A Look Inside: Words Unspoken

Stone Cold

The first time I saw you again, you were in the queue of the coffee shop near your place. Waiting patiently as the employee took the order of the man in front of you. I watched as you walked up to the counter and placed your order; large black coffee, no cream, no sugar. You liked the bitterness, you told me once when I asked why you didn't bother to try something else, something sweet.

I hoped you would see me, sitting next to the window on the far left of the shop. It was our table, the one we had our first date and then followed by the many times we would sit and talk after our college classes complaining about the projects handed out by our professors. I smiled at the memory. I focused on you once again, you had grabbed your drink and were headed to the exit.

Before fully reaching the door, you turned and faced me, your eyes freezing me in place. I held my breath. Your eyes stayed on me for a few more seconds and then you turned away, leaving me behind in the busy coffee shop.

The second time was at the flower shop that sat between the small candy shop, where it was made by hand in front of the customers and the music store, where you bought the vinyl record we used to play and dance to on my living room floor.

You walked in, caught up in your own mind, you failed to notice me enter after you. I walked through the isles of shelves filled with flowers varying from the tiny sweet alyssum blooms that filled the air with the scent of fresh honey to the hyacinths, their fragrance resembling a combination of honeysuckle and strawberries.

You stood at the counter awaiting for the flower shop employee to aid you in your request for an arrangement.

Once asked what flowers you would like, you gave them the names of the flowers that would be your bouquet. You remained silent afterwards and waited.

"Today is the day, huh?" the employee questioned, giving you a quick glance and then focusing on the flowers. You look down at the wooden floor before nodding "Yeah," you give a small chuckle and glance at the employee as they finish wrapping the flowers together before continuing "Four years to be exact, I'm the only one counting though" the employee gives you a knowing smile and whispers an apology.

You say not another word and pay your fee. Standing in the garden of colors, I watch as you leave. And while the flowers bloom, I wither.

The third time I laid eyes upon you was later that afternoon, you stood in front of my place, holding the bouquet, you looked breathtaking. "Hey" you said to which I responded with "You came?" You smiled at me, oh how I missed seeing your smile, it brightened your brown eyes like lanterns lit during a night festival. Warm and inviting.

"I brought you flowers" you took a shaky breath, placing the flowers in front of you "Happy Anniversary" as soon as the words left you, like a melting glacier, you crumbled, knees hitting the ground becoming stained from the humidity of the day's rain. I bent down in front of you and embraced you, having you between my arms "Don't cry, my love" I tried to comfort you but it only made you weep harder.

We stayed like that for hours, letting your emotions out while I caught every single one of your tears.

You pulled away from me, taking a deep breath and then releasing it through your lips. "You'll be okay" I promised you, you smiled and leaned in to kiss me. The warmth of your lips connected with the coldness of me, you rested your forehead on mine. You closed your eyes, "I love you" you whispered and kissed me one more time.

Your eyes open and are greeted with the gray marble headstone in which my name is engraved into, a cry leaves you once more.