One And Only~ Maylor [Wattys 2019]

Prologue: Remembering the Past

June 1978

Roger stood quietly in the soft, silky sand at the beach. His blonde hair and his skin were caressed by the summer breeze, his baby blue eyes were focused on the vast ocean beyond him, and the shiny and colourful sunset. It had several shades of blue, red, purple and orange. With the scorching sun, it made some of the shades brighter, and the atmosphere of the place romantic.

Then, Roger spotted a happy couple that was walking along the shore, holding hands and looking completely in love. Their laughter and their expressions evoked nostalgia and really reminded him of his relationship with Brian, the person who he had loved and cared for the most. They had broken up about a year ago now- and didn't talk to each other again-, and Roger regretted that.

Why did I leave you?...

Why?...

Why was I so selfish?....

Why?....

Those few phrases haunted Roger's mind for months already. He never figured out why he left Brian. What must he be doing now? Where is he? How is he? Roger didn't know.

Some minutes passed, and the couple was still at the beach. Roger just looked them with nostalgia evoking in his eyes. He decided to walk around, and he passed them. Then, he noticed that the man looked gravely familiar. Dark brown curls, tall, slim, hazel eyes.

It was Brian.

Good thing Brian didn't see me, he thought. Brian was too focused looking into his girlfriend's dazzling eyes, or it seemed like it.

As Roger was walking away, tears rolled his eyes. He began to look for a private place, to free the sorrows inside of him. He began walking the path that had led him to the beach, making his way home. Again, his eyes began to wonder around. By his sides, there were beautiful rhododendrons that had just flowered. Rhodondendrons were Roger's favorite type of flower. They had various meanings for him, and there was one that he couldn't resist.

1968.