Erstwhile: A Collection Of Short Stories

Last Ecstasy

They had shared glances at stores, yet there was something missing.

She would stay alone in her small house on the same lane as he did. Never did they talk, but they did exchange looks. Looks which could mean the world to them, but they weren't fulfilling.

Today she had decided to go grocery shopping at the local shop. Her weak legs didn't always support her, but they did remind her of when they would dance on the rhythms. Any tune could make those weak legs dangle once upon a time, the time when she was young.

She struggled to get off her couch and started walking towards the door which led to the outside. The doorknob creaked as she opened it, it sounded like her; old.

The local shop was not very far from her house, but it took her time to reach for it.

The sun's strokes embellished the road ahead of her and the little particles looked like glitter from a distance. Everyone around her were so busy with themselves that they couldn't notice the ecstasy around them; which could be their last ecstasy.

She pushed the door to enter the small shop which looked more like a cottage. There was honeysuckle growing about it and that gave it a charming appearance.

There were huge baskets in the shop, each having different vegetables or fruits in them. A very few things were on her list and she wanted to get done with them as fast as she could.

After taking a basket full of things she wanted, she walked to the counter. While she stood in the huge line in front of her quietly, she noticed the man. It was him. He was the one who she had shared some incomplete glances with, glances which could take her down the memory lane or make her body feel paralyzed. Those were the only glances that could take her breath away, she knew it.

He was standing at the door of the cottage with his bag beside him. The bag didn't seem heavy and he just stared at her while she stared back.

The gaze broke as the lady had to move in the line. She knew that by the time she could approach him, he would be gone as always.

With a sigh she picked her bags as they got billed, and she moved towards the door to leave.

She was stunned and stupefied as the man in front of her eyes stayed standing. He hadn't left like the other times, he was there for her waiting. Waiting for all these years for her to come back to him and for the time when he could hold her in his weak arms, again.

They were not only dancers when they were 23, but were more like artists. Artists who could create a world of their own when they danced, who didn't dance on beats for show; but for love.

She dropped the bags when the music played in the background of her mind and she knew he could hear it, too. She walked towards him and looked at his crystal blue eyes with his shining white teeth as he smiled at her. There was a curve forming on her lips, too.

Without any hesitation he took her in his arms and felt her arms wrapping around his neck. They shared the gaze then, this time it brought them back the answers to their lost questions.

Their legs moved in a synchronized manner on the rhythm which was playing only in their heads. She could feel his heat touching her soul.

"Your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen," He whispered to her with a smile.

"Your smile's forever in my mind and memory," She replied and gave him a smile back.

They danced. They danced not caring about what people thought about them, not seeing anyone except each other, and not only dancing; but loving.

"Take me into your loving arms," She continued as their feet moved together in a slow and passionate movement.

"Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars," He said and before she could say anything, he leaned into a kiss with her.

Their lips met with a soft flow and fulfilled all the places of loneliness and grieve in their hearts which was caused over the past 47 years. Those 47 years which had been spent by them with sorrow and pain.

They didn't care if they were 70 or 23, their love hadn't changed with time, it had only grown. The endless journey of their love had actually just begun.

They pulled apart and looked at each other in the eye.

"Place your head on my beating heart," He said.

"We are thinking out loud," She continued and everything seemed worth the wait.

She didn't care now. He brought her closer to him and kissed her on the forehead with all the love he had in him for her for years and beyond.

In the cottage of a local shop, maybe they found love and their last ecstasy.

-----------------------------------------