A Kiss To Remember
Summary: Memories can lead us down well-worn paths, both bitter and sweet, but can they lead you to a second chance?
Things were good. Well, as good as can be expected.
You should have known that things were too good to be true.
That once you'd found a semblance of happiness, the tides would change yet again and drag you back out into their rolling and crashing depths.
Just when you think you're over it, over them, something triggers the memories you had hoped were filed, buried, and locked away.
Memories of when the sun shined down on you and blessed all that befell you—when life was at its best when life was bliss.
Memories of when a lie was told.
One that said you were a distraction, that you couldn't handle their world, and they were ending it before things went too far.
A lie uttered by your other half.
A lie that broke hearts.
A lie that shattered souls.
And did you fight for your love? Fight for what you had?
No. You stilled your tongue. You paused. You waited too long.
Love was gone.
Months went by. October, November, December, etc., as pages torn from the calendar, fell to the floor along with your tears. Tears filled the hope and promise of a joyous life that was now to never be.
How can someone who you've come to accept and love full-heartedly as the one who completes you, that you've started to plan the rest of your life around, suddenly turn into someone you're unable to recognize?
Someone who you believed when they said "I love you," when they begged you to never leave, and when they said, "Forever."
How?
How can that person completely fail you?
Thoughts crowded an already overfilled grief-laden mind. Ponderings of moving away, seeing others, and just letting it all go to end the pain.
You put on the brave face.
A mask.
You convinced them all you had persevered and moved on. But, most of all, you convinced yourself.
And, then, tonight. A night meant to be fun—a time to further prove how far you'd come - goes awry.
There.
The trigger. On the side of the dancefloor, you notice a tinkling of laughter, an uproarious bellow, a flash of blonde, and a sudden flick of a hand into copper hair.
Time…
Stops.
Breath…
Held.
A tear…
Falls.
Then, with a sudden inhale, it's all back. The hope of a once promised life, of love.
What had you been doing with yourself all this time? Wasting away and avoiding your own truths?
Did he forget that I could tell when words spoken held derision, falsehoods, and pain?
That I could feel when something was off, that things weren't as they seemed?
Well, no more. She wanted answers. She wanted him. And, above all else, she wanted his love!
Yes, Love!
Moving forward, gaining speed and courage, she rushed to him, hoping to reach him before she was noticed.
But she was beaten.
Looking up to double-check her location, there he stood. With a radiant ear-to-ear crooked smile, arms spread wide, and glistening eyes he was before her, bescheeing her to continue and come to him.
And continue she did, jumping up into his arms at the last second, wrapping him up within her arms and legs.
Giving their embrace a moment so she could revel in the thought of "Home," she grabbed his face in between her hands and planted a kiss on his waiting lips. A kiss that he returned with equaled fervor and no restraint.
A kiss of blame, regret, apology, healing, and relief.
A kiss to end all other kisses.
A kiss to remember and rebirth their lost love.
A kiss that said, "Nothing, nobody compares to you."