All song lyrics are copyright to The Beatles. I take no credit for them.
This story is copyrighted by me. © Carolina Pistone
In My Life
Prologue
Jude's heavy breathing pounded in his ears, nearly overpowering the deep beating of his heart. He seemed to swiftly glide down the stairs. He was running to see her; he wanted to hold her, touch her. In his mind he held clear the image of her blonde hair glimmering in the soft light of the sun.
She was just one building away and he could not seem to force his legs to move any faster.
There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
Light drowned his senses for a moment as he burst out the doors. Sadie's voice rang out of the microphone. She had started to sing another song, but he was deaf to it.
He forced his way past the police line and began to dig through the crowd. He was so close.
A wave of cheers swam through the audience as if his push past the officers had been a push of rebellion. His hurry to hold Lucy was misinterpreted as a cry of revolution against "the man", against LBJ and Vietnam, against conformity. But it was really much more simple than all that.
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
He paused an instant once inside the building, as if realizing that this moment was real. He let that realization sweep though him, but only for a moment.
Before he could even mount the first step, a glimmer of gold caught his eye; golden locks stopped abruptly a floor above him and his eyes locked with Lucy's. The only sounds were the constant thumps of the lover's hearts, and suddenly Jude and Lucy were in one another's arms, lips locked in a tight embrace.
Time stood still as Jude softly kissed Lucy's lips, her eyelids, her neck. Sadie's voice faintly rang in from outside.
"Lucy, I'm sorry." But he did not need to say sorry, he knew that. And so did she. Because the past was irrelevant now.
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
As they walked out into the now scattered crowd, Jude refused to let go of Lucy's hand. Their smiles seemed as if they would never fade, and above them a small cry of approval rang out from Max.
The pair walked as if the previous months had never even taken place; but they were forever imprinted by them, their love stronger for it. Now each move, each step, each breath seemed light, dancing to the unmistakable touch of love.
Another cry rang out from Max and he leapt towards the pair, embracing both. "Damn it feels good to have things back to normal!"
Sadie and the others were just now exiting the building that had been host to their impromptu concert.
"Max, I can't believe you knew and didn't tell me." Lucy's reproach was playful.
"Yeah well, little sister, you can get me back for that later. Right now I gotta get back to driving that taxi around."
"What, you're leaving so soon?" Jude found himself surrounded by his old friends who were offering their congratulations on his return and his and Lucy's reconciliation.
"Yeah, well you love birds celebrate. I've got a date with my cab." Before anyone could complain, Max was halfway in his yellow car. "And don't wait up. I'll be late tonight!"
As he drove off, the others began to disperse as well.
Jude still held Lucy's hand firmly, his eyes locked on hers.
"What do you say Livvy boy if we go back to the apartment?"
Jude's eyebrow playfully met the end of his hairline. "And now just what are you suggesting?"
He was answered with a coy laugh and the two walked off together.
In the distance a young girl with a rugged pouch sat at a street corner selling homemade beaded necklaces, a small crowd gathering to consider her merchandise.
Cars sped either way, only overpowered by the masses. Soft music played out into the streets, laughter filled the air, and a group of youths ran around chanting a tale of love and freedom.
