It was love at first sight.
One random encounter at a mall, an innocent brush of skin, a shiver like an electric jolt, and that sweet, undeniable realization: “You’re in trouble, girl.”
The fog in her mind, wobbly steps, the blur of everything around her, heated embraces in a fitting room, their bodies intertwining like two rivers crashing into one roaring current, and then… his hand on her chest.
How many times had she replayed that day in her head? A million!
Every time she touched him, every time she sank into his soft embrace, melting into it like a cloud, she became the happiest girl in the galaxy. At least in our solar system.
She called him “Ben,” and he didn’t mind, even though his rugged appearance could’ve taken offense at the nickname.
But he forgave her everything. He gave her all of himself, asking for nothing in return. And she… she just basked in life, lived each day like it was her last, without a second thought.
He was the best listener. She would tell him her deepest dreams, share her worries. She cried into his collar, laughed uncontrollably when he tickled her neck. Nights spent together with wine, autumn walks through the city, trips around the world, movie theaters with seats at the very back—they had lived so much, enough to fill two lifetimes.
Introducing him to her mom? That was a nerve-wracking ordeal. She rehearsed what to say, how to describe him, ran through all the possible questions in her head. But her mom just smiled quietly and hugged them both. The three of them stood there for a long time, swaying in that loaded silence.
And now, here they were, standing face to face. So close, yet the distance between them was a chasm. She fidgeted with her purse, at a loss for words… So much had tied them together, so many happy weeks they had spent, yet now they were worlds apart.
She gave him one last look, bit her lip to stop herself from crying… and let go of the bag into the trash bin.
The old, worn-out Benetton cardigan fell into the darkness and disappeared from her life forever.
