Birdsong :: zalfie

1

I first met Zoe at my welcoming party at Alex's house.
Being a newcomer to Bath, Alex had offered a place for me to stay at his house, whilst I settled in.
I was never a fan of parties, but Alex insisted on giving me a proper welcome.
We all stood in the garden.
Me, Alex, and his family.
Although, according to him, one person was missing.

As I heard a small wrustling in the bushes behind me, I turned around to see a small figure emerging from the shadows, and into the light.
And as soon as I saw her, I thought;
I don't know you.
I don't know why, but when my eyes first met hers in a room full of faces with stories and histories of their own, her past was the only thing I wanted to uncover.
I watched her intently as she tucked a long strand of her hair behind her ear, effortlessly taking the breath out of my chest.
But I wasn't looking at her, I was looking inside of her and I couldn't help but wonder what this world had to do to make her the most captivating piece of art I'd ever laid my eyes on.
"Ah, Alfie, that is my fiancé, Zoe." Alex spoke, gesturing to her.
There would be a day, when I would be eighty something years old, lying on my death bed, trying to remember this very moment;
Being welcomed into a family.
And I'd forget what Alex looks like.
I'd forget the place where I was standing.
Heck I'd forget why I was even here, But I'd remember her.

Zoe.

I knew I'd remember her.

She stood distant from everybody else, like she didn't belong.

She cautiously moved around like she was made of sugar, like she would fall into pieces any second. One moment, she was laughing, and then the next, she would focus on a point that was beyond anything that I could ever see.

I blinked when her eyes almost settled on mine, and I looked away, because I was so sure I would fall into some sort of trance.

You weren't supposed to stare at someone like Zoe.

Alex's fiancé.

You weren't supposed to fall for your friend's fiancé.

But I already did. Right there and then.