Unforgettable

“Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole world to find it. Others, find it in a person.” – Beau Taplin

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After spending a few days together, the time drew near when they must say their final farewell. Their last evening together was spent saying "goodbye". The evening was full of quiet, full of unspoken words of deep gratitude for the experience they'd shared. The evening was filled with the hesitation of having to say goodbye. They would fill the silence with laughter in order to avoid the inevitable - saying goodbye.

They laughed and smiled. They shared food and drink. The played. They embraced and held hands. They looked intently into each other's eyes. It was time! They would make love late into the night for what, for last time. She would accept his knight into her castle gates as she drew him deeper and deeper towards her warm center. Over and over, that night, he'd draw his sword and command her attention. He'd bring her to explode in a way that rivaled the recent Berlin fireworks. Neither of them wanted it to end for they had found comfort, excitement, and passion in each other.

Image: Muhammed Salah

The anticipation of saying goodbye was excruciating. So, they laid with one another in silence, simply embracing each other until they knew the time to say goodbye was near. She would bury her head deep into his chest and listen to his heartbeat while secretly fighting tears - tears of joy and gratitude. Finally, it was time to say goodbye. She stands there at the door, in front of him, draped in nothing but a towel. He pulls her close, touches her cheek, and pulls her close. The heat between them burns like a wildfire that she didn't feel the chill of the cold winter air. For the last time, she'd feel the warmth of his hands caresses her skin. For the last time, she'd feel his heartbeat pressed close to hers. For the last time, their lips would touch ever so tenderly, taking away each other's breath.

They both knew it would be the last time. Each of them, secretly hoped that they'd see each other again one day. So, instead of goodbye, they would each say, "see you later". The door closed between them. He's gone, she thought to herself. The rest of the night was tough for her as she wished for more time with him. Instead of sleeping, she'd fill her time with mindless tasks - packing, unpacking, cleaning. Before she knew it, the sun was coming up.

She'd make her way to the airport, all the while, wondering if he was thinking of her like she was thinking of him. She decided on her flight, simply enjoy the experience for what it was, a wondrous moment to help her honor new beginnings. After all, they'd just celebrated new Year's. She would arrive at her next destination, settle-in, and ready to get on with life. She'd leave him as a magnificent memory, an unexpected happy layover on her life's flight. But, something about him was simply unforgettable.

Damn it, if she didn't awake a day later looking for him, missing his scent, missing hit wit, thinking of him, wanting him with her. She thought about writing him and she came up with many reasons no to write him. She would try to rationalize her need to write him. She was terrified as she thought to herself, "This is insane. He's going to think I'm nuts. What is it about this man?" Then she thought to herself, "what's the worst that can happen?" So, she decided. She wrote to him to tell him that he'd made such an impression and that she wanted to keep getting to know him. She had no idea how he would respond, or even if he would respond. But, she did it anyway. She's a woman that knows what she wants and goes for it! And, he was who she wanted.

Image: Unforgettable letter art piece, Muhammed Salah

To her surprise, he did respond. And, he wanted to know more about her too! Everything about this is crazy, she thought. She'd only known this man for 6 days but she felt a recognizable sense of comfort with him that she'd only felt once before in her life. She focused on wanting to know more about him, his life...wanted to share more of herself with him. She wondered if there's even room in his life for her. The latter is specifically absurd as she rarely lets people in so quickly, whether platonic or romantic. In the past, it has taken years for her to allow people into her circle. But, something about him made her feel free to be more open about herself and her life. Something about him made her want to fully embrace the present and everything wonderful that comes with being spontaneous.

Before meeting him, she'd begun a new journey of further self-exploration. This trip didn't initially start as a solo trip. But, circumstances happened such that she would take this trip alone and fate would lead him to her. Meeting him was refreshing, intoxicating, and almost seductive. And, she knew that she didn't want to miss an opportunity to ride the new wave that the universe had put in front of her. He was that new wave and she wanted to ride until she fell.

Something about his spirit was familiar to her. Did she know him in a past life? Had destiny brought them together again? Everything seemed easy and comfortable. He seemed to fit her like a well-worn suit. Meeting him was like catching the perfect wave and she had to see where the wave would take her.

To be continued...

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N'cki Jaxon

Artwork: Muhammed Salah

The conception of this short story began on May 11th, 2020 4:35:28pm. It is the middle of another story, which I've yet to share, "A Fortuitous Love Affair".