Just One Night

Time For Us (Part 2)

When they entered the grand ballroom, Ophelia's breath caught in her throat. A grand diamond chandelier hung from the very center of the gilded ceiling with smaller ones fanning out across the room, and the polished floor was so clean that they could see their reflection looking back at them. Above them, balconies lined the perimeter of the room with two spiral staircases leading up to them. Lords and ladies dressed as grand as themselves filled the room as servers and attendants bustled between them serving drinks and canapes. A small group of musicians sat in the corner, their soft tunes floating across the room over the murmurs of the crowd.

"It's beautiful," Ophelia gasped, clutching onto Chandler's arm subconsciously. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"Indeed," he agreed, his heart beating faster for no apparent reason. He glanced over at her, but she was too mesmerized by the grand ballroom to notice his gaze on her. Even though many years had passed, she had never left his mind. Their happy moments together were firmly rooted in his memories, though veins of regret and loss persisted under the surface, no matter how hard he tried to get rid of them. Still, to that very day, he could not believe how he could have let her go. The wound still felt raw and only seemed to fester as years passed with no communication between the two of them.

Just then, the music shifted into a more upbeat waltz, and on cue, the other couples slowly began to move into position. Ophelia finally looked over at Chandler, butterflies exploding in her stomach as her eyes met his. Everything about this place, from the decor to the atmosphere, felt as if it were a very vivid dream, and the presence of the man next to her only furthered that feeling. There was no place on earth where this much beauty and joy was possible; it would not be able to be contained without bursting. But here she was, standing in the beautiful ballroom, hearing the music, feeling her hand around his strong arm. It was real and from it came a new wave of emotions washing over her. Yes, she was pleased to see him again, but she could not rid herself of a lingering pain of their past and the thought that he possibly didn't feel the same about being with her again.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" Chandler asked, interrupting her thoughts. His voice was soft and a little unsure, as if he thought she would emphatically decline his offer.

She tilted her head, pretending to contemplate it a little. "I suppose, my lord."

Moving onto the dance floor, they turned to face each other, hearts beating in unison. Extending his left hand out, she placed her right one in his. He held it gingerly, feeling the calluses and scars from all the times she accidentally pricked herself in her haste. Her touch had never been soft and smooth, but he always loved that about her, that rough edge to a gentle soul. His other hand touched her shoulder blade, and even though it wasn't on her bare skin, it sent shivers down her spine. They were so close, chests almost touching, and she could swear he could hear her racing heart. Ophelia let out a shaky breath before they began to move to the beat, him leading and her following. Her eyes stayed at the level of his chest, looking over the blue flowers that matched her own and the golden chain of his pocket watch that stood out against his dark suit. His eyes ran over her outfit, admiring all the intricate details of her handiwork. She never failed to amaze him with her art, and she had only gotten better over the years. The skirt of her gown flowed gracefully around her, and she had made sure while designing it that it wouldn't drag on the floor too much. Both of them didn't say a word, and though music was playing in the background, each felt they had to say something to fill in the empty silence.

"You look beautiful," he finally murmured, his heart skipping a beat as she raised her eyes to look at him.

"Thank you. You look quite dapper yourself."

"I appreciate it."

"So...how have you been faring lately?" she asked, trying to hide her nervousness by glancing away and pretending to focus on the dance. His hold on her was gentle but strong, so she didn't have to think too much to match his movements.