Answered Prayers

Answered Prayers
By Quizmo LaGrande

As she kissed him, she whispered good-bye, and meant it as the last time, no matter how much it hurt. They had just spent the afternoon rolling in each other’s arms, making fantastic, ultimate love. It was beautiful when they were together, perfect, in heaven’s arms. But the time apart was perfect hell. He treated her as if she didn’t exist, unanswered phone calls and emails, too many times he didn’t show up for a date and left her waiting. Days would pass with no word, unexplained and no apology. Too many times she let it pass.

He never really said “I love you,” yet she left him no doubt that she loved him far beyond her power. Life was too short to let it go unspoken. He did mutter the words a few times, under his breath, during their first whirlwind encounters. She allowed these memories, the look in his impassioned eyes, the almost inaudible voice, shout, holler, hover above her and shower her with wishes that the words were now not mere ghosts.

What happened? Why did he change? Why did he hurt her so by leaving, and then come back in hopes of beginning again. And why did she let him, welcoming him with wary but open arms, back in her heart? Because he had never left her heart, and she knew he never would.

Without looking in his eyes, she said good-bye, then turned to leave. He picked up the odd tone and questioned, “ Are you coming back?”

She looked him bravely in the eye for a split second, turned her rapidly tearing eyes downward and softly shook her head, no.

She waited for no response, no gallant attempt to ask why and a plea for reconsideration; there would be none. It was possible to love someone too much. She raced down the steps as quickly and surely as her blurred vision allowed. She hopped in her car and hurriedly turned on the ignition. She dared not look up to see if he might be in chase to beg her to stay. She dared more not look up to see him not coming at all.

Suddenly she felt his arms around her. She breathed in the wonderful manly scent that was only his. She heard him whisper and plead, “I love you. Don’t go. Please, don’t go, I love you, I need you!” She saw tears stream from his eyes. Then she felt his arms no more.

She watched as her lover held her empty body, rocking and begging for her to stay. She watched as the ambulance screamed to a halt and people crowded the scene.

She had already said good-bye. She entered the tunnel and journeyed home.

~~***~~