Fate & Destiny

Time (Chapter 2)

J

To the man whom I once loved 

"My, god. It’s been years."

I turned to face the person I knew was behind me. The large hand was a heavy weight on my shoulder. His appearance had not changed over time. And my grudge had not been moved over time. Scoffing, I brushed away his hand, noting the distinct lack of rings. He had always wanted to be married. 

"I suppose I’ve told you clearly that you and I are strangers," I replied while turning my head away and closing my eyes; trying to escape from reality. He raised his hands and they gently brushed over my cheeks. His touch was so gentle, so soft. How long had it been since he last touched my cheeks? I missed his warmth, the unique smell of his cologne, his attractive eyes, his everything. He held my face with his gentle hands. I looked at his lips - the soft lips that I used to touch with my own. Where had the time gone?

"Suppose you have."

He dropped his hand and I cleared my throat. Although I hadn’t let go of the grudge over the course of our separation, perhaps my body had. I moved a step back to avoid any more unnecessary form of interaction. He gave me a smile, something hopeful and vulnerable. I restrained myself from grimacing in return. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. With the thought in mind, I turned on my flat heel and set off in the opposite direction. 

'Where am I heading to? Should I leave him? I've lost him once, I do not want to lose him twice.' Thoughts ran over my mind like galloping horses. I slowed down, an urge to turn my head emerged but I refused. I heard footsteps from behind me, they were heavy and steady. He slowly approached me and held my waist with his thick and muscular arms. I had never felt so safe. I thought back to the time when I was so paranoid of losing things in my life, the time when I started to be reticent, the time when I withdrew myself from the cruel world, the time when everything was meaningless, the time without him.

  But I snapped back myself back to the present. I laughed at myself, this wasn’t some sad love story. I refused to play a part of it. I peeled his arms from me and stepped forward before I whipped around. I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips.

"Just what the hell do you think you’re doing, you little shit?"

  I could see the surprise on his face. He never expected me to say something like that. I didn’t care, whether it was vulgarity or harshness, I developed those characteristics long ago.