Once upon a time…
Lived a man and a woman who found themselves in the City of Love...
"Putting their lives in each others hands, every day."
"Not to mention the long nights."
Each had gone there with a mission; neither expecting the hand fate would play. He fell for her like he hadn't in a long time; and little did she know what she was doing for his broken heart. She had fallen for him too; perhaps unaware of how deep the longing in her heart was taking her. They shared the most intimate connection two people could; and slowly but surely fell in love.
"What are you thinking about Jethro?"
"Paris."
He slept better than he had in years when he held her in his arms. She'd lay awake and wonder how she could ever let him go. The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. He hoped it was more than a whirl wind romance; and she knew that's all it ever would be.
"He let you go didn't he?"
"No, he didn't. He didn't fit into my five point plan…"
He watched her slipping further away; and was never one to chase. Except for her. He listened to her logic; but was never one to reason. Except with her. He realized that nothing he could say; would say or never said would change her mind. And she let him go.
But fate dealt another hand to this man and woman. Brought together by circumstance and both had to wonder if this was there second chance. Right man, right time. He was wrong.
"There won't be any off the job…"
"That's too bad. I missed you Jen."
They worked side by side as colleagues; reminiscing memories in a humorous light; him never knowing how much she wished he was hers again. He married and divorced three times in search of what she'd given him; but never found it. Vain hopes of friendship turning into some thing more was what she held onto; until she heard her time would soon be cut short. She tried putting into words all she'd ever felt; but never got past…
"Dear Jethro…"
He hung up the phone after hearing the news of her death and broke the nearest object he could find. He arrived to find her blood stains mirroring his pain. He wanted revenge; he needed it. He needed to place the blame on someone other than himself.
"Jenny died protecting someone…"
"Who?"
"You."
He wanted to see her one last time. But not like that. He zipped the black bag closed and left. He spent what little free time he had remembering when he loved her and she loved him…remembering Paris…and imagining his arms wrapped around her as he slept.
"She cared for you…she had a lot of regrets."
"Yeah, we all do."
If only this. If only that. If only he'd been the sixth point in her plan. If only he hadn't been so broken that she couldn't fix him. If only they'd given in to how they truly felt. If they had; there'd be no painful regrets; no tearful goodbyes; no aching memories.
Once upon a time…lived a man and a woman who found themselves in the City of Love…
With no happily ever after.