When our hearts collided

Chapter 24: Mariah

The next few days came and went. We spent the next few days going for walks and scootering around the city. Exploring the city with Jacob was so much fun. In his embrace my hair bellowed with the wind as we we rode through the city. The sites where beautiful, and nothing I had never seen before. As we glided around the more I felt like I was home in his arms. I knew then that wherever Jacob was, was where I was going to be. I envisioned my life with him and I held onto the moment in my heart. We laughed, we kissed and giggled the entire time. I've never seen Jacob laugh so much and it made me happy that it was me who made him feel that way.

.......

The next day I spent sometime with Layla and attended a movie together at the cinemas. I hadn't been to a cinema in over three years due to the ongoing situation with Covid-19 which unfortunately shut us out from many venues and places due to stay at home orders and social distancing capacities.

Although I was having fun with Layla, in the moment I wasn't fully there in the moment with her. I felt terrible because we hadn't had much time to ourselves. I tried to push aside my feelings but I knew she could tell, how I was feeling. She just always knew. We were best friends that we both just knew how the other was feeling without even having to say a word. That's what I admired the most about her.

When the movie finished and we began making our way to the exit she pulled me aside.

"Hey are you ok." She asked worriedly.

"Yeah I'm ok." I replied as a gave a small smile trying to cover how I was really feeling.

"Are you sure." She asked.

I looked at her with pain in my face.

"No, no I'm not." I replied sadly.

"Oh Mariah, what is it." She asked while embracing me.

"Its stupid, but where leaving in less then five days and I know this is dumb to admit but I love him and I don't know how I'm going to be able to leave him without hurting him." I sobbed into her shoulder.

"I love him." I continued to say.

"Aww I feel the same way about Brayden, so I know how your feeling." She replied.

"Uhh your gonna make me cry, and no your not stupid. I've seen the way you both look at each other. He loves you to." She said.

"You think so." I replied.

"I thought I was making it up in my brain." I said as I began to laugh.

And I added.

"Also why didn't you tell me about Brayden." I asked surprisingly.

"Because I didn't want to bother you, because you looked so happy with Jacob. Plus I'm a big girl, I can figure it out myself. I think me and Brayden will just have a conversation and see what happens." She said.

We hugged each other.

"I'm sorry Layla I've been such a terrible friend." I replied.

"No you haven't, I've had so much fun. Plus I wouldn't of met Brayden if it wasn't for you slipping on the ice." She said as we both began to laugh.

As we began walking we made our way to the food court to have some lunch.

After our buffet lunch, we did some shopping and bought some souvenirs for our families and ourselves.

We brought some goofy shirts, hats, key chains and some lollies and treats. Amongst searching in a cheap store I found a key chain with an ice skate attached to it. I was shocked where I had seen it because I knew that it was a sign from God. My heart skipped a beat and I reminisced about the last past few days of our time together and specifically when we first met on the ice. I just stood there and smiled to myself. Although I didn't know what the future held for me and Jacob I knew for certain that the memories I had made here would be ones I held with me for the rest of my life. I picked up two of the the key chains and added it to my cart.

......

That night I held Jacob a little closer to me in my arms because my time with Jacob would once soon only be a memory in which I held in my heart. I didn't want to leave Jacob but I didn't have a choice, I had to go back home. It made my heart ache because my heart belonged to him. Not only my heart but my soul, body and every ounce of me from my head to my toes.

As we laid there in silence like we had a dozen times before. I couldn't control my emotions and all at once it all just washed over me and I began to start crying. The tears began to pour like a leaky tap that couldn't be tightened. My emotions got the best of me.

I tried to look away but Jacob just looked at me and began to touch my face to remove the tears dripping down my face. His touch was soft, tender and loving against my skin.

"Are you ok, what's the matter." He said concerningly.

"Uhh I'm such an idiot, I'm so sorry." I said over and over.

"No your not, you can tell me what's bothering you. When you hurt I hurt." He replied as he tenderly rubbed my back.

In that moment I was vulnerable to him. He had seen every part of me from my happy moments and now my saddest.

"I Love you Jacob." I said as I began to sob uncontrollably into his chest.

He just comforted me and held me in his arms. He didn't have to say anything to me but I knew he was hurting. I didn't want to hurt him. I couldn't do that to him or nor to myself.

"I love you to." He said softly into my ear.

I looked up at him

"You do." I said.

"Of course, you're the one I want to be with. The one I see my life with, I see you being the mother to our children and the one I want to share every moment with." He said as he smiled down at me.

I smiled because although we hadn't known each other long I wanted nothing more than to do all those things with him.

"But will you still love me when I leave." I replied sadly.

"Of course, no matter what. My heart belongs to you." He said as he grabbed my hand and held it above our heads.

I didn't say anything and just smiled at him. I knew deep down he loved me but I wasn't sure if he knew just how hard it would be for the both of us when we weren't in each other's company or embrace everyday. I think Jacob was trying to be in-denial of what was going to happen. Most likely he bottled his feelings to protect me from seeing how he really felt. He wanted to be strong for himself and for me, but I could see the pain in his beautiful hazel eyes. They looked worn, scared and and even a hint of fear. I didn't want to be that pain that caused him that hurt. I wanted nothing more than to see him happy but here I was going to break his heart in a million pieces not only his but mine in the process. It cut deeper than a knife that kept on cutting deeper and deeper into my chest and I didn't know what to do to stop the pain.

"I'm sorry." I said as we laid there.

"Would you hug me please. I want to feel you close to me." I said.

"Of course." He replied as he moved closer to hold me in his arms.

I placed my arms around him and just closed my eyes. I wanted to remember how he felt and how he smelt. His smooth and toned hands where forever etched into my mind and the smell of his aftershave was externally enriched into my senses. He always smelled so good. His body heat was keeping me warm and I wanted nothing more than to stay like this forever. If only time could stand still. I wanted nothing more than to be frozen in time in this very moment.