HEALING HEARTS
Betty sighed as she walked slowly through the park, kicking up snow as she went. She loved this time of year and tried to get away at lunch as often as possible to soak up the excitement and Christmas spirit of the children at play. But today nothing could lift her mood. Memories of Gio kept clouding her head and Betty knew that if she didn't keep them at bay she would never make it through the day. A few more hours was all she needed.
"Whoa there B!"Betty thought she was having one of her fantasies when she heard his voice and was pulled roughly into muscular arms to avoid the wayward frisbee. But when she collided with a solid chest and their tangled legs knocked them to the ground, she knew it was nodream. Looking into the smiling brown eyes she had missed so much, Betty gave a joyous laugh.
"My Gio, oh Gio, you came back to me!"Then covered his mouth with her own in a sweet lingering kiss.
"Well that was an unexpected pleasure, but I'm not your Gio."
"Oh please Gio, don't do this to us! I know I broke your heart and I am so... so sorry. I realised too late how much I l..loved you," Betty's voice broke on a sob, "when your Deli caught fire the day after you came to my apartment and they found the b..body..."Betty's head was pushed roughly into his neck and his other arm held her close as her body shook with grief.
When she had quieted down, he handed her a hanky and said in a hollow voice, "I'm sorry, but I meant I am not Gio, my name is Jesse...Jesse Rodriguez"
Feeling the snow seeping into his jacket he gently rolled her off him and then helped her to her feet and lead her to a bench. Jesse took of his beanie and ran his fingers through his growing hair and wished his Marissa still loved him as this grief stricken girl obviously loved her Gio.
Her eye's glued to his face Betty noticed little differences. This Jesse had a scar near his eye which she had somehow missed before, and his eyes held some deep-seated pain of his own.
Remembering the kiss, Betty blushed, "I'm sorry for throwing myself at you. You just look...you could be twins!"Betty showed Jesse the picture she had on her phone of her and Gio taken the summer before when he was teaching her baseball. Betty smiled when she remembered that idylic afternoon, and chuckled when she saw how taken aback Jesse was.
"When? I mean when did it happen?"
"Eight months ago today. I miss him so much, he was my best friend, "Betty sighed, and then a thought came to her. "Hey! Why did you call me B!?"Jesse smiled gently and lifted her necklace."Oh, thats what Gio used to call me. By the way my name is Betty...Betty Suarez!"
Jesse took her hand, "Nice to meet you Betty."Sitting at a bench, with her hand still held in his for comfort. Betty told him all about Gio and how she broke his heart. Jesse, recognising the similarities in their stories, told Betty all about Marissa and how he was the one left in the end broken hearted when she had moved on.
With a promise to meet for lunch at their bench the next day, Betty walked back to the Mode building and realised her heart felt lighter than it had in months.A few weeks later when Jesse confided in Betty about his experience at war neither realised hearts were being healed with St Gio's love.