The Time Is Now
You're my last breath
You're a breath of fresh air to me
I am empty, so tell me you'll care for me
You're the first thing and the last thing on my mind
Tempted by fate and I won't hesitate
The time is now and I can't blame it
I been in it too long, the time is now
And the time has gone
"Where are you off to?" Kelly eyed her daughter suspiciously from the couch as Pamela came running down the stairs all dressed up.
"The Walshes." Pamela exhaled, heading over to the table to sift through her handbag.
"Oh..." Kelly teased, smiling at her daughter with curiosity. "What's happening there?"
"I'm going to figure things out with Tommy once and for all." Pamela said bluntly.
"What about James?" Kelly asked
"It was kinda his idea." Pamela explained
"Hmm..." Kelly seemed surprised. She turned her attention from her daughter back onto the TV. Pamela grabbed her handbag and flung the strap over her shoulder before coming to join her mother on the couch.
"What about you?" Pamela asked determinedly. "Know what you're gonna do yet?"
Kelly sighed as she breathed out, "No."
"Mum, come on." Pamela shook her head, "Why are you hesitating? We both know how you feel."
Kelly crinkled her forehead, "It's not that simple."
Pamela gave her mother a look, challenging her statement before groaning, "It never is."
"Are you mocking me?" Kelly questioned her daughter in a light-hearted tone. And Pamela nodded fiercely. "Okay, fine." Kelly finally conceded. "What would you do?"
Pamela's lips curled into a smile. "It's not a question of what I would do. It's what wouldn't I do... for the right guy."
Kelly laughed. "Oh and knowing who's the right guy is that easy, is it?"
"Mother... " Pamela held up her hand, and Kelly knew her daughter was about to sass her. "You have made a lot of excuses but... none of them were ever about him being the wrong guy."
Charles Baudelaire once said, 'Remembering is only a new form of suffering.'
It's true, ignorance is most certainly bliss for some.
I for one couldn't rest, however. My mind would not allow me to forget
I remember too much, I remember too deeply.
For that, I pay the never-ending price of wishing I could turn back time before the petals open
The Spring is colorful, the rosebuds bloom, and second chances are upon us
It's the only time I am glad to remember what Summer will feel like when it comes
If you wait too long, Winter comes around before you know it and, for your rosebuds, you'll have to wait
By then, someone's picked apart the petals, and the red color starts to fade
And you're left hoping for another chance, but Spring will come back around one day and, if you're lucky, you'll see red all over again.
After Dylan had found and read his first published poem, Rosebud, he placed the copy back in his drawer. He smiled to himself because, while he wrote that poem when he felt devoid of hope, there clearly was something optimistic inside him still. He may have had a tough childhood, but he had a good adulthood, and now he finally gets to say his Rosebud poem has come full circle.
Well, if she shows up, he thought.
"What's going on?" James asked, surprising Dylan who was still at his desk.
"Ah... nothing." Dylan sighed, pushing the drawer closed.
James studied his father and the drawer the poem was just put away in. "...You still gonna go through with it?"
Dylan looked up from his chair at his son who stood before him. "...Yeah." Dylan said with nonchalance. James pursed his lips. "...You told me to be honest with you."
"I know." James paused as he rubbed his forehead. "I just... Didn't think it would be that quick."
Dylan's eyes revealed his longing. "It's not quick for me..."
Thomas opened the door to a cheery Pamela exclaiming "Hey!" He quickly joined her outside and closed the door behind him.
"Pam, what are you doing here?" He seemed uncomfortable
"I uh." Pamela shot him a coy smile. "I came to ask if you wanted to be my date to my dad's wedding."
"Oh."
"Oh?" Pamela scoffed with a chuckle.
"I uh I thought you were going with James."
"Nope." She beamed.
"But I've seen you coming in and out of his house."
"We're friends. That's all." She assured. ""He thinks - we both think actually that... I should ask you."
Thomas remained silent.
"So?" Pamela prodded, impatiently
"I'm sorry, now's not a good time." Thomas said dismissively
"What do you mean?" She asked
"I can't talk now. I gotta go." Thomas sighed. "Sorry." He uttered as he headed in and closed the door before Pamela could protest.
