there he stood. watching, waiting. looking even more incredible with 
each passing moment. the tiny quiver in her heart expanded until she 
couldn't breathe. a single tear escaped her watering eyes, and she 
fought bravely to keep the rest in. her efforts failed, and her vision
 became blurry as they continued to roll down her cheeks. finally, 
he looked her way. recognition dawned on his face, and he slowly began 
to walk over. her heart started pounding, she had to use every ounce 
of willpower within her to keep herself from running away. 

he stopped only a few feet away. she could see the lines in his face, the look in his eyes that she 
couldn't tear her own away from. panic welled up inside her and the tears kept falling, as she wiped 
them away frantically. his eyes looked tormented, so miserable that she felt a stab of heartache 
herself. 


she took a tentative step forward as their eyes locked. old feelings rose within her, feelings no 
longer appropriate to express. she looked away, at the willow tree next to them. it was a beautiful 
spot, where they had decided to meet. a lake was nearby, the green of the grass and palm fronds 
contrasted so intriguingly to the daffodils growing near the lake. she turned back to him. 


"you look wonderful," he ventured. she bit her lip and nodded. 


"so do you," she croaked out, suddenly forgetting how to talk. fingering her curls, she lowered her 
head, her eyes on her shoes. out of the corner of her eye she saw him do the same, scuffing his 
sneakers in the dirt, drawing a heart in a patch of sand. 


"baby, i..." his voice faded when she looked up at him. another tear fell from her eyes, and he 
moved forward to wipe it away. his touch seared her very soul, and she looked away once more, at a 
flock of ducks wandering nearby. she looked back when she heard his voice again. 


"i never forgot," he sounded choked, but his words came out stronger than he had anticipated. "i 
never will forget." 


a sob escaped her lips as she threw herself in his arms. burying her face in his chest, his arms 
circled tightly around her, she let everything out, every bottled up tear within her, wanting so 
badly to understand. 


he whispered something, and she faintly made out "i love you", but she would never be sure. she 
pulled away slightly, and his face drew nearer as his lips grazed her tearstained cheek. a small, 
sad smile appeared on her face as she stepped out of the security of his arms. 


neither spoke for a moment, just stared, reliving moments long past. "it was a beautiful wedding," he 
said finally. "i'm very happy for you." 


she nodded, bit her lip, and fingered the gold ring. turning her head, she spotted the car parked, 
with her husband inside. waiting. turning back to him, she suddenly stopped crying. her expression 
grew calm. 


"i love you," she said, firmly with a trace of the old tenderness. turning away, so he would not see 
her start to cry again, she ran back to the car, a 63 corvette. back to her reality, her destiny. her 
choice. 


and she never looked back.