Past Redefined

PART FORTY-FOUR

Christopher Rodriquez's POV

"Where are we going?" She asked as I held her wrist and dragged her. She realized that we were going towards the garden and said, "Chris! It is cold outside! Come on... No!"

She was about to stop me. I stood looking into her eyes and pointed at the garden. Her eyes trailed from mine, to my hand and to the campfire that I had lit. I saw the sparkle in her eyes and dazzling smile as she turned towards me.

"Are you serious?" She asked and I shrugged, tilting my head towards the garden. She held my hand and dragged me.

As we were about to sit, I remembered.

"Argh! One minute... Just one minute... Stay here." I said and ran inside the house

"Chrissss... What happened?"

"You sit, I will just be back..."

I rushed to my study and pulled out the drawer that I haven't touched for years. I tapped and blew off the dust from the bag. As I unzipped the bag, I looked at the stuffs inside it and then there was the thing I came looking for.

I walked down to see her sitting in front of the campfire. Her silky wavy hair dancing as the wind blew. She hugged her legs and kept looking up at the sky.

"Sky..." I called out and pressed on the flash.

She turned to look at me and the flash blinded her.

"Chris!" She hid her face and then scrutinized to look at my hand.

"Just like old times!" I said and held the camera to her.

The camera! The one we used in Iowa to click the picture of her parents.

She stood up straight and took the camera in her hands.

"OMG!!! You still have this? I mean... I... How did you???"

"Well! It was mine anyways and when I came here, I just packed few things and left Iowa..." I dugged my head and she nodded understanding. "... And this was one! So, picture?" I asked and she nodded with a wide smile. After few pictures, I held her hand and tugged her, making her turn towards me.

"Come, we will sit for a while." I said and she sat beside me, leaning on my shoulder.

"Chris, would this moment feel any different if you had agreed on that day?" She asked looking dazed at the campfire.

"Which day?" I whispered, trying not distracting her.

"In Iowa, when I kissed you..." She said and turned to look at me.

"May be... May be not..." I said, locking my fingers with her and caressing her hand. "May be not..." I said again, thinking over it playfully.

"If I had agreed, I would have waited... You would have returned..." I replied and out of curiosity, "Wait! Where you planning to come back?"

She pursed her lips and shook her head. I pulled away and puzzled, "Did you even remember me?"

She laughed and realized that I was expecting an answer for it.

"Well! I remembered you, how can I forget you? But I wasn't planning to come back... I don't know... I never thought about going back..."

I was taken aback...

She was about to lean again and I pushed her away.

"Well, wow... And I stood watching the sunset all those years for what?" I sighed in despair, anger and disappointment.