Love Stories For the New Age

i. Fireworks

Diamonds.

Jewels.

Parties.

Shoes and clothes.

Everything I wanted, he gave to me.

I'd like to think that I would have made a life for myself if I hadn't met him, but I would be lying. 

I wouldn't have had enough money to go through college. If I couldn't pay for college, how was I expected to get a job, that didn't involve the grease and grime of fast food? 

But when I met him, he assured he would take care of me.

And he did.

We drove around ancient cities in his Bugatti Veyron, and attended galas every weekend, that only the most wealthy people could even dream of getting into.

I was clothed in beautiful garments that cost more than an average family's home, from head to toe.

Large diamonds sparkled on my ears and neck, and every time I raised my hand from my side, there was always a slight weight pulling it back down, from the ring he gave me.

He told me I was his princess, and that I deserved everything he gave me.

The only thing I've had to give him, was my love.

I held onto his arm as he spoke to princes and princesses at international events, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek when I thought nobody was looking. 

My diamonds always glimmered brightly in the sun as we lay out on the sand at the Hamptons.

I didn't deserve any of this, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I wouldn't trade him for anything.

See, even though I only fell in love with him for all he had done for me, as the time went by, I found myself observing and noticing the fine details on his face as the moon shone through the window, casting a spell on the minds of innocent young girls laying in bed next to a man she supposedly loved.

And in those moments, where I listened to the slow, even breathing of his breath, I found myself falling hopelessly in love.

Any girl would melt at the sight of a gorgeous young man, observing her with wondering eyes.

She would go weak in the knees as he wrapped his strong arms around her waste as she made him breakfast, just as I had done. 

She would find herself sitting and staring out a window, wondering "What have I done to deserve this? Do I deserve him?"

But all those thoughts would vanish from her dainty mind, the second the smelled his cologne mixed with the scent of his cigarettes in the room. She would run to great him with a warm hug, asking him how work was. 

I spent four years wondering how I became so lucky, but soon, all of the parties and glitz wore off on me.

I still loved it, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't mesmerized by the large hats, and sleek dresses anymore. I had seen and done everything with this wonderful man, and nothing put me in aw.

Well, there was one exception.

Fireworks. Forth of July fireworks in the Hamptons. I had seen fireworks before, but only on television, or through windows, blocks away from the event.

But one fourth of July, he hired a few men to put on a fireworks display behind our home, just for me.

We sat on our deck, looking out at the water, waiting for it to begin.

He carefully grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. 

I looked down at our intertwined hands, trying to calm down my beating heart.

His dark, handsome voice spoke quietly.

"Happy Independence Day, Lovely."

A chill ran down my spine, as I looked into his dark-brown eyes. 

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

And with that, he slowly started singing me the National Anthem, right as an explosion took place in the sky. Reds, whites, blues, all exploding into various shapes.

Everything was perfect.

Sweet love was made, while sweet murmurs of "I love you"s were said.

But soon after that, my life fell apart. 

Cancer had been growing inside of him, shutting down his systems, and we hadn't even known it. 

On the fourth of July, I had lost my sweetheart.

The one who had helped me through so much, getting me from the bottom, to the top in only 4 short years. 

I had been heart-broken when I found out I was expecting our first child.

But I soon learned that this was the best way to bring him back, healthy and strong. 

So I raised my son to be a man as great as his father, and every fourth of July, we took a drive through New York City in his fathers Bugatti Veyron, driving until the sun came up, telling us it was a new day.