It was a beautiful night, ambient fairy lights seemed to radiate their soft luminous rays along the whole beach. The the salt water that crashed violently against the eroded rocks occasionally spattered Mollys cheeks feeling the salt seep into her skin, as if she was apart of the sea itself. The cold ocean wind, merciless as it was, swelled and blew her hair somehow beautifully in million different directions. She felt a mess but had never felt more undeniably herself in all her 23 years. Was it because she had, not but 10 minutes ago ran from her best friends wedding rehearsal dinner? Or was it because she knew deep in her pounding and achingly desperate heart, that she loved him with every fiber of her being. All these years of deceiving herself into believing she didn't love him, all these years convincing herself that she just wanted to be friends, but there was no doubt in that moment Molly Boucannon knew she loved Tyler Mayhue and as much much more than a friend. She felt numb, maybe from the cold gusts of wind that continued to make her beautiful lilac skirt billow or maybe it was because she finally was able to let herself go. As she sank down onto the corse fine sand that left imprints on her delicate finger tips, which were carefully painted cream, she felt every emotion possible, but mostly regret.
Not surprising was how Molly's brain started to wander and land on her memories of Tyler. As she sifted through the years she spent with Tyler she relived their first meeting. Their sophomore year of high school, when all she really wanted was friendship. She recalled his angular yet childlike face, brightly lit with a contagious smile that you couldn't resist. How could she have known how familiar that smile and those perfectly creased dimples would become in the following years. She hated to think back to those days pre-Tyler when she loathed everything about herself, wanting desperately to change anything and everything. She realizes now she never gave herself enough credit, sure she's not Molly Ringwald but she carried herself in a beautifully unexpected way, and if you looked close enough you could appreciate the classic and simplistic features that graced her face. And as she grew out of her teen years, confidence came along to accompany her stunning piercing blue eyes. Of course she still thinks her thighs are too large and that her slightly odd smile is atrocious, but she owns herself and has an air of confidence about her, even if it is faked half the time. She owes that self discovery to Tyler, beautiful sweet Tyler who helped her realize she wasn't so bad, who made her realize even she is deserving of love and companionship.
Their first meeting, in the school library wasn't particularly special, but everything that came after was. They started meeting in the library during lunch everyday, their own little world tucked away in the back corner of the musty old book stacks that littered the library. It was her safe haven, feeling secure surrounded by hundreds of books, and the one person who quickly grew to matter more than anyone else in her life. The two were practically inseparable, spending their days eating ice cream, reading, and laughing at silly childish things with each other. Those were simple times when all they had was each other, and that's all they both wanted or needed. As time passed they stayed close as ever, continuing their college lives together. Attending a small school off the coast of Monterey Bay California the two continued their friendship, growing closer than ever. That is until he met his soon to be wife, Kelsey in one of his business classes, altering the course of his life and Molly's forever. Thinking back on it now Molly had always convinced herself the fondness and love she felt for Tyler was that of a brother, but as soon as Kelsey entered the picture and jealousy raged she contemplated her feelings truly questioning their relationship. Being the sweet friend who never causes trouble Molly pushed her feelings down telling herself friendship was enough, and it was, until now. As she sat body hunched over in a fetal position she let out a low sob that emanated from her very soul. Soon she found herself gasping for air, her own tears choking her threatening to drown her in sorrow. As soon as her emotions flooded in they rushed out, leaving her bewildered and drained. The last few years leaving an unbearable weight on her making her feel heavy and tired. The faked smiles put in place for Tyler's sake, the laughter masking tears that threatened to spill. And that was the moment Molly realized it was time to move on. Laying in the damp gray sand illuminated by mood light, the salt water stinging at her red cheeks, she knew it was time, for her sake and for Tyler's as well.