"I can't believe this is happening after all these years!" Donna shook her head as all the girls in the family sat down to eat at the Peach Pit.
"I can't believe she's hesitating." Pamela chuckled
"I can't believe I'm the last to know everything as usual!" Erin scoffed before turning to Donna.
"You were away in college." Donna sighed
"Well, she was away somewhere." Kelly taunted
"Look, the bottom line is she needs to make a decision!" Pamela insisted
"Honestly, aunt Kelly." Delilah sighed, "You've only got 2 more days."
"Can you guys all stop pressuring me?!" Kelly huffed. "This isn't exactly the easiest decision!"
"That's bull." Erin groaned, and Kelly turned to face her.
"Excuse me?" Kelly folded her arms and glared at her little sister
"This is one of the easiest decisions in a person's life." Erin sighed. "You're just scared to do it."
On the day of Steve's wedding, groomsman Brandon and his son had already arrived early at the BelAge hotel ballroom where the wedding will be held, along with Brenda and James to help Steve prepare for the big day.
Soon after the best man, David, arrived with his son.
"Is everything alright?" Steve asked
"Yes, relax." David assured. "Donna and Kelly are getting the flowers; they'll be here soon. Donna said she just spoke to Janet, her and her parents are getting ready in the suite upstairs."
"Okay good." Steve chuckled with nervous excitement.
Once the wedding planner called the 3 men over to rehearse their positions at the alter, James and Thomas took a seat at one of the dining tables.
"Pam asked me to be her date." Thomas blurted out when they were alone.
James turned to face him. "...You didn't say yes." He acknowledged
"She came when I was in the middle of... everything - you know."
"But she doesn't know..." James sighed
Thomas huffed
"Look." James said sternly, "I'm not exactly jumping for joy at this but you really like her. And if you really want to give this a chance, you better tell her soon. She's not going to wait around."
"What about us?" Thomas asked
"We're... brothers."
The boys bumped fists just as Pamela and Delilah walked into the ballroom. Pamela glanced at them from the corner of her eye before following Delilah over to her dad.
As the guests arrived, Pamela rushed over to Erin who was eyeing the name cards on the table.
"Where's my mother?" Pamela urged
"I don't know." Erin shrugged. "Her and Donna aren't here yet?"
"No." Pamela huffed, "Did she say what she was gonna do?"
"No... but," Erin sighed, "I saw Dylan outside."
"You did?"
"Yep. He was heading up to the roof. Had a bouquet of roses."
"What time is it?" Pamela asked and Erin looked at her watch.
"11:55."
"She's not gonna go..." Pamela realized
"How'd you know?"
"She'd be here by now." Pamela pursed her lips.
"Well..." Erin sighed. "Maybe it's for the best. I mean, you know your mother. Avoid, avoid, avoid."
"We're so late!" Donna grabbed the flowers and her handbag. "Kelly, come on! It's almost 12, Steve will be pissed!"
"What did you say?" Kelly came rushing over, "Did you say it's almost 12?"
"Yeah."
"Oh my god." Kelly gasped
"What?"
"Dylan!"
The women ran over to Donna's car and threw everything into the backseat.
"Great!" Donna groaned. "Just what we need... traffic!"
"Oh my god." Kelly rambled on to herself, "What was I thinking? Erin was right. Of course this is the easiest decision. I have to get there. I can't be late! If I'm not there, he'll think I don't care."
"So... what are you saying? You're gonna give this a go?" Donna asked as Kelly began to panic.
"Donna, drive!"
Dylan arrived at the rooftop with the above ground pool. He stood there, looking over at the view from the sky, roses in hand and smiling to himself.
Pamela stood there, ruminating on Dylan's gesture with both enthrallment and sympathy. As she was lost in thought, Thomas approached her.
Dylan glanced at his watch: 12.05.
He let out a heavy breath as he realizes she's not coming.
He headed over to one of the sun loungers and sat down for a moment. He then rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, trying not to cry.
Overcome with emotion, disappointment, and defeat, he throws the flowers into the pool.
Before he headed downstairs, he took one last glance at the pool and the floating roses.
You may find yourself out on a limb for me
Could you accept it as a part of your destiny?
I give all I have but it's not enough
And my patience's all shot so I'm calling your bluff
Please make the waiting stop
Let's make this moment last