One shot inspired by some chatter on GW.
Closure
She walked briskly through the park, her coat wrapped tightly around her to keep out the chilly air, her scarf and ash blonde hair blowing around her in the breeze. Her feet clicked on the concrete path as she approached the large oval pond. Her faithful companion trotting on ahead and sniffing around her, the Labrador stopped and looked back, waiting for her to follow, her black fur shining in the autumn light.
Leaves fell slowly from the trees, spinning and floating on their way down to join the multicoloured carpet at her feet, some landing on the still smooth surface of the pond and floating away. The mesmerising golds and reds and browns of the trees overhead turned the ground into a sea of colour. She had always loved autumn, that last flurry of colour before the white of winter.
Laughter from the other side of the pond reached her ears, she looked up to see a couple joking together, the man turned around. She gasped inwardly. It was him. She never thought she'd see him again, not since that day; their lives had taken them further and further apart since then, different times and different places. But there he was, in front of her, he looked relaxed and content. She couldn't remember the last time he had looked like that; he had blamed himself, the guilt eating him up inside until it had destroyed them.
She watched him walk hand in hand with the woman; she was younger than them and very attractive. She made her feel old all of a sudden, there was something familiar about her but she couldn't believe this young, beautiful woman had fallen for him. Surly and sarcastic and, well there were some positives, he was so very handsome with his puppy dog eyes and 'just got out of bed' look. His eyes were shining and he looked so young and alive. His salt and pepper hair ruffled and sticking up all over the place just like she remembered and his gaze never left the woman's face, not even for a second, he spun her around and she giggled embarrassedly, holding her rust coloured hat in place over her blonde hair. A ring glinted in the light as she removed her hand from her hat and wrapped her fingers around his, looking deep into his eyes.
The woman gasped and dropped her hand to her stomach, she noticed for the first time the swell of a bump, and sadness suddenly seized her heart. The woman was easily 20 weeks and was positively glowing. He looked so worried and held her as though she would break, the woman's face lit up and her beaming smile brought warmth to her face. She took his hand and placed it on her bump, guiding it around until she found the right spot.
His face was contorted with fear for a moment before realisation dawned on him, relaxing and breaking into a wide sappy grin, his eyes alight with love and affection. The couple seemed to forget the world as they stood there, so in love and looking like a scene from a romantic movie. She rubbed his hand gently with hers, their attention firmly directed at their unborn child.
After a few moments she lifted her hand to tuck her long hair behind her ear, he leaned forwards and kissed her tenderly. They broke apart, lost in each other; he smiled and said something to the bump before kissing it too. She blushed furiously and swatted him away. They started to walk again and moved from her line of sight.
Her dog nudged her and rubbed itself against her legs, she took a few steps forwards and looked up. She scratched her behind the ears and patted her back. She could finally relax, he was happy and loved, and that was all she had ever wanted for him. They continued on their walk, a true peaceful smile gracing her features for the first time in years.