Weekly Expressions BK

Embracing

He twirled the black umbrella above his head and peaked out from underneath it. The small grey clouds threatened rain and he truly hoped they would wait just a little while longer. His breath grew short and his hands were shaking. He kept one hand in his pocket and tried to control his nervousness. Today marked ten years. It had been ten very long and trying years. Would she be here? He looked towards the sea and recalled their fond memories together during that summer they fell in love. Unfortunately for them both, they lived on separate sides of the country. He lived farther from this beach than she did but he still wondered if she would show up. They promised each other to return in ten years. Had she gotten married? He did not know a single girl to be their age and not married by now. Or any men for that matter. Yet here he was, standing on a pier waiting for a girl who had most likely forgotten all about him. He was a lonely and love-sick man. He had yet to find a wife. Perhaps it was because deep down in his heart, no matter how many pretty girls he met, he was still in love with her. Her name was Mabel and she was beautiful, inside and out. He took his hand out from his pocket and flattened his vest and pants. He ran his hand through his wavy brown hair and glanced at the watch on his wrist. He had been waiting on this pier for three hours and with no sign of her. Had he missed her? What if she had come but neither of them recognized the other? That thought shot a wave of panic into his chest. He did not want to have waited ten years only to not recognize her. Yes, he had dreamt about her. He had never forgotten her. How could a man forget a woman who stole his heart? He stared at the faces of every woman who passed him. There were too many questions and variables running through his mind. Would she be alone? What would she look like? What was she wearing? Had she been waiting for this moment for ten years too? What would he do if she never showed up? Would he then move on yet always carry regret for ever believing their childhood romance could ever conjure up a deep and real love? Would the last ten years waiting for this moment have been wasted if she did not show up? How would he be able to move on knowing he had wasted so much time on a hopeless fairytale? What would his life be like if he had forgotten about her and just moved on? Would he be married? Have children?

He shook his head as he replaced his fedora back on his head. He had to stop that sort of thinking now. That would only ruin the rest of his life. He took a deep breath and inhaled the salty sea air. He would not stop believing in a small hope. Sure, he was giving up on ever seeing Mabel again but perhaps that was just a fling of his youth, something he finally now needed to let go of. He did not want to let go of her but he had to. Put plainly, she had not shown up. Therefore, he needed to move on. His heart would be broken for now but it would heal. It always did. He nodded at his decision, took one last deep breath and turned around to begin the long walk back to the hotel.

But the sight before him stopped him in his tracks. She stood not ten feet away. Her brown hair was up in a bun, just as it had been all those years ago. Her cream colored dress with green and red squares and a yellow trim swayed in the breeze. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd before they met his.

There they were, standing so close but even after the amount of time that had passed, this gap felt like it was too far. Amazement and disbelief in his face echoed in hers. She took a couple steps forward and he forced his legs to match her steps. They were now an arm’s length away. Her beauty took his breath away. He held out his hand and held his breath. For this moment, nothing else was happening. It was just her and him. Her red lips cracked into a smile as her small hand reached for his. She paused for only a second before placing her hand in his. He closed his fingers over hers. Her hand was small and soft. It fit as perfect as a puzzle piece in his own hand. He pulled her towards him gently. But she did not need much urging. She closed the gap between the two of them and wrapped her arms around him. She turned her head towards the sea and laid it on his chest. He rested his head onto the back of her neck and closed his eyes. Her perfume was a sweet yet romantic aroma.

He could not believe what was happening. Ten years worth of dreaming and he was finally here, holding the love of his life in his arms. He did not want to let go. He did not want to take the chance of losing her again. He vowed in his heart right there and then that he would never let go. Yes, physically, this embrace would indeed end. But he would never let his heart let go of her love. He did not need her to speak words to tell him she loved him. Her actions today and this very moment proved it. She had spent these past ten years the same as he had. Waiting and dreaming of the day they would reunite.