Final Last Call

The following story was requested. “You say it’s easier to burn than it is to build. It’s easier to hurt than to heal. But I say you lose when you give up what you love…”

She wore a red chiffon dress. She was of fair skin, hazel eyes, and red lips. Her beauty was eminent in an effortless kind of way. Her long dark brown hair was playing with the breeze as she stood on the pier looking out at the horizon searching among the skies for a bit of strength and comfort.

There was a sadness, melancholy, way about her. You could see it in her piercing eyes. Her very bruised and beaten heart was one that beat slowly. No amount of sunshine could take the cloud over her away. She sighed deeply as the wind blew by reminding her of things she didn’t want to hear.  

He came up behind her and stood right next to her like he’d been there all along. They didn’t touch or speak for a while. The eerie silence between them could be broken any moment if they’d only let their souls say what they really meant to say all along.

But as she peered out to the world she simply said. “I’m leaving tomorrow.” He nodded in agreement like he’d known it all along. Then took her hand and faced her. She looked at him with the sweetest sadness in her eyes. As he rested her palm on his chest and held it there. It took everything in her to not fall apart as he said “You once asked me to please not break your heart. And I did. And I’m sorry. I made a mistake. And I lost you once, but if you go… I’ll lose you forever and forever… is a long time. What do I do? What can I say?”

She shook her head no from side to side. Put her hand to hermouth terrified she might blurt it out. And the tattered spirit of hers shook from head to toe. Her soul was screaming. He could see it in her eyes but it was too late. Too late to say I love you. Too late to say I’ve missed you. Too late to say I don’t want to live with out you. They were just words now, and the wind would blow them all away.

He took her in his arms and held her tight. She held on like her life depended on it. As a tear fell down as she let go. And she cried. Cried every tear she had left in her as he held her unable to speak. Sometimes, our vision only clears after our eyes are washed away with tears. And it was then she understood he’d always been the one for her. But he didn’t love her; his actions proved it so.  And she couldn’t hold on to something that had never been truly hers.

The fought the battle against the past and the failure, against her missteps and the ghosts that followed her along for far too long. Every day was a challenge to not let the loss of them completely break her down. It took a while but she realized the only thing she held were fading memories and lost promises. And that was no way to live or to love. It was her final last call. So she chose to believe that far away, where her heart could be left alone, and her mind could lie in peace, is where she needed to venture off to.

It was too sad to think he’d never be hers and even sadder to realize she’d known it all the time. But there was no turning back for her. It was time to let him go. But it was excruciatingly heartbreaking because she knew a part of her would be in love with him for the rest of her life.

But she’s resolute to leave this place where everything and everyone reminded her of him... Where
the wind spoke his name. Where the rain just poured down. Where everything was a cold reminder of what she once believed she held and lost. She was worn out, and she knew there’d be nothing of her left if she remained in this place. This place that was determined to bind her with sorrow and regret, with the past, and with what never was and never would be.

She needed a sun rise and not another sun set. No more goodbyes just more hello’s. She needed a fresh start, a change of scenery. She needed to find her lost soul. To mend her broken heart. She needed to forget the bitter taste of tears and recognize her own laughter once again.  She needed to fight loneliness and regret. She needed to find some comfort and less distress.

Giving up on him was the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. But there is a beauty in walking away. After a heavy dark storm - the skies do clear, the sun does shine, a rainbow can appear and you are reminded that life goes on. And hope begins again.

“Oh babe.” He said trying once more to reel her in his ways and touch.

"I love you Darling.” She whispered softly in his ears.

“Love you more.”

“Love you most.” she said as she kissed his cheek gently. Then stepped back and begin the bittersweet task of walking away for good. She braced herself, wiped off her tears, breathed deeply, took the first steps and she never looked back.

The next day, as the final last call was said overhead, she boarded the plane that would take her away. She sat next to the window, stared out into the world as it took off. Her eyes followed the line that led her away from him. And she left. Left behind her past, left behind the pain, left behind lost wishes, shattered dreams, and worthless hope.

And the scene ended and the saddest score was the bittersweet melody that played out as the sun set one last time… for them... 

There are a few things sadder in life than watching someone walk away after they’ve left you… Watching the distance between your bodies expand until there is nothing left but empty space and silence.