After those awful failed relationships with guys that, based on appearance and status, should have been "great", I was seriously considering just giving it all up and dating a hobo. But instead, I decided to just give up on guys in general for a while and finish my schooling. I was getting a dual degree in creative writing and in journalism. The creative writing was what I really wanted to do. The journalism was a back-up in case I bombed at my true passion. Fortunately, some of my work was starting to get noticed by some lesser known literature aficionados (like my professors) before I even graduated, so it seemed like I was off to a good start. And who needed men, anyway? They were only half of the human equation and not even the most important half. I was sure I could make it on my own.
I'm still sure I could have made it on my own, but when you find someone you really love, who inspires you to greater things, who makes you feel even more confident in yourself, and who you feel like you're making better, too, why would you ever want to try to make it on your own ever again?
David was everything I could ever want in a partner. I didn't delude myself with thinking he was perfect, but after the macho pretty boys I had been dating in the past, David was a real breath of fresh air. Now, I don't want you thinking David wasn't attractive. He definitely was. But not in the buff macho way, more in the subtle artistic way. And he had an artistic personality, too. He was a photographer, and a really good one at that. His photography was actually how we met.
It's kind-of a strange and sappy story. I'm not sure how much you really care about hearing it. I suppose as a writer, it should be my calling to make it into something beautiful and elegant that you'll want to read over and over again, but I'd rather just portray it as what it was: a chance meeting that sparked a connection that would change both of our lives forever. And not only that, but a wonderful photo came out of it, a photo that David and I both cherish to this day. If you want to hear the full story, you can ask him. He loves to tell it, and I don't want to take that honor away from him.
The most important part of a relationship isn't how it begins, though, it's how it progresses and ultimately how it ends. There's only one way I can imagine my relationship with David ending, and I have to say, a selfish part of me hopes I'm the one who goes first, because I'd really rather not have to live on without him. Maybe, years and years in the future, we'll pass away together, peacefully in our sleep, arms entwined, snoring gently until the snoring fades and is no more. You might think that's morbid, but I think it would be beautiful. I love David with all my heart and I know he loves me, too, and if we could go out together after years and years of happiness together, I think that would be the perfect ending to our story.
-----
Sometimes, I still think back to how it all began, how we were happy and young and in love, without a real care in the world. I thought those days would never end. I wish they hadn't. How I miss her. Sometimes, I think about how it would have been better if we had never met. I try not to think such things, but sometimes I just can't help it.
-----
So Zach had a plan for how he was going to get back together with Lizzy. It was a pretty simple plan as far as plans to win back the heart of a girl who dumped the previous year go, but I figured it might work. His plan was to show up at the college's first annual beauty pageant and present her with a bouquet of a dozen red roses, win, place, or show. He was certain she wouldn't rank any lower than third. She was practically a pro at pageants, he said.
"How do you know she'll even be there?" I asked as I read over the flyer he had proudly handed me advertising the pageant. "This says you have to be a student here to compete. I thought Lizzy didn't want to go to college."
"Lizzy will do anything to enter a pageant," Zach told me. "She goes nuts for these things. And she knows about pageants even before the people organizing them do! She always tried to downplay the importance of pageants in her life, but especially without me in her life to distract her, I'm sure she'll find a way to compete."
"You distracted her?" I asked. "Not at all full of yourself there, are you?"
He slipped off one his sandals and threw it at me. I ducked and it went thumping against the wall and fell down behind my bed. "Dude, you gonna get that?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
I shook my head. "Not a chance," I said. "But seriously, you really think Lizzy's going to be at this thing?" I waved the flyer out in front of me.
"I'd bet you a hundred dollars," he said. "And another hundred that she wins."
I pursed my lips and looked up at the ceiling in thought for a moment, and then said, "No deal."
He laughed. "That's because you know I'm right."
I sighed. "Yeah, man, you probably are." A brief silence and then I added, "You're sure you want this? You can't go dumping a girl, get back together with her, and then end up dumping her again. That would be a total dick move."
"Yeah, I know, dude," he said, "and yeah, I'm sure. The only reason I dumped her to begin with was because I didn't know what I wanted, but now I know. I want her."
"Okay man," I said. "I hope it works out for you."
He folded his hands and leaned forward on his knees. "Yeah, dude, I know it will," he said. "After all, love conquers all, right?"
I shrugged and then turned back to my computer to work on my term paper. I remember wishing I had his confidence, and wishing that I would find someone to love, even if it was someone as crazy as Lizzy. I didn't know how close I was to meeting someone. Sometimes love is just waiting for you when you least expect it.
-----
Our wedding was beautiful. I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect day no matter how hard I tried. Sure, it suddenly started raining on our outdoor ceremony and my dress got soaked, but laughing as we ran for cover in the unexpected downpour made it all the more memorable. Our parents and other guests seemed annoyed, but I just smiled all the more as I looked into David's eyes and knew that we would be together for the rest of our lives. He smiled back, and I knew our minds and our hearts were one.
-----
No photograph could adequately capture Alyse's beauty that day. I could show you photo after photo and you still wouldn't have a clear picture of her radiance. When the rain first started coming down, my heart lept into my throat and I felt dread and terror welling up with it, but then I felt Alyse squeeze my hand and heard her laughter as she started to pull me towards cover, and I couldn't help but smile and laugh as well. Alyse's joy was like that: totally and inescapably contagious. When we finally stopped running once we had reached cover, she looked into my eyes and I saw her eyes sparkle. I had never felt more alive nor more happy. She was mine. She had really agreed to be my bride and my wife. We were going to be together forever. Nothing could keep us apart now.
-----
The reception was spectacular. We danced our first dance in jeans and T-shirts since our formal ware had been drenched by the downpour, but we didn't care.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment