This is what happens when you're stuck in the house on a cold day and watching old movies. The beautiful song written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin and sung as no one else could by the incomparable Judy Garland inspired this bit of dribble.
The Man That Got Away
The night is bitter
The stars have lost their glitter
The winds grow colder
And suddenly you're older
And all because
Of the man
That got away
She stood on the porch watching as the waves rushed in and then slowly ebbed away. The music from the living room radio poured through the open window. Why the radio chose that particular song to play at this time, she didn't know. Maybe someone, somewhere had read her thoughts.
No more his eager call
The writing's on the wall
The dreams you dreamed have all
Gone astray
The fight had been epic, each of them saying things that should not have been said. Neither knew what started it, but it was her final parting shot of "I quit!" that had ended it. Then followed the slamming of doors, hers to her office, his to the back hallway.
The man that won you
Has run off and undone you
That great beginning
Has seen its final inning
Don't know what happened
It's all a crazy game
Now she was alone. And miserable. She had run to the only place she felt safe…her aunts home. Her aunt had the good sense not to question her niece, even though she saw the heartbreak in her eyes. She needed the solitude of the ocean, the warmth of her aunt's embrace. But most of all…time. Time to figure out what to do next. Time to decide what to do with her empty life.
No more that all time thrill
For you've been through the mill
And never a new love will
Be the same
Good riddance, good-bye
Every trick of his you're on to
But fools will be fools
And where's he gone to
She put her arms around her middle, almost as if to hold her emotions in. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, seemingly taking all her hopes and dreams with it.
The road gets rougher
It's lonelier and tougher
With hope you burn up
Tomorrow he may turn up
There's just no let up
The live long night and day
She knew she'd have to start looking for another job. But she didn't want to. She wanted the job she had, the one she walked away from. The man she walked away from.
Ever since this world began
There is nothing sadder than
A one-man woman
Looking for the man
That got away
As she watched, the sun touched the water, turning the world into a brilliant red-orange, setting everything on fire. Her tears started to fall then. She lowered her head, trying to stop her heart from breaking.
Then telling herself that she needed to pull herself together, she raised her head for one last look at the sunset.
He was standing at the edge of the water, just looking out at the ocean, silhouetted in the fading light. She could tell he was barefoot because he kept shifting with the movement of water and sand.
She slipped off her shoes and hurried down the path. Once on the sand, she broke into a run. As if he sensed her, he turned just as she threw herself into his arms.
Apologies were murmured between kisses. Her hands in his thick hair, pulling his head down to hers claiming his lips again and again. He held her tightly to his chest, returning her eager kisses.
When at last they broke apart, she took his hand, gently pulling him in the direction of the house.
"Aunt Mae just took her apple pie out of the oven. I'm sure she'll have cut a big slice for you."
He brought the hand holding his to his lips, placing warm kisses on the palm.
"I love you Della."
Looking up into his ocean blue eyes, she smiled.
"And I love you Perry. I don't ever want you to be the man that got away."