The radiance of the sun created a harsh glare for the people pacing around the park. It was amusing to watch their young faces though, especially when the shade of the huge tree was casting a shade over the bench we were sitting. Summer was almost done, but everybody seemed to find today as just another boring, sweat-producing late summer afternoon.
"Fuck..." My eyes followed a man with his dog passing by, muttering strings of curses underneath his breath, telling himself how much he hated this day.
"Sooner or later, you'll regret how you didn't see this wonderful day as a blessing," I thought.
Fernan tightened his grip on my hand, as of telling me how impolite the man was. Age was indeed just a number, for he still had the same handsome face and pure black eyes that I fell for fifty years ago. The only difference was that his now tired eyes spoke of adventures that somehow worried the past and disturbed the present, his wrinkled fingers told of promises and goals we achieved together, and his voice so rough that could only utter three words that never failed to pain my heart.
"Who are you?" he asked for the fifth time today and a quiet gasp exited my mouth. How long has it been? I don't know. Because the only thing I was certain was that I stil hoping that somehow, he would remember me. I just pressed his hands a couple of times before inching it closer to my lips to give it a soft kiss.
"I am the one whom you promised to love forever," I said, always, but he just gave me a straight face. To shrug the painful feeling off, I would just think of our happy moments together. Those times when he would hold my hand so tight, when he would say my name so sweet, and when he would keep me in his arms so dear.
"Linda..." It felt like a pail of cold water washed over me. The sun was setting and a gust of warm air touched my skin, but the goosebumps I was having right now explained the coldness I was feeling.
"S-say it again, Fernan, p-please." I sounded desperate, but it was the only thing I wanted to hear for a very long time.
"Linda..." Tears streamed down my face and I succumbed to the the sob I was holding back as he kissed my hand and rested his head on my shoulder. "I love you," he said and I almost cried because of too much happiness.
Almost.
Because after Fernan said that three magical words, after his hand eventually lost its grip on mine, the moment he closed his eyes... I knew he remembered me. And that what was made everything worth the wait. That even before he fell into his deep slumber, he kept his promise, that he would love me until death drew the both of us apart.
