Now and Forever
By Sally York
Hello, come on in. You're here, you're really here! I know you said you would, I'm just glad you did. Have a seat on the couch, I'll get us a glass of wine. I do? Well, I'm not disappointed, not at all. I like you in shorts. I don't know, I guess because this is the outfit I wore when we had dinner at Antonio's in Port Huron, do you remember? The waiter got your order wrong and you were upset but then they gave us a free bottle of wine and you calmed down and afterwards we sat on that wrought-iron bench by the water and held hands and you...you told me you loved me for the first time.
Oh, stop, of course I'm over you, I've been over you for a while. I was just feeling a little sentimental, that's all, knowing you were stopping by, so I wore it. I'll be right back, make yourself at home. Here you go, Pinot Noir, your favorite. No? Well, I hope you don't mind if I do. Right, the problem. Yes, well, I have a little confession to make--please don't get mad--but I don't really have one, I just said that, you know, told you a tiny white lie so you'd come over and I could see you again. I still care about you, I can't turn my feelings on and off like a faucet.
No, sit back down, please. You drove all the way here, you might as well stay a few minutes. Oh, you're not still hung up on that, are you? I've said I was sorry a hundred times. I'll say it again: I'm sorry. I was just, well, devastated when you made me move out. I wanted to sniff your shirts, that's all, I always loved your delicious smells, it's not like I stole anything. I know I scared you. Yes, and her. But that was a long time ago. Listen, I admit I made mistakes, I was too emotional and clingy when we were together, and I went a little crazy when we broke up. But I'm better now, I've accepted everything, please just sit.
Thank you, thank you. So, tell me how things are going. Good, good, you look good. How about your job, did you get that promo—hmm? Oh, yes, so can I. Terrible odor. I guess that's what happens when you live next to a Shell—it's always like this, you never get used to it. No, no, don't open the window, that would make it worse, we'd be overpowered by the fumes. You were saying, about your job--
That's great, I'm glad you're doing so well. What? Engaged? Gosh, big step. She seems very nice, but...you don't think you're rushing things? I see, well, congratulations, I mean that, I just want you to be happy. That's all I ever wanted. No, no one special since you. Say, mind if I put on “Now and Forever,” for old times' sake? Oh, come on, the piano player sang it for us that night at Antonio's, you don't remember? Well, I do. You'll laugh, you're not the romantic type, but I think of it as our song. Beautiful, isn't it, those opening notes always put me in a dream. May I join you on the couch? No, that's not it at all, it's just that this chair's uncomfortable.
Much better. Umm, listen, I know this is silly, but do me a favor, tell me I look pretty tonight. Thanks, sweet of you to humor me. You really did love me once, didn't you? Good, me too. No, I'm not crying, these aren't tears, they're just.... Getting sleepy? Curse of middle age, it can hit you at the oddest moments. Go ahead and relax, take a little nap if you want. I'm tired myself—look, I'm yawning—aren't we a couple of old fogies? Let's just close our eyes for a while. Gosh, you're slipping away fast. Feels nice, doesn't it. Feels perfect, like we're frozen in time. Here, take my hand—yes, just like that, my love, sweet dreams, my love, I love you, now and forever.
- - -
I'm a crossword puzzle constructor, reporter and former attorney who is hard at work on my first novel.
By Sally York
Hello, come on in. You're here, you're really here! I know you said you would, I'm just glad you did. Have a seat on the couch, I'll get us a glass of wine. I do? Well, I'm not disappointed, not at all. I like you in shorts. I don't know, I guess because this is the outfit I wore when we had dinner at Antonio's in Port Huron, do you remember? The waiter got your order wrong and you were upset but then they gave us a free bottle of wine and you calmed down and afterwards we sat on that wrought-iron bench by the water and held hands and you...you told me you loved me for the first time.
Oh, stop, of course I'm over you, I've been over you for a while. I was just feeling a little sentimental, that's all, knowing you were stopping by, so I wore it. I'll be right back, make yourself at home. Here you go, Pinot Noir, your favorite. No? Well, I hope you don't mind if I do. Right, the problem. Yes, well, I have a little confession to make--please don't get mad--but I don't really have one, I just said that, you know, told you a tiny white lie so you'd come over and I could see you again. I still care about you, I can't turn my feelings on and off like a faucet.
No, sit back down, please. You drove all the way here, you might as well stay a few minutes. Oh, you're not still hung up on that, are you? I've said I was sorry a hundred times. I'll say it again: I'm sorry. I was just, well, devastated when you made me move out. I wanted to sniff your shirts, that's all, I always loved your delicious smells, it's not like I stole anything. I know I scared you. Yes, and her. But that was a long time ago. Listen, I admit I made mistakes, I was too emotional and clingy when we were together, and I went a little crazy when we broke up. But I'm better now, I've accepted everything, please just sit.
Thank you, thank you. So, tell me how things are going. Good, good, you look good. How about your job, did you get that promo—hmm? Oh, yes, so can I. Terrible odor. I guess that's what happens when you live next to a Shell—it's always like this, you never get used to it. No, no, don't open the window, that would make it worse, we'd be overpowered by the fumes. You were saying, about your job--
That's great, I'm glad you're doing so well. What? Engaged? Gosh, big step. She seems very nice, but...you don't think you're rushing things? I see, well, congratulations, I mean that, I just want you to be happy. That's all I ever wanted. No, no one special since you. Say, mind if I put on “Now and Forever,” for old times' sake? Oh, come on, the piano player sang it for us that night at Antonio's, you don't remember? Well, I do. You'll laugh, you're not the romantic type, but I think of it as our song. Beautiful, isn't it, those opening notes always put me in a dream. May I join you on the couch? No, that's not it at all, it's just that this chair's uncomfortable.
Much better. Umm, listen, I know this is silly, but do me a favor, tell me I look pretty tonight. Thanks, sweet of you to humor me. You really did love me once, didn't you? Good, me too. No, I'm not crying, these aren't tears, they're just.... Getting sleepy? Curse of middle age, it can hit you at the oddest moments. Go ahead and relax, take a little nap if you want. I'm tired myself—look, I'm yawning—aren't we a couple of old fogies? Let's just close our eyes for a while. Gosh, you're slipping away fast. Feels nice, doesn't it. Feels perfect, like we're frozen in time. Here, take my hand—yes, just like that, my love, sweet dreams, my love, I love you, now and forever.
- - -
I'm a crossword puzzle constructor, reporter and former attorney who is hard at work on my first novel.
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How sweet - she gets to spend the rest of her life with her true love - whether he's willing or not. Fatal attraction at it's best - loved it!