"So we made it. The 83rd Annual Burning Boat Festival. Time to get rid of some bad choices, bad luck, bad Karma." Lucas said as we entered the pier where the ginormous boat stood. It was already filled with lost hopes and broken dreams.
I usually liked the burning boat. It meant Restart.
Things didn't work out, okay. Move on. Try something new. Life probably has another route for you. It reminded us that you can't spend life looking behind. It was time to hash those failures and venture deeper into the mystery we called Life.
However, this time I just empathised with them as I saw remnants of memories. Things which were important and meant something to people. I felt like sending a blanket filled with love and warmth to everyone out there, telling them it was going to be okay.
I guess those were my maternal instincts kicking in. Instincts for something that didn't even exist.
"So, you bought anything to throw in the burning boat?" I asked him as we continued staring at the remnants that would soon reach oblivion.
"No, I really couldn't think of anything. This year, I got you back. And I couldn't have made a better choice in life." He answered as he gazed into my hazel orbs with immense love and passion.
I could feel my heart thumping just from his loving gaze as my stomach did back- flips. How did I get that lucky?
"You know, last year was the first burning boat we didn't see together from our spot. You missed me?" I asked him as I gave him a cheeky grin.
"Yeah. Of course I missed you, Pretty Girl. I missed you everyday. Each day more than the previous." He answered honestly.
"So, what did you throw?" I casually asked him as I shuffled on my feet.
"Every single thing that Peyton gifted me as she refused to get it under her thick skull that I wasn't interested in her. She was under the impression that I had moved on." He chuckled. "However she didn't know that,
People who are meant to be-"
"Always find their way in the end." I concluded his sentence.
"Yeah." He smiled.
"So, anything you wish to throw? Any regrets?" He played with words.
"Uhh-" I said as I shuffled in my pocket to get out what I was looking for. It was my Baby's only Sonogram picture.
"I don't know, Luke. A part of me says move on! Let go! You have a great Life ahead of you. You can stop with the past regrets and grieving and choose to be happy. However, there is this other side that is pulling me. It makes me pale to even think of parting with it. I mean, it was a part of me. I felt it. And although I choose to move in, it doesn't mean that this won't be a part of my life. Because what happened made me what I am today." I cited, a few tears freely trickled down my blood red eyes.
"It's okay baby. You don't have to let it go. That little Peanut out there will always be a part of us, and there is nothing wrong with that. You don't have to burn this picture to move on." He answered as he brought be closer into his arms.
"I love you Luke!" I exclaimed as I hugged him tight and gave him a deep kiss.
"I love you too Pretty Girl!" He said once our lips parted.
By then, the festivities were about to begin. We quickly walked to our spot and sat there wrapped in each others arms, gazing into each others starry eyes as the flames danced flamboyantly on the burning boat.