Strands of Fire
Daniel's soon-to-be-wife walked into the cozy restaurant, a whirlwind of creamy snow twirling dizzily around her, only to quickly be sucked up by the vacuum created when the heavy wooden door closed with a satisfying k-chuk. Daniel quickly rose to greet her. After gently lifting off Monique's heavy green pea coat, and seating her in a weighty coal-colored throne, he stole a moment to simply drink in her energy. Enthusiastically chatting away, telling secrets of Christmas shopping, and bridal party dresses, she was completely oblivious to her own charm, the breathtaking delicacy, yet thick power to draw a captive audience of one. He held her beloved in his focus, letting her laughter wash over him.
Daniel couldn't help glancing at Monique's newly manicured fingers as she slipped them out of her black velvet gloves. The ring he presented to her a short two years ago rested on her left hand, the exact picture of elegance. It seemed as though it was only yesterday he was down on one knee, gazing into her dark chocolate brown eyes. He stared at her, and she continued her talk of errands ran throughout the day. Monique brushed the stray strands of fire out of her eyes, and tucked them behind her ear. "By the way," she was choosing her words carefully, leaning over her stemmed glass of red wine,
"I ran into Olivia today while I was shopping for your mom's Christmas present. She and I grabbed some brunch before I went back to shopping. I decided on a small Sapphire bracelet. It was on sale, and her birthday is in September so, that's her birthstone. I think she'll like it, don't you?"
"Back up, cutie. You ran into whom?" To the best of Daniel's knowledge, Olivia moved to Connecticut to obtain her PhD and start her own practice. She moved out of this tired little town ages ago. The charm it holds for Daniel and Monique stifled Olivia.
"Yeah, she's engaged to that guy now...what was his name? You know the one, she's been with him for about five years now, something with a J..."
"Jonathan. Jonathan O'Dae."
"That's right! What a nice guy he is. She's really happy; they're getting married about two months after we are. Isn't that exciting? We had wedding talk, it was great. You know, the girlie things. Oh, and..."
Daniel's thoughts interrupted the flow of conversation. O'Dae. Daniel remembered him all too well. When Daniel left Olivia for the last time (little did he know then that was the end of not only a relationship, but a long-time friendship), Jonathan whisked Olivia off to far away places, even though she still had her apartment just down the street.
Olivia was in the same graduate school program as Daniel. They had similar classes and ended up being semester project partners. When winter break came around, they continued to speak on the phone, and by January, Daniel fell for her. He knew he wasn't her "type", but that she was beautiful and outgoing. He was just quiet, more reserved, not as popular or well-known around campus. However, in March, he made a name for himself and her heart began to flutter faster at the mention of him.
Soon, invited him to her apartment. They were there often. One night, he didn't leave. And the next night, and the next night...they just talked until they couldn't keep their eyes open anymore. They were more than a couple come summertime, more than that, they were best friends. Each at separate internships, yet always bouncing ideas back and forth. She was his stronghold. She saw things, ways to make projects more innovative, and her input improved his performance. She swore he was inspiring her to be something more than just average.
But, time changes things. Time really does change things. People say words they don't mean, and hearts are quite breakable, even in today's day and age. By December, the 'together' status changed to 'apart' and back again almost weekly. At the end, there was nothing more to say. He couldn't be with her, as badly as he desired it to be so; she knew life without him would be unbearable. Begging, pleading, and second chances - all were exhausted.
Daniel moved on, perhaps more quickly than he should have. Monique was his shoulder to cry on and a funny face to make him smile. Months later, Daniel heard of Olivia's new beau, and it was - surprisingly - a shot to the heart. Old wounds were opened and they bled freely. It was so painful; he felt he had to talk to Olivia again.
That ended poorly. And now? They haven't spoken in years, via her request. He heard from former classmates and friends of friends that Olivia was going to be very successful far away from this little town. That was the last he knew of the closest friendship and heaviest heartbreak he ever had.
Her voice was pressing, insisting. Monique reached out and squeezed her almost-husband's hand. "Isn't that great, darling?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, what?" Daniel shook the cobwebs of old memories out of his head, and looked up at her.
"I said, isn't that great, darling?"
Ok, that was only a LITTLE emo. I'm watching Nick @ Nite and typing, so give me a break. It's the best I can come up with while I'm zapping my brain into an oblivion of Carlton doing that weird happy dance he is so good at. Bedtime. Peace, out.
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