Til You Come Back to Me Again - A Love Story

The Separation

The Separation

On the day of my departure, we were both an emotional wreck, and it was apparent that Sylvia had been right. I needed to go. As much as it would hurt, we really did need to learn how to be apart for a while.

Over the past few days, we shared our thoughts, feelings, fears, and hopes. Angelo had been nervous about embracing this change between us, but I did my best to soothe his inner concerns about him being enough for me. It hurt my heart that he would worry about that, and I hoped I helped him to truly see that he was more than enough. His age did not matter. The fact that he raised me did not matter. He was all I ever wanted and more, much more.

We talked, laughed, and were our usual selves, only nothing was the same. There was a new awareness of one another. We shared lingering looks and longing gazes. Angelo was such a beautiful man. He had always had been, but now that we were open to one another, I could truly appreciate his beauty and his attractiveness.

The sly grins that once charmed me now warmed and excited me, making me feel the things I had never felt before. Womanly things. Everything he did or said now affected me differently. Even holding hands and sitting together by the lake had a newness that awakened my senses and quickened my emotions. We did the same things we always did together, but now each activity was done with the knowledge that an unexpected future was before us.

And now I was leaving. I felt like I was literally leaving a part of myself behind.

Before we left for the airport, Angelo slipped something into my bag and told me not to open it until after I boarded the plane. I promised him I would wait.

Saying goodbye to Angelo at the security gate was the hardest thing I had ever done. We held each other tightly. He buried his face in my hair and I pressed mine against his chest, hiding my tears. I ached so much, I could barely breathe.

Finally drawing back, I looked up into his eyes and gently caressed his hair, burying my hand in its thick softness. "I'll miss you, Angelo."

"And I'll miss you." He caressed my face and I longed for him to kiss me, but I knew he would rather wait until I returned and we were alone. A few nights before, he explained to me that as much as he wanted to share a first kiss with me, he wanted to give me time. He wanted to court me, and I understood. While it may have been an old-fashioned notion to most, it was most romantic to me, and so Angelo.

He caressed my face, staring into my eyes. "Come back to me, amore. Please."

"I will. I promise." I kissed the corner of his mouth, lingering a moment. Then I turned and got in line.

I kept looking back, watching him watch me until I was past security and he was no longer in sight.

* * *

I kept my emotions in check until I boarded the plane and was settled in my seat. I was flying in first-class and so far, no one was sitting next to me. Unable to hold back any longer, I discreetly turned my face toward the window and let the tears come.

The last few days had been so amazing. Love washed over me, through me, as I thought about all we shared. Dinner and a show at the theater afterwards. A picnic lunch in the park. A fun-filled day at Universal Studios. Sitting by the lake in the dark, wrapped in his arms, looking up at the stars. We had done all those things before, but this time everything was new. Being in love had changed and intensified everything.

Drawing my thoughts to the present, I reached into my tote bag for a pack of tissues and my eyes fell on the small wrapped box and envelope Angelo put there. Drying my eyes, I opened the envelope and pulled out the small note card.

My Dearest Katia,

There are so many things I want to say to you. I hardly know where to start, but I will share with you the most important.

First and foremost is that I am in love with you, il tesora mia. You truly are my treasure, my priceless treasure, and I love you with every breath I breathe. You have been a part of me for a very long time, and I long to make you a permanent part of me forever. But that is a question I will save until you are home again.

Just know you are in my heart, amore, and my arms will ache until you are in them again. It is your rightful place. It always has been.

Yours always,

Angelo

Closing my eyes, I pressed the card to my heart, wanting to brand his words there. I had spent countless hours and moments dreaming of him saying those very words to me, but those dreams paled when compared to reality. During the past week, Angelo's words had been guarded, measured. Now he had said it. He loved me. After all this time of loving him silently, to have that love returned was everything. But I still needed time to adjust to this new change in our relationship, and so did he. I just hoped I would be able to survive the separation.

Placing the card back in my bag, I pulled out the box and unwrapped it, pressing a hand over my heart when I saw the actual ring box. I opened it, my vision immediately blurring as my eyes beheld the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. It was a one carat oval canary diamond surrounded by smaller stones and set on a diamond studded platinum band. Taking it from the box, I placed it on my finger. It was perfect, and the perfect ring for me. Angelo knew me well. By giving me the ring, he was making a pledge and a promise, as well as fully claiming me as his.

I was all right with that. Because he was all I had ever wanted.

Putting the box and the card back into my bag, I spotted the bottle of ibuprofen and fished it out, dumping a couple into my hand as the familiar pain that had come and gone over the past year grew more prominent. The back ache and stomach ache was usually manageable and I had never felt a need to worry.

But now I had a future with Angelo to look forward to. And that changed things.