Got Away

I still didn’t understand what just all happened. The man I used to love and still did in a way that was too hard to describe just said goodbye. Half of me wanted him to fight for us. The other half was glad it was over. Or was I really glad? I looked at my phone after polishing off my wine. Had a missed call and three unread texts. Those could wait. This couldn’t. I got up from the couch, grabbed my jacket off the kitchen chair, slid on a pair of sandals and ran out the door.

I could see his figure just leaving the building as I jogged down the hallway. I got to the front doors and saw him getting into his car.

“Wait!” I said.

He turned around and saw me running toward him. He shut the door and waited.

“Let’s go over to the bench and talk.” I grabbed his sleeve and soon we were sitting on the bench placed to the side of the building. It was now almost completely dark and the wind blew leaves across the parking lot. Light posts scattered around the property gradually flicked on.

We sat down and faced each other. He still was sniffling and wiping away tears.

“Look it, I began, you know I still love you and deep down want us to work out, but you’ve ran away from us twice.”

He didn’t say anything, but just nodded in agreement.

“And I want to trust you and take all the things you say and believe that they’re true, but that’s hard.”

Again, just a nod and a wipe away of tears.

My stomach started to churn again and knots built all the way up to my throat. I hated seeing the pain in his face. His hands shook and so did his leg.

“I get it,” he said finally. “I wouldn’t know what to do if you did the same thing to me.”

I grabbed his hand and couldn’t hold back the tears.

“I want to be with you so bad. You’re my soulmate,” he said, squeezing my hand.

I looked at him. Another tear ran down my cheek.

“You have to let me go. You have to let me let you go.”

He squeezed my hand more and I squeezed back.

“I know,” he said, full out crying again.

We hugged each other, hard. Then he stood up. I looked at him, but stayed sitting. He shook his head and cried some more.

He walked to his car, looking back at me with every other step he took. Got into the driver’s side, drove past the bench, rolled down his window and smiled then drove away.

I walked back inside, hiding the fact I had cried some from the front service man and locked the apartment door behind me. I sat down and picked up my phone.

I saw the notifications from earlier and then the one new one. I opened it and it took me to an app. It had a message; For the one who got away, but never left my heart.

Attached was a gift. I started to cry.

____________

Breaking News: “A serious crash occurred on Interstate 5, moments ago. A car headed south bound collided head on with a sedan traveling on the wrong side of the highway. Alcohol seems to have played a factor. Both drivers were transported to the local hospital, condition is unknown at this time. More details to be provided as they become available.