"Hey kid," he said.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's been a while hasn't it?"
"Go away!"
"Hey, I thought you'd be happy to see me?"
"I want to be."
"Then be!" He sat down next to her. Grabbing her left hand, he placed it against his chest, "Do you hear that? Do you hear how it skips a beat? Only with you baby."
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Be this completely different person here, when in actuality you're cold, selfish, isolated..."
"It sucks I know."
"That's all you have to say? It sucks?"
"I could go on for hours apologizing for the things that guy did to you, but you know that I'm not him. I'll never be him. I could never do what he did to you."
"How long do I have you for, this time?"
"For as long as you need me"
"I've needed you for the past year."
"No you haven't, because if you really needed me, I'd be here."
"He did it again. He broke my heart. He built my hopes and he led me to believe he'd changed. He said he'd treat me right this time. I gave him everything. I gave him all my love and that wasn't enough. So I gave him money, and that still wasn't enough. Why aren't I enough for him? Why aren't I enough for you?"
"He's going to wake up one day with a sense of regret, and he's going to need you more than he's ever needed anyone before."
"They keep saying that. What if he never does? What if he meets someone and he falls in love and he gives all of his heart to her? What if I was never the one? What if I was merely a stepping stone to a realization of what he really wanted in life? What if that realization led him to believe that I would never be the one, and that I'd never be enough?"
"You think too much, baby."
"I'm sorry. You know how I get."
"I do, and I love you for that."
"I love you too," slowly, a smile began to form and the comfort she longed for, returned.
"Is that a smile I see?"
"Maybe."
"Come here," he pulled her closer and held her hands. It was a chilly night, and they were in what looked like a park, overlooking a lake. Ice had covered the entire body of water and the reflection of the moon against the ice glistened, setting a mood that made them tighten their embrace.
"Sing me something, would you?"
Clearing his throat, he began humming such a familiar tune. With his eyes fixed on hers...
"If we’re both not married by twenty-two
Could I be so bold and ask you?
If we’re both not married by twenty-three
Will you make my year and ask me?
If we’re both not married by twenty-four
Will you pass me those kneepads and I’ll get on the floor?
If we’re both not married by twenty-five
I hope that there’s some childish spark still alive
Cause there are so many lessons
That I just never cared to learn
And there are so many questions that still burn
Like will you hold my hand when I go?
Will you hold my hand when I go?
Will you hold my hand when I go?
Will you hold my hand when I go?"
"I always wanted someone to sing me that."
"It's always been your favorite."
"You have better music taste than he does. God, you have no idea how frustrating it can be!!"
He chuckled, and held her closer, "So will you hold my hand when I go?"
"I'll never let go."
"Baby, dance with me"
They got up, and started slow dancing, moving themselves across the snowy ground to the thin ice that carpeted the water beneath. The subtle sway of their bodies together moved fluidly with the music that started to play. Stars started to fill the sky above them and the music grew louder.
"Kid, I love you with all my heart, in case you didn't know."
"I don't know how long I'll have you tonight, but don't let go. Don't make me wake up knowing you let go. You're all I want, all I need." she rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat as they swayed with the sounds of the night.
And then the music started to die down and the stars disappeared one by one. The moon followed in suit and the sky became pitch black. The ice felt more fragile and the beat of his heart picked up speed.
"What's going on?"
"It's time, kid."
"Time for what? Don't leave me again. You promised," beads of sweat started dripping down her forehead and her heart started palpitating surreptitiously.
"And I'll keep to my promise. I'm not leaving. You are."
"I'm not. I could never leave you. I don't want to leave you."
The ice beneath their feet started to crack. Water seeped through and the pressure grew. The cracks grew larger and soon enough the water had engulfed them. Time stood still and they were both floating underwater, holding as tight as they could. The weight of her sadness and despair seemed to pull her down deeper into the water and no amount of strength could hold them together. There fingers slipped away and with that, the struggle for air seemed unimportant and water gushed into her, filling up her lungs. She sank deeper and deeper to the a seemingly bottomless pit of emptiness and the image of the person she danced all night with, became a blur. Her vision darkened and soon enough, everything was pitch black. She continued to sink. The music had stopped, and her struggle had subdued.
She woke up. It was 4 in the morning. She lay in bed, and she swore she could here the hum of that oh-so-familiar tune. She was right, he didn't let go. He was still there, holding on, waiting for when he was needed again.
