly, she remembered everything before that.
He had taken her out for her birthday that night. The Russian Ballet was her favorite thing in the world, but nobody knew that but him. When the performance had ended, he’d looked over at her with his beautiful green eyes and told her the thing she never got tired of hearing: I love you. I love you with every part of my heart. She’d turned to him and took his hand in hers. At that moment, not unlike many other moments before this one, she felt as though her life was complete. I’ve never been so happy in my entire life – every time I look at you, I’m breathless. Take me home now, my love; any more talk of hearts and I’ll forget we’re not alone in this opera house.
They’d gotten almost as far as the car when the rain had started coming down. She’d shrieked as he pulled her out from under the newspaper stand and kissed her – passionately, in the pouring rain. It was the kind of kiss movies were made of, she remembered with a sad smile. He’d leaned into her and whispered in her ear, marry me, my darling. Marry me and prove to me that heaven on earth exists. Marry me and I’ll live for you, die for you.
She felt the breath catch in her throat like it was happening all over again. She remembered the light in his eyes as she’d given him his answer: Yes, yes! She could barely feel her feet touching the ground. It was like the world had stopped turning – the city lights had given off a celestial glow, and the sidewalk suddenly had become sacred ground that only lovers could traverse.
When he’d kissed her again, it had meant to be a prelude of things to come that night, and every night after that one. She remembered the kiss, the anticipation for more of his touch. Anticipation, it seemed, was the purest form of pleasure…and the most reliable. She knew now that the things they’d never get a chance to share would be built up in that one last kiss.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a couple walked behind her as she looked out at the ocean. She tried not to stare, but realized in agony that she was already jealous of all the people in the world happier than she was. The pier had been their place to escape to – their paradise. They had both loved the ocean; loved the magic in it, the soul it seemed to carry with it in the tides. Her knuckles had turned white gripping the bench, almost as though it was the only thing holding her back from falling away into the night.
Now, with pain in her eyes, she remembered the day after the accident. Waking up in the hospital with his name on her lips, only to hear the deafening silence of family members avoiding the cold reality: He hadn’t made it through the night. She’d heard them say it but couldn’t believe it. Out of her mind, she’d ordered everyone out. Help! Baby, come help me. I know you can’t be gone. Come and take me away from all of this. Please help me! I can’t breath, what am I going to do without you? She’d panicked, nothing in her mind but his voice, his words…marry me. She’d cried and screamed out his name, there in the hospital room, until her voice became hoarse and her heart felt as though it could bleed tears.
Standing on the pier, she thought about the wasted life of the drunken driver that had hit them just days ago. It hurt, to think that he’d lived while her life had been cut into a thousand pieces. She closed her eyes as she pushed the driver out of her mind. She couldn’t think about that today. She knew why she’d been so driven to the pier. Her love wanted one last memory. He wanted her to remember the ballet, the rain, the kiss. She knew that’s why she was there. With a cry she slid to the ground, mindless of the few people around her, and fully aware of his voice in her head: I love you, my darling, with every part of my heart.
After what seemed like an eternity, she looked up, wiping away tears that certainly wouldn’t be the last, and went to go home. She glanced back at the rolling waves and blew a soft kiss to his memory. And with that came a sweet sadness – she knew she’d said her goodbye to him in that moment, but she also knew that the pain would always be there…
I love you always, my darling. With every part of my heart.
Leave a Comment
