The Longest Weekend [Part 7]

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This is Part 7 of a Short Story about a chance encounter between two wounded souls over an enchanting weekend.

Read again Part 6 (Click the Link Below)

The walk towards Ericka’s cottage had become nerve-wracking compared to before. He feared either not having enough sensible reasons to be there or becoming just plain tongue-tied in front of her. This was the first time in a long time he was celebrating his birthday far from home. He almost forgot about it, and he never really cared much about his birthday. But if he had to celebrate, he couldn’t think of anyone else he’d rather share it with than the girl with the deep brown eyes. Excitement rose as he neared where she should be. Except for the dim glow of a sconce on the porch, the cottage seemed empty. A sudden surge of fear enveloped him. He stood outside her door, still hoping she would appear. Five minutes passed, and still no one. He was surprised at his disappointment. Perhaps she was somewhere else, like the beach. He walked further down the shore, seeing no one except a couple of familiar faces he had seen since his arrival. She probably wanted to be alone this time. He prayed he hadn’t scared her. Almost giving up hope, he approached the hammock where they had hung out the night before. He sat on the sand and felt his excitement slowly die down. He took another sip from his beer, wishing it could help him figure out what to do.

The sea breeze was colder than expected against his skin. As he took another sip, he shuddered at a familiar voice that seemed to call his name. Before he could turn around, there she was — slowly running towards him, wearing a smile that warmed the entire beach. He got up, almost dropping his beer; he couldn’t wait to feel her near again. She seemed confused at his sudden reaction, but he cared little for anything but her. She stopped in her tracks as he ran towards her. She saw how he towered over her as he drew closer.

Silence.

He stood before her, staring at her as if she were a stranger.

“I… I saw you when I was getting back to the cottage, so I thought I’d say hi. If you wanted to be alone then…” she started, looking down and about to turn back, but he suddenly hugged her.

“Stay, please. Stay with me for a while,” he whispered against her ear, enveloping her completely with his arms. For seconds they both lost count, just standing there, stunned by the turn of events. Slowly, she slid her hands up to his back and closed her eyes.

“I’m here. I’m staying,” she murmured, and he led her to sit by the hammock.

They sat close to each other, words dwindling as their eyes communicated more than words ever could. His hands, tightening with each of her movements, wouldn’t let go of hers. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Her sudden laughter made him laugh too.

“I was looking for you earlier. I thought you already left,” he confessed.

“Why would I leave? I just went to the lobby and requested an extra charger. I tried calling the reception area, but it was busy, so I went there instead. Is everything okay? Can I help?” she asked, puzzled by his still-puzzling stare.

“Here,” he said, handing her a beer first, and she knew he was joking. Then he gave her a soda can.

“Thanks… Why are you drinking?” she asked.

“Nothing. It’s just my birthday today.”

And she gave him the most surprised look he’d ever seen.

“What? It’s just my birthday. Nothing grand! Cheers?”

She still looked at him as if she hadn’t heard anything he said.

“Derek? Why didn’t you say anything about it? We were together the whole day. We could’ve spent it the way you wanted. You gave me so many things, and you treated me like it was my day… and now you’re telling me that…” she trailed off.

“Shh… relax. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The day with you was just perfect,” he said, tightening his grip.

“Still…” she started, but couldn’t find the words.

“Shh…” he held her chin and brought her face up to look at him. “I want you to stop worrying now. I talked to my Dad before I came here.”

“That’s great! I’m pretty sure they all missed you… as you did. Uh… Derek?”

“Yep?” he said, winking at her.

“Do you still miss Melissa?”

“Ah… so there’s your second question,” he said, then told her.

On some occasions, he found himself still missing the companionship. Melissa was, after all, a best friend to him at one point. Even though they grew apart, they shared some happy times together. She knows how to have fun — something that he wasn’t so good at. “I don’t know if you could call that missing her. A year ago, then maybe, yes. But recently, it just doesn’t come naturally anymore.

“If she still loves you now, would you still give each other a chance?” she added as if his answers weren’t enough.

“The question is, do I still love her?”

“Do you?”

“That’s going to be your fourth question.”

“Then just answer any of them.”

“When I fought the divorce, I allowed people to question my reasoning. I was the only one left to believe there was still hope. Even if there was no love left, I prayed that she’d still honor what she vowed in front of God to never abandon the marriage and to never turn her back on me. The last thing I would do was to give in to what they were fighting to prove — that they were right and I was wrong… that the marriage was a mistake. And I did. For the first time, I did something that was against me — to let it go… to let her go. If I had to go back in time, I would still fight for it. I would still want her. But… something happened along the way that somehow taught me not to close my doors to anything. Beautiful things are going to knock into my life. I had loved it before. Just like you, I never wanted to be with someone else… until… one night.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked too many personal questions. We should end this game,” she hesitated to look his way.

“Ericka, if you had never been in love before… and never had your heart broken, would you look at me the way I wish you would?”

