Branch

Unconsolable

She was lost in thought, staring blankly at the piano, the one she gifted her on her birthday, the one they played together. The red wine she downed like water earlier kicked in real hard. Her shattered heart wounded her as she relived the memories of her , the woman she loved.
Memories of their first encounter flooded her. That rainy day she met her at the coffee shop.

She bumped onto me and my pile of books. Helped me pick them up from the glossy floor, held one book in particular. My book on a romantic memoir.

"Good taste. I believe you have read the sequel too."

"Sadly no, there isn't any at the local library....."

Then I saw her eyes, those hazel eyes of hers. They were so stunning I nearly lost my breath.

She was charming and charismatic, and she was immediately smitten. Minutes turned into hours of them just talking , and she knew she had found the one. One moment led to another. Soon they were meeting almost constantly. If not in the coffee shop, then the park, or the pier, or the jazz club at dusk. She was elated everytime she gazed upon the goddess of a woman she was. Date nights, pizza runs, even something so silly as a binge watch on some horror flicks, feelings were bound to be caught sometime. But fate had other plans for them. Before it went to the point of no return, her words fractured what she thought was her dream world forming true, that was engaged to another, a man, and their marriage was supposed to save her father's company from ruin.

Sapphire knew she couldn't come between them, so she decided to keep her feelings to herself. She watched as she struggled with the impending marriage, and the thought of losing him forever broke her heart every damned day of her life thereafter.

Now, as Sapphire sat next to the piano, her haunting memories on repeat, she couldn't help but wonder what could have been. For the first time in her life, she saw a life with another. Her committing to anything else apart from her workaholic lifestyle she had to live for most of her life. Her low and calm voice haunted her apartment. She can't get rid of the feel of her touch, the way she made her feel alive.

She sat next to me and began laying kisses on my neck as I was playing, her breath of wine intoxicating me.

"I want you darling. You can play tomorrow....." She was tugging away at my..... Her hoodie which covered my naked body beneath. Her hands were roaming under it, making me shudder to her warm touch.

"Not until I finish this song for you, okay? It is your birthday gift ,after all."

"..... You are my gift to me......playing me a gift on the gift I gave you can wait...." She jus gave me her puppy eyes in an attempt to get me off the piano. She is impossible..... I can't even say no to that......

She never played her that song. It was all over. The fantasies of her estranged lover, and she had to accept it. Her choice was already made. Her legacy mattered to her more, and she had to move on. But how could she when her heart belonged to her?

"...... If I could begin to be,
Half of what you think of me,
I could do about anything,
I could even learn how to love,
..... Like you......"

She slumped to the floor, tears cascading down her face. She had to force herself to accept the reality of the situation. She knew she had to find a way to move on, to let go of her and the memories they shared. But for now, she would cry and mourn the loss of her, the one who stole her love.

As the night went on, Sapphire slowly drifted to sleep, her heart heavy laden with sadness. Her dreams were of her, the day they were at the sunset kissed beach, she told her of her love and she wanted to be with her. The kiss that followed after that made her heart explode with newfound joy. But then, she woke up, she realized it was all just a dream.

Sapphire felt drained and empty. But she knew she had to keep going, to face the day ahead. She lived happily without her, she could just resume doing so again. Just two people who shared memories together. And as she stood up, she caught a glimpse of something on the piano. It was a note, no a goodbye left by her.

"Dear Sapphire,
Thank you for being the greatest joy in my life.
For being my light in the dark.
For believing in me when no one else did.
For your cherishing me in your care.
For loving me as I loved you.
For letting me be myself.
My heart is yours to take.
Now and always.
I love you Sapphire,
Goodbye.

Ruby. "

Sapphire's heart skipped a beat as she read the note, and she couldn't help but ponder over the letter that Ruby felt the same way about her too. But the more she was on that thought, she realized that it didn't really matter. She had to move on and start living her life again. Her path was already woven for her, and there was nothing she could do apart from falling into tears yet again while reading that letter over and over again.

The thing thatbled her to even step outside her sorry state of an apartment was that she was still in a job. She crumpled that note and threw it to the bin , to remind herself that that was the state of love she had once shared with Ruby. And as she walked down the street, she couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store for her.

"I love you too Ruby, but that ship has sailed now. I hope life is as good to you in your marriage. I will see you in the next life. Maybe our destinies are different there......"