The Wind Beneath Our Wings

Chapter 5

Thrills I get when you hold me close

Oh darling you're the most

Joaquin's voice suddenly filled the silent room, instantly sending shivers throughout my being.

It was a soft hum, a whisper so low that I almost didn't hear it, even though I was leaning so close to him that I could feel his breath caressing my skin.

I love you, but do you love me

When he sang that specific line, his eyes lingered on my face one minute longer than needed, sending a tingling sensation within me.

Despite myself, the brush which I was using to apply a thin layer of concealer upon the scar he had on his upper lip - froze in my hand.

I found myself being drawn into Joaquin's emerald eyes, as if under a spell.

Would he sing the next line of the song?

He didn't.

Averting his gaze away from mine, he fell into silence.

Please sing further, Joaquin

As much as these words wanted to stumble forward, I silenced them, biting my lower lip so that they couldn't come out.

This song that Joaquin was singing... I had heard it for the first time years ago - a whole lifetime ago, it seemed.

The song was about a young boy professing his undying love to his ladylove whom he pleaded never to leave his sides

The naive fifteen-year-old girl whom I was back then had been wonderstruck by this seemingly simple song, for a reason that was quite silly: never before, had I stumbled upon a love song dedicated to a woman who shared her first name with me.

Paul Anka had written this song for a girl named Diana, whom he had developed a crush on. Listening to this joyful, vibrant, and light melody, you almost had the feeling that it was a mere playful song, with no real depth. But if you listened to it more carefully, you could understand the depth of a person's longing for his or her first love.

No matter how many times you are bound to fall in love throughout your life, the memories attached to your first love were meant to be forever etched in your memory.

Joaquin was the first man I had found myself falling in love with.

Even if our paths were meant to divide, I would, at least, have the blessing to call him the first love of my life.

Having fallen in love with such an extraordinary man was my pride. I knew that nothing would ever change that.

"Do you want to hear the next line, Princess?"

Joaquin's soft voice suddenly snapped me out the daze I was in – and I realized that he had grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to him. His lips were now only inches away from mine.

For a fleeting moment, the thought that he would lean a little bit forward and kiss me crossed my mind, causing my heart to go wild.

Kiss him, you fool!

A loud voice raised at the back of my mind, uninvited.

Just go for it and take the initiative!

I closed my eyes for a second, struggling to muffle that adamant voice. As much as I wanted to listen to it, I knew that I couldn't.

"Joaquin... Let me... Let me go", I stuttered, a wave of fear suddenly taking control of my being.