What They Were

March/April 2012

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I love what we are, even if this is all we’ll ever be,”

she thought to herself.

She showed up everyday

keeping her eyes peeled

searching for the chance of walking alongside him

if only for a few yards.

 

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I love what we are, even if this is all we’ll ever be,”

he thought,

searching her eyes

for signs that she’d attained

knowledge of his vulnerability.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

 

She felt herself blushing.

She tried to hold down

the corners of her smile.

Wise words of his echoed in her ear,

“Once the urge sets in, trying to deny it is futile.”

Her smile grew.

 

The sight of her smile

startled him;

his fingers tensed

and his arm fell away,

but he did not walk away.

He could not.

 

 

She trembled and fidgeted,

completely immersed in his gallant coquetry.

Grinning nonstop,

putting on that she was unaware

that he would shy away after that night.

 

The 1,000 miles between them

lifted enough pressure from his chest

so that thoughts he’d concealed

flowed to her comfortably

without hesitation or second thought.

 

She stared at his words

hoping for more,

but reminding herself

she’d promised

to love what they were,

even if this was all they’d ever be.

 

He stared at her picture

half regretting his dauntlessness

knowing no more would come

after his return home.

He loved what they were,

but it was up to him whether that was all they’d ever be.

Reviews

[Mark D]

This is amazing...

I get the message that life(or love) is about the moment and not about the hope being something else or something more. Beautiful.

There was a few lines in this that I think are incredible.

"she tried to hold down the corners of her smile". That line is just fantastic.

Really enjoyed this a lot and got lots from it. Well done!!