Afire Love

fourteen

Chapter fourteen: Thou Could Kiss Thyself In Lieu Of Feeling Lonely

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"We were both young when I first saw you,

I close my eyes and the flashback starts

I'm standing there,

On a balcony in summer air."

~Love Story, Taylor Swift.

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One and a half years ago.

I WALKED FRANTICALLY outside my house, wearing my majestic yellow frock that was stunningly sophisticated, with a scalloped hemline, exposing my back. My sleeves were capped, and I'd worn transparent gloves that reached up to to my elbows. My hair was curled at the bottom, dangling at the back.

I looked at my watch, which showed that it was half past four in the evening, as I walked nervously, with my Victorian heels making a clunk clunk noise. He should be here any minute from now.

"Don't be nervous, honey", mom said, hugging me.

I hugged her back with all my strength.
Easy for her to say when her daughter's going to take part in the homecoming dance.

"I don't do dances, mom", I mumbled into her chest, not wanting to let her go.

"It's alright", she said, pulling me away from her grasp and looking me in the eye, "Joel will take care of you."

I bit the bottom of my lip in nervousness, averting my gaze away from her and rolling my eyes in the process.

"You know, I was so nervous when your dad was going to take me for the homecoming dance at the end of my sophomore year", she said with a corner of her mouth forming a slight curve.

"Really?" I asked her, smiling.

Her eyes lit up as she nodded shyly, and she smiled back at me.

"Tell me all about it", I said, preparing myself for the conversation.

Mom was a hopeless romantic, and she found even the slightest intimate gestures amazing. Especially when it came to dad.

"Well, I was beautifully dressed", she said. Freckles at the tip of her eyes were distinctly seen, signalling that she was aging, but she looked beautiful nonetheless. "Just like you", she added, looking at me.

I grinned, wondering how my shy mother would have sedated my dad. Everyone who knew our family knew that mom and dad had loved each other irrevocably before deciding to get married. Some were jealous and craved a love just like theirs, while some really appreciated it.