Secret Love

Reunited

"Nadia Wallace."
I took a deep breath and started to make my way across the stage to collect my diploma.
I did it, I'm done. I'm finally done. I thought, I can finally go home, back to what matters most. Back to Elise.

Elise had stayed in New York and gone to NYU while I went off in search of bigger and better things. I traveled to California and spent four of the best years of my life pursuing my passion at UCLA. I was happy, but my happiness was short lived. Something or someone was missing. At first I couldn't put my finger on it, thought I was just homesick. Thought I'd get over it after a few great nights out on the town. But the feeling stuck, it was always there. It was always there, when Elise wasn't. I had to get back to her.

I was at the airport within an hour. I'd already spoken to Elise and made plans to meet her at the airport in New York in approximately six hours. She told me how excited she was to see me and said she had news for me upon arrival, boy did I have news for her too. I couldn't wait to tell her just how much I had missed her.

Six hours later
I'm awakened by a rough jolt. I sit up and look out the window, I was home. I recognized the rigid skyline and the air that looked almost too polluted to breath. I stood up anxious to get off the plane, anxious to see Elise.

As soon as my feet hit the floor I was off, running as fast as my luggage would allow towards the airport entrance. Upon entering I scanned the room, looking for that quirky grin, those beautiful brown eyes that made my stomach fill with butterflies. Looking for Elise. I scanned the room once more, then I saw her. She looked even better than I remembered. Her hair had grown in soft waves to the middle of her back, she wore simple blue jeans and a pair of converse with a plain black t-shirt over her thin frame. My breath caught.

She ran up to me and gave me a hug that I returned after getting over my initial shock. "Nadia, oh my gosh it's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too Elise." I choked out. My heart was beating fast, I was so ready to blurt it out "I love you." I just wanted to say it, to see her reaction, but I held off.

We engaged in small talk as we made our way towards her car.
"So how were the boys in California?"
Elise asked with a knowing grin.
Funny you should ask, I thought.
"Nothing special" I replied with a nervous laugh.
"What about you?"
She smiled and turned towards me.
"I was gonna wait until we got to the apartment but I have something to tell you."
"What?" I asked nervously.
She smiled big and extended her left hand exposing a large diamond on her ring finger.
"I'm engaged!"
My heart stopped.
"Great" I said weakly, hoping the pain didn't show on my face "Elise I'm so happy for you."