The Longest Weekend [Part 8]
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This is Part 8 and the final part of this Story about a chance encounter between two wounded souls over an enchanting weekend.
Read again Part 7 (Click the Link Below)
It was already 1 AM, and he sensed her occasional nods. She needed rest. He slowly got up, hearing her sigh softly. Before she could say anything, he effortlessly lifted her, one arm under her legs and the other around her waist. She gazed back at him as he carried her towards the cottage. He kissed her as he walked, and she kissed him back as if it were not enough. He opened the door, went straight to her bed, and gently laid her down — laying his fragile girl where she would be safest. Then he slid beside her, still gazing at her. They lay facing each other, enveloped in each other’s warmth.
She reached for his cheek, tracing each texture with her palm. They both smiled, their embraces radiating a heat that only they could share. He pulled her closer, allowing her to bury her head against his chest. There, she pressed her face against his shirt, wanting to listen to his heartbeat for the rest of her life.
“Will you stay with me for the rest of the night?” she murmured.
“For as long as you want, dear…” he assured her with all gentleness.
I love you, Ericka. Believe me. He wanted to scream those words, but he feared they might end what they had instead. The night’s coldness felt alien to their paradise. They held each other like it was the only way to live. They whispered words they longed to hear, kissed, and held each other tighter — until nothing, not even the thinnest air, could come between them.
She closed her eyes, lulled by the rhythm of his breathing. He watched her slip into a deep slumber, cherishing every moment. He lightly brushed his lips against hers, feeling like it was their first kiss.
“I’m all yours, Ericka,” he whispered before succumbing to his dreams. Just moments before the complete surrender, he smiled, knowing he would wake up next to her and perhaps lie like this every night from now on.
She opened her eyes to almost complete darkness on the beach, barely able to distinguish the sea from the sands. The rhythmic sound of the waves was the only tether to reality she could grasp. It felt like a journey back in time, she mused. Her face was damp from the tears she might have shed, reliving memories over the past few hours. She would give anything to return to those frozen moments she could only revisit in her dreams each night. The recollection of waking up that morning, still nestled together as dawn approached, felt like something out of the most enchanting fairy tale. With his eyes closed, he appeared as the most handsome of sleeping princes. It was a perfection too exquisite to cling to.
For one last time, she kissed him deeply, allowing herself to be transported through a nameless time. Slowly, she rose, retrieved a notepad, and began to write. Seated where she had lain moments before, she wrote, stealing glances at him as he softly snored, occasionally reaching out for her hand, which she readily offered. With each stroke of the pen, her emotions poured onto the page until she reached the final phrase of her letter. With a deep breath, she released it, attempting to restrain a tear as she gently rose from the bed. Casting one last look at Derek, she whispered,
“I wish this could last longer… but this is all we can be.”
And then, without a backward glance, she departed, taking with her everything she had arrived with. She had entered this place alone, and she left it the same way — alone.
Just as he finished fixing his sister-in-law’s car, he hurried to take a shower, eagerly anticipating seeing his family once more. Closing a deal with a couple interested in buying his business had liberated him from the monotony of his usual routine. The decision to sell hadn’t been made overnight, but once he did, it felt undeniably right. Arriving just in time for dinner, he enjoyed a light tea session in the living room before everyone retired for the night. As always, he found himself craving solitude come nighttime — a time for reflection on the happiest moments of his past, never to be experienced again. Yet, the events of that weekend had irrevocably altered him, leaving behind a sense of profound peace he hadn’t known before.
Venturing outside for a clearer view of the night sky, he settled on the porch steps, captivated by the breathtaking beauty of the mountain setting. Even without the moon to illuminate it, the night held a mesmerizing allure, a canvas of unparalleled beauty. Yet, amidst this picturesque scene, nothing could compare to the perfection of the nights spent with the girl he had fallen in love with on the island.
With her, he had willingly surrendered to love once more. That night, he glimpsed a future he had never dared to envision before — a future filled with hope and boundless possibilities. But it was a fleeting dream, ending far too soon. She had left while he still slept, leaving behind nothing but a faint trace of their time together. Yet, her presence lingered, her sweet scent haunting him in the stillness of the night.
He could still envision her silhouette against the beach, a distant memory he longed to reclaim. Did she, too, think of him in that moment? He had lost count of the times he had read her letter, each reading reopening the wound left by her departure. Retrieving the crumpled letter from his pocket, he unfolded it, transported once more to that unforgettable night.
Dear Derek,
By the time you read this, I will be gone. Please don’t try to find me, for I will be far away, beyond reach. The time we spent together was more precious than I could have imagined, offering me a lifetime’s worth of contentment and joy in a fleeting moment. I woke up knowing that our brief encounter deserved a place in our hearts, to be cherished until we could both fully grasp its significance.
The kisses we shared, the embraces we exchanged — these memories will warm me for a lifetime. I regret withholding certain words, but I had to be selfish to give us both the strength to part ways. I will not seek you out, yet I will carry you with me always, preserving our love within my heart.
