Author's Note: I changed the tune for this chapter… literally… the song quoted at the end is "For a Moment of Forever" written by Kris Kristofferson, though I'm partial to KT Oslin's version myself.
When She Cries
Chapter 5 - Saying Goodbye
Feeling sick and wishing that he were anywhere else, Gil walked slowly into Lady Heather's mansion. He was drawn to the living room by the sound of an old record playing slow, romantic violin music. The furniture was pushed against the walls, leaving a large empty space.
Lady Heather stood with her back to him, adjusting the cover on the victrola that stood in the corner of the room. She turned as he came in. On this day, she was wearing a sleeveless crimson velvet ball gown, the bodice of which was laced up like a corset. Her arms were partially covered by black satin gloves that came past her elbows. Around her neck glimmered a short silver chain that held a teardrop-shaped pendant of black onyx. She looked like a queen.
"I got a little dressed up today," she said. "I knew you wouldn't mind. You appreciate beautiful things, don't you?"
Gil felt his resistance being chipped away. "I do," he responded. Lady Heather had guessed that about him when they first met, and she had not forgotten it.
She did not give him the chance to say any more. "Dance with me," she demanded, taking his hand.
It had been so long since Gil had danced. He let her lead him, gently swaying with the music, their hands clasped together. He wanted it to last forever, but he knew it could not. He knew the song had to end.
Slowly, Lady Heather removed her hands from his and wrapped them around the back of his neck. Before he realized what he was doing, he let his arms fold around her. He knew what was to come, and he knew he should stop her, but he wanted it so much.
He let her kiss him. It was the sort of kiss that should only bring passion and joy, but to Gil it brought sorrow, as he knew that it was to be the only one.
She pulled away as the record stopped. She went to the victrola and began removing the record. "Now," he told himself. "You need to do it now, or you may never be able to."
"Heather…"
She turned to look at him. When their eyes met, he lost himself. There was something in her eyes that made him forget every word that he had planned to say. It did not matter. She saw through him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I was too bold. Please forgive me."
"It's not…" he reached out a hand, but he changed his mind and brought it back. It was easier if he did not touch her. "It's not your fault. I care for you more than I've ever cared for anyone, but I can't be with you."
For the first time, Lady Heather looked completely speechless. The hurt was plain on her face, and Gil was sorry that he had been the one who caused it.
"You need to understand. I just can't do this right now. I can't be committed to you and my career at the same time. I'm sorry. It's just how I am."
"I understand," said Lady Heather, her eyes glistening with tears. "You're not to blame. You can't help it."
"I wish I could," he said. "Some people have trouble with one commitment. It amazes me how others can handle two and still give enough attention to each one. I wish I could have that ability."
Through her tears, Lady Heather forced a smile. "Maybe someday you will." She looked away from him. "I'm sorry if I was a burden," she said.
Gil placed his hands on her shoulders. "Heather, look at me." When he could look into her eyes again, he said, "You were never a burden. That day, when you were lying in my arms… that was the most incredible moment of my life."
"I'm glad," she said, "because it was the most incredible moment of my life as well."
After that, there was nothing more that needed to be said. Gil was sure that she was thinking the same thing he was; how wonderful it could have been. Maybe one day it would be. But not today.
"I should go," he said. She nodded understandingly.
Gil walked out of Lady Heather's mansion and into the cruel Nevada heat. Never before had he felt so alone.
---------------------
Was it wonderful for you?
Was it holy as it was for me?
Did you feel the hand of destiny
That was guiding us together?
You were young enough to dream
I was old enough to learn something new
I'm so glad I got to dance with you
For a moment of forever.
Sometimes when you're crying, you're happy
Sometimes you're just crying, I know, I know
Come whatever happens now
Ain't it nice to know that dreams still come true
I'm so glad that I was close to you
For a moment of forever.
---------------------
When She Cries
Chapter 5 - Saying Goodbye
Feeling sick and wishing that he were anywhere else, Gil walked slowly into Lady Heather's mansion. He was drawn to the living room by the sound of an old record playing slow, romantic violin music. The furniture was pushed against the walls, leaving a large empty space.
Lady Heather stood with her back to him, adjusting the cover on the victrola that stood in the corner of the room. She turned as he came in. On this day, she was wearing a sleeveless crimson velvet ball gown, the bodice of which was laced up like a corset. Her arms were partially covered by black satin gloves that came past her elbows. Around her neck glimmered a short silver chain that held a teardrop-shaped pendant of black onyx. She looked like a queen.
"I got a little dressed up today," she said. "I knew you wouldn't mind. You appreciate beautiful things, don't you?"
Gil felt his resistance being chipped away. "I do," he responded. Lady Heather had guessed that about him when they first met, and she had not forgotten it.
She did not give him the chance to say any more. "Dance with me," she demanded, taking his hand.
It had been so long since Gil had danced. He let her lead him, gently swaying with the music, their hands clasped together. He wanted it to last forever, but he knew it could not. He knew the song had to end.
Slowly, Lady Heather removed her hands from his and wrapped them around the back of his neck. Before he realized what he was doing, he let his arms fold around her. He knew what was to come, and he knew he should stop her, but he wanted it so much.
He let her kiss him. It was the sort of kiss that should only bring passion and joy, but to Gil it brought sorrow, as he knew that it was to be the only one.
She pulled away as the record stopped. She went to the victrola and began removing the record. "Now," he told himself. "You need to do it now, or you may never be able to."
"Heather…"
She turned to look at him. When their eyes met, he lost himself. There was something in her eyes that made him forget every word that he had planned to say. It did not matter. She saw through him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I was too bold. Please forgive me."
"It's not…" he reached out a hand, but he changed his mind and brought it back. It was easier if he did not touch her. "It's not your fault. I care for you more than I've ever cared for anyone, but I can't be with you."
For the first time, Lady Heather looked completely speechless. The hurt was plain on her face, and Gil was sorry that he had been the one who caused it.
"You need to understand. I just can't do this right now. I can't be committed to you and my career at the same time. I'm sorry. It's just how I am."
"I understand," said Lady Heather, her eyes glistening with tears. "You're not to blame. You can't help it."
"I wish I could," he said. "Some people have trouble with one commitment. It amazes me how others can handle two and still give enough attention to each one. I wish I could have that ability."
Through her tears, Lady Heather forced a smile. "Maybe someday you will." She looked away from him. "I'm sorry if I was a burden," she said.
Gil placed his hands on her shoulders. "Heather, look at me." When he could look into her eyes again, he said, "You were never a burden. That day, when you were lying in my arms… that was the most incredible moment of my life."
"I'm glad," she said, "because it was the most incredible moment of my life as well."
After that, there was nothing more that needed to be said. Gil was sure that she was thinking the same thing he was; how wonderful it could have been. Maybe one day it would be. But not today.
"I should go," he said. She nodded understandingly.
Gil walked out of Lady Heather's mansion and into the cruel Nevada heat. Never before had he felt so alone.
---------------------
Was it wonderful for you?
Was it holy as it was for me?
Did you feel the hand of destiny
That was guiding us together?
You were young enough to dream
I was old enough to learn something new
I'm so glad I got to dance with you
For a moment of forever.
Sometimes when you're crying, you're happy
Sometimes you're just crying, I know, I know
Come whatever happens now
Ain't it nice to know that dreams still come true
I'm so glad that I was close to you
For a moment of forever.
---------------------