The Definition of Happiness

His name is Chris, a boy who I had once knew long ago in school. We had always been acquaintances, but now meeting face to face once again, we realized our hearts were meant for more than friendship, and so began the next chapter in our lives.

            He and I sat upon an old cement stair case which rested on the edge of a large lake. The only sound noticed were the soft waves pressing themselves against the bottom of it, carrying away with them crumbs from the shore line. Off in the distance you could see ducks paddling across the water, leaving a trail of ripples behind them as their bodies bounced with the crests of the waves. With his soft grey jacket wrapped around us, we affectionately held our bodies against one another in attempt to hold the warmth as the chilly October wind breathed its way around us. The golden sun had begun to fall into the horizon, the sherbet ice cream sky reflected upon the lake, the world for that moment was one and we were in the center of it all.

I bravely held my hand out the window of his electric blue car, the cool wind slipping through my fingers as we drove down the empty street. “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine” played through his car speakers so creating the theme song for that moment. The half-eaten moon held its position in the sky, blanketing the road before us. We were in no rush, only taking in each moment. “What a perfect ending to a wonderful day,” I thought to myself, he then looked over at me; his freckle stained cheeks stretched from ear to ear, my face instantly reflecting his. I then closed my eyes and took it all in. My life for that one moment was perfect, me with the man I love.

It wouldn’t be till 1 in the morning when the tires of his car would touch my driveway. We were having so much fun that time for us stood still and all that mattered was that we were together. His car stopped, declaring it was time for us to depart for the night. Feelings of sadness drenched our eyes; we both knew this would happen. He being the man he is, reached his arms out towards me and pulled me close. I could feel his heartbeat. I then felt his warm lips pressing themselves against mine; it was magical, the way his lips connected with mine. It was right, and somehow, among all of the dizziness and the clinging to him like a life line, my heart knew we couldn’t be like this all night. I’d have to leave sometime, but that feeling could be dwelled upon later, because, for now, I was content to be in his arms. Many moments later we said our goodbyes and I opened his car door and left, at least I would be seeing him in the morning. We have many days like these, moments where we wish we could stretch them to last forever, but I always have a promise that I will see him again soon.

Some random commercial danced across my television screen. A cute middle aged couple in matching sky blue clothes hugged one another on an old wooden bench in the center of a bright and colorful garden. My heart instantly smiled. Memories of Chris and I played through my mind. I pictured him and me with my grandma walking through her vibrant garden. Fresh spring air blew through the trees causing the bubs on thin branches to dance for us as we walked on by. Her garden was in its’ prime and we were there in the center of it all. What a wonderful memory. My eyes began to grow tired. I then knew it was time for me to turn the television off and head to bed for the night. As I got up, the setting sun blared through the sliding glass door. Its beauty caught my glance and I couldn’t help but hold it for a few seconds longer. A tweet from my sister’s pet parakeet’s cage broke the silence of that moment. I then grabbed a nearby chair from our dining room and pulled it up to the tall cabinet where his house sat. Pulling myself up I stood on the chair doing my usual routines; check his water and seed, placing a blanket over his house when I was done.

Good night, Kiwi, I spoke to him; I then began to step down off the chair. Suddenly, my right foot slipped on the waxed base of the old wooden chair, my feet flying up from underneath me. I franticly reached my arms out in every direction in hopes of finding something to grab on to. I was too late. The back of the chair broke my fall. One of the sharp numbs stabbed into my left hip, the pain shot through my leg. Like a tossed rag doll I fell to the ground, my body frail and in pain. Stars and black specks danced around the room, my vision had begun to fade. “My leg,” I weakly cried out. Tears from unbearable pain and cold sweat fell down my pale cheeks; I knew this was the beginning of a long night.