Valentine's Tale

Entry for Valentine's tale contest

I was lonely. My time was so full of things with no meaning. I ate. I slept. I did my work. In between, I read books that only left me feeling how empty my life really was. The heroines always found their fated mate before the first chapter was over, but weren't aware of it for certain until later. I had no such illusions. There were no strong masculine arms waiting for me, longing for my touch as much as I was empty for his.

I wanted to be adored, married, and loved. Was it so very much to ask? I saw it reflected in the eyes of lovers walking down the street in front of me every day. I saw them through coffeehouse windows, laughing in the rain. The wet, dreary, miserable rain that brought no smile to my lonely lips. How could things be so vibrant, so positive for them? Reality seemed just too drab to be believed. How did they find the rainbows in all of the gray?

I tried to walk through life pretending to be complete. But the emptiness of my existence was unavoidable. I got a cat. She was aloof. I chose her, thinking she would offer the unconditional love I craved, but apparently, I had missed the definition of a cat. I was her butler, her maid, and her chef, not the object of her affection. I wanted that special someone to share my hopes and dreams. I should have gotten a puppy.

My heart was open, but I was blind to what lay right in front of me. I had people in my life, of course. My parents were supportive. They and my brother loved me, but it wasn't what I sought. They were a good mirror to hold myself up to. But I couldn't see the positives through all the baggage that came with growing up. I was their little sister, their little girl. I needed to be someone's woman.

My work is fulfilling even though all I do is shuffle paper across a desk, green-stamping or red-stamping the requests of people I have not and perhaps never will meet. Tracy was the woman in the cubicle next to me. She cheerily spoke to customers, clucking away at them excessively until even they were convinced they were content with life and with our company's services. It was her way with people. She did it to everyone, even attempting it with me. She disappointingly referred to me as a melancholy, sour puss, who couldn't see the bright and beautiful in anything. She was wrong, of course. I could see the bright and beautiful world that other people lived in, the ones that weren't alone.

Terry was the office gossip who was always willing to dish on everyone's love and life stories. He knew who was secretly seeing who, and who sat alone on Friday night because they'd been dumped on Thursday. I don't know what he said about me most of the time, but I doubt it was much. I just didn't have any dirt to be exposed.

Then there was Milo. He worked as a courier. Every day, he delivered piles of papers for me to rubber-stamp neatly enfolded in corrugated cardboard boxes printed with exotic addresses. He worked throughout the city. Somehow, he always managed to be in the cafeteria downstairs when it came time for lunch. Unfailingly, there he was, carrying his tray past my usual table. I'd offer a wave and let it go. One day, though he stopped and asked if there was space at my table. From there, lunch alone became lunch with Milo.

Milo began sneaking up and hugging me in the cafeteria line. He always had a hug for me. Milo brought excitement into my life. He called me Honey and Darling. Sometimes he would deliver a cappuccino with the boxes of forms and papers. It really began to feel like he worked for our company, as opposed to a citywide courier company; he was around so much. He would even stop by with little surprises when he had deliveries on other floors,

Then came the day the hug came with a peck on the cheek. I nearly dropped my lunch tray. He blushed, and I blushed. We were quiet through that lunch, not our usual chatty selves. I didn't see him for a couple of days after that. I missed him when his temporary replacement delivered the boxes. When he did come back, Milo asked what was in all of the boxes he brought me. It was small talk, like before the kiss. I told him they were request forms of clients I had to approve or disapprove individually. He smiled and promised me a big surprise.

When for a Valentine gift he brought me red roses by the dozen, and chocolates by the pound. I thought that was the surprise. But no, the surprise arrived on the fifteenth of February in one of the boxes he delivered. Unusually, he stuck around for me to open it and lift out the papers. I stared at him, confused, as I set the stack on my work surface. I prepared my stamps. Uncomfortably, I read through the first request. Milo still hadn't left. After a few more, he seemed nervous. Then came one on a different paper, handwritten, and not xeroxed or printed. It simply asked, "Will you marry me?" I paused, scratched my head, and leaned back in my chair. It took me a moment, but then I looked up at Milo. I sheepishly pointed at him, then back at the paper. He nodded. I pointed at myself, still not quite getting it.

"I love you, Maria! I don't want to be without you! No, I can't be without you! What do you say?" Milo pleaded.

The office fell silent. No one spoke, not even Terry; he just held a hand over his coffee as he paused on his way back to his desk. I reached for my stamps. Then very purposefully stamped request approved onto the paper. Milo looked ready to faint and Terry looked at the green ink and yelled, "I told ya'll!"

We married one year later. Now we sit twenty years later eating a lovely dinner for six, us and our near grown children. Reminiscing about the day he revealed his love.

1062 words

Prompt ▶︎

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Valentine Tales Contest  (E) My words, your story, how creative are you? 40,000 gift points available for prizes #2353877 by Wannabe

T H E C O N T E S T

Write a Valentine tale that includes each word listed below.


T H E W O R D S

Lonely
Cheek
Adored
Married
Love
Special
Reminiscing
Honey
Excitement
Darling
Hopes
Dreams
Valentine
Hug
Heart
Prominsed
Surprise
Red
Chocolates
Dinner