His question seemed to be an answer in itself. Just as he let it slip from his mouth, he felt it was too late to take it back. Since the start, he had been so scared of saying the wrong words, afraid to sing the wrong notes. But the longing for someone so near, yet so far, was just so hard to hold back anymore.

“I… I think you are the most perfect man that I have ever met. I would have given all I have to have a man like you. After so long, I felt my best self only when I was with you for the past few days. I feel like the world can stop anytime, just as long as I’m with you. But… my heart is not the same. And I’m afraid I can’t love anymore. I lost all of me once, and I don’t have anything left to give to anyone.”

She stood up and wanted to end the night right there and then, but he was too fast to stop her. He stood in front of her, not letting her hand go, even as she tried to.

“Ericka, I know that you know what just happened between us was not something we both can ignore for the rest of the night. Hell, it will never be something I will ignore for the rest of my life.”

“What are you talking about? Derek, you must be a little drunk now. I think you need to go back to your…”

“…no, I won’t go anywhere. Tell me… tell me now and look straight at me. What do you feel for me?”

“You have no right to ask me that, and I have none to answer you… so please let’s just let this go…”

“Ericka… I… lo…”

“Stop!” She cried as she tried to cover his mouth with her bare hands.

“No… please, Derek. Don’t say anything. Don’t say a word that I will ever regret hearing. If you do care for me, then please, don’t make it more miserable for me…” she sobbed against him.

“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry. I…” In an instant, he felt the weight both of them were carrying. He held her tight still, brushing her hair lightly with his hands as he kissed her head. He still wanted to say those words, but she was right. Saying those might just crack open still-fresh wounds.

“No words… not even those you think you want to say, can mean as much as the most beautiful things you did for me. I just had the best days of my life…”

Her words stabbed him a million times. A tear dropped from his eye as he tightened his grasp on her. Slowly, she raised her face to look at him. Her face glistened from the tears that were still flowing, and he wiped them. She was half-smiling and frowning. He never felt so alive like this. If a whole lifetime could mean just a few days like what he had, then he’d be happy to live such a short time like that. Heaven was short of anything that he was feeling at that very moment — holding the girl his heart had been beating for since just a few nights ago.

There she stood, gazing at the man who had once been a stranger — a man who not only alleviated the pain in her ankle, brightened her vacation, and warmed her nights, but who also selflessly took away the pain she had carried for so long.

“Can I keep you… even just for this weekend? Even for just tonight? Can I be selfish for a while and have you all to myself?” she whispered to him.

As if words were inadequate to answer her questions and surrender to the haunting desire, he gently pulled her towards him, lowering his head so close that he could almost feel her warm breath. Softly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his lips lightly brushed against hers. They both closed their eyes, overwhelmed by the simple touch of their lips. For seconds, the moment felt like an eternity as they delved deeper into the unknown, exploring their hearts through their kiss.

When their lips finally parted, she felt as if she could breathe again. In her heart remained only a new, burning feeling for the man before her. As they sat together, it felt as though their souls were intertwined. He sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her, ensuring no cold air could come between them. They conversed as if they owned a paradise called Earth. Their touches were now effortless, with her hands gently reaching for his neck, pulling his head closer so she could hear him better. He would inhale her scent as he nodded along to her every word. And as the night grew deeper, so did their feelings.

“You must be sleepy now, huh?” he asked, gently pinching her chin.

“I don’t want this night to end. It feels so perfect, almost like a dream, which I hope it’s not,” she said while holding his hands, making sure he was real. Then she looked over her shoulder to face him again. “I’m scared that I might lose you if I lose this night.”

Her scared expression broke his heart. He kissed her again, this time letting her feel that nothing could ever hurt her again. She kissed him back, sweetly. She was still new to this.

“You only asked for this night… but I’m more than willing to give you forever,” he declared.

She bowed her head again.

“Will you let me give you forever?” he asked, his tone serious.

“After what happened, I can’t even find it in my heart to believe in forever for now. It’s not just for me… it’s for you, too. Especially for you. I can’t bear to hurt you,” she confessed.

“You won’t. Trust me. And if you ever do, I’ll take the risk. We should know, of all people, that it’s going to be worth it. And knowing you, I know nothing will ever be more worthwhile in this lifetime.”

“Shh… we’re just stuck in this moment, which we surrendered ourselves into. We cannot be more certain about tomorrow.”

He wanted to tell her that she was wrong, but the moment was too perfect to say more. He just held her tighter, grateful that she was real.

That was Part 7 of this short story. Click below to read Part 8.

Read again the Chapters below:

Part 1 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-1-7d785f0ac795 Part 2 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-2-83e6b159132c Part 3 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-3-60cadeec1234 Part 4 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-4-8714f1493c86 Part 5 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-5-da3bb449ce26 Part 6 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-6-46451d86c128 Part 7 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-7-79fc67a10613 Part 8 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-8-b4948aaed201