Farewell is too final a word for us. I will not bid you goodbye, for our connection transcends such earthly notions. Though I am not yet fully healed, your presence has made me a better person, teaching me to love myself and others once more.
Someone once broke my heart, leaving me shattered. But you, Derek, you have healed me. As I face each day, know that I owe my very existence to you. Yes, I have fallen in love with you.
Until we meet again, perhaps for another endless weekend, I will wait for you with a heart full of hope.
Always,
Ericka
Everything about that weekend felt like a gift from above. He realized he was not as healed as he had believed, the emotions still raw and unyielding. They were two broken souls entwined in a fragile dance of love, their paths converging for a brief, miraculous moment. When she left, a part of him died, only to be reborn anew.
Leaving the beach and the country behind, he carried with him a longing for a girl he wasn’t certain he would ever see again. Yet, paradoxically, he had never felt more alive. Returning home, he concealed the truth of his island rendezvous from everyone, presenting a facade of unbreakable strength. Conversations with Melissa, while initially wrought with guilt, evolved into a deeper understanding between them. But seeing her cry upon realizing he would not return as she had hoped was a bittersweet reminder of the love he had once known.
His father’s words echoed in his mind, questioning his hesitation and urging him to seize the opportunity before it slipped away. With unwavering conviction, he declared his intention to claim her heart.
“I will find her again, Dad. I will,” he would always sound so sure and his father would just nod in contentment.
And as he succumbed to the embrace of sleep, the moon peeked out from behind a cloud, a silent witness to his memories of her on that distant shore.
Waiting
I know she’s waiting…,
I know she waits for me…,
Under the Lover’s moon….
“Rickie? Don’t you think it’s getting a little too cold?” Nick’s concern heightened as she failed to respond to his calls. She had left her phone in her room, a habitual act.
“I’m okay, Nick. As long as I’m here, I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
“Here, take this. It’ll at least keep you warmer, you stubborn kid,” Nick insisted, offering her a blanket.
Since that day, Rickie has never been quite the same. The transformation was evident to everyone around her. They witnessed her newfound strength, inner peace, and determination to embrace a happier life. It was a revelation when Kyle reappeared, and she not only engaged with him openly but also forgave him and moved forward.
Her life appeared seamless, adorned with smiles and an aura of tranquility. Yet, Nick, her best friend, sensed that something was still amiss. Despite her promise to him never to overstep his boundaries again, he couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps she was waiting for something — a realization that, with a simple act of will, she could attain what she truly desired. With a gentle poke, he broached the subject.
“Hey, could you do something for me?” Nick asked, his tone tinged with urgency.
“What is it?” Rickie inquired, her thoughts still scattered.
“Since you once vowed to me that you love me and would do anything I asked of you, I hope you’ll remember not to disappoint me now,” he cautioned, a hint of seriousness in his voice.
At his request, Rickie initially struggled to muster a response, requiring Nick to repeat the question three times before she finally enveloped him in a tight hug, tears streaming down both their cheeks.
Epilogue
The sun ascended high in the January sky, its warm rays heralding the arrival of spring after days of the winter’s graceful retreat. Derek had been awake long before dawn, preparing for yet another journey to visit his parents. Having recently moved into a new studio-style house after selling his business, he had invested the majority of his earnings in long-term endeavors. With the help of family and friends, he had transformed the bare space into a cozy sanctuary before the winter’s end.
As he made final preparations for his trip, his faithful dog, Lucy, bounded about with infectious excitement, mirroring Derek’s anticipation. Amidst the bustle, Derek’s thoughts turned briefly to the essentials he would need during his extended absence. Retrieving his toothbrush and towel from the room, he couldn’t help but notice Lucy’s persistent barking outside.
“I’m coming! What’s gotten into you, girl? Alright, I’m heading out now,” he called out, attempting to mimic Lucy’s barking. But her continued barks only grew louder, prompting Derek to abandon his preparations and rush to the front door, flinging it open in exasperation.
“Who’s in — “ His words caught in his throat as he caught sight of her.
There she stood, just beyond the fence of his house, looking bewildered and lost. Clad in a brown coat with a scarf wrapped snugly around her neck, she held a piece of paper in her hands, her gaze fixed upon it. Derek felt as though he were in a dream or perhaps experiencing a hallucination. It wasn’t until Lucy licked his hand, causing him to drop his toothbrush, that he snapped back to reality. Another bark from Lucy prompted her to glance his way, and time seemed to slow as they moved toward each other. Derek closed the distance in a heartbeat, his heart pounding in his chest as he took in her appearance — her hair now longer, her cheeks fuller, more beautiful than he remembered. Though hesitant to touch her, he studied her intently until their eyes met, those eyes he had longed to see every day and night.
“Ericka,” he invoked her name like a sacred vow.
“Hi,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
~fin~
The end of this short love story.
Read again the Chapters below:
https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-1-7d785f0ac795 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-2-83e6b159132c https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-3-60cadeec1234 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-4-8714f1493c86 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-5-da3bb449ce26 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-6-46451d86c128 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-7-79fc67a10613 https://readmedium.com/the-longest-weekend-part-8-b4948aaed201