It
wasn't so long ago that life had been so right for Emma Dern. True, she had gone to
the boating lake to break up with Steve. She had to be somewhere
public where he couldn't make a scene. But he had surprised her.
For
months he had made promises that would change with his mood, like
making a go of his life away from his stoner friends. She wanted more
from life and there was no way she would let him drag her down. Emma
had aspirations, wanted a family, a steady job and a house… liIt could still be done, even
in these days. It wasn't square to seek stability.
Steve
seemed to that too at the start of the relationship, had said all the
right things and had never pushed her when it came to sex. She wanted
it to be right, for the right reasons and so did he. When they
finally consummated their relationship it was everything she had ever thought it would be. The
words came so easily from her: “I love you.” and though it
surprised her when she realised that she meant it, she was even more
shocked when he said them back with the same conviction. She felt
something click in her soul, something eternal.
But
that had been weeks, maybe even two months ago? And though they had
screwed and had fun, nothing had reached that nights passion. Were
her friends right? Had she been just another conquest and no longer
worth the effort?
Well, no more. They argued a few nights ago;
she'd had enough of him and told him exactly what she wanted from
him. She wasn't just another cheap screw and if
he really loved he then he would change, make a go of his life and
take responsibility. She hadn't heard from him since and
Emma had now decided that enough was enough, for sure!
He
seemed surprised by her phone call and genuinely pleased to hear from
her; said he was looking forward to seeing her again. She felt guilty about what she was doing, and nearly
cancelled the meet twice.
The day came and she was listening to the transistor radio he'd bought
her, lying on the blanket by the lake. It
was a beautiful day, hot and sweet. 'For
Emily, Wherever I May Find Her” by Simon & Garfunkel played on
the radio. Steve
pulled his bike next to her Dodge
and they hugged, but she was stand-offish. They sat down and she dove straight in, not giving him a moment to gather his thoughts.
“I've
had enough.” She said, ready to let loose, but he never gave her
the chance.
“I
know, and you've every right to feel that way. I've got something I
want to say and if, by the time I finish you still feel the same way,
then I don't blame you. Will you give me the opportunity?” She
nodded and he sat down next to her.
“I
gotta admit that I was more than pissed by what you said that night.”
He laughed. “But then I thought about what you said, and thought
about why you said those things.. and about how I really felt about
you.
“I
think I scared myself when I said that I loved you back, because it
was so true.” Was, Emma thought… here it comes. “So I did
everything I could to forget it, to pretend it didn't happen. That
way I didn't have to think about things like responsibility. But when
I realised that meant losing you, I couldn't bare thinking about that
either.
“The
reason I haven't seen you during the last week is 'cause I've been
cleaning up my act. I'm no longer wasted... no longer smoke (and
boy, that's a bitch) and hardly even drink! I've even gone for a few
jobs, gotten accepted as an intern in one of the local offices… It
don't pay much to start but I think I got good promotion prospects,
if I stay out of trouble.. which I fully intend to do.”
Emma
couldn't believe this was happening, was this the same stoner
she had spoken to before.? He'd made such a change.
“Y'see,
I've realised something… I do love you, and I want exactly the
same things you do. I don't expect you to take my word for it… I
got a lot to prove, but I'm willing to give it a go if you are.”
She
was willing, boy, was she ever! This was the most romantic thing
she had ever heard and that it came from him made it even more
amazing. They hugged for what seemed like hours.
When they finished their embrace they realised how late it was, and how thirsty they both were. Steve
offered to go get a couple of drinks but Emma went instead, needing
to go to the lavatory as well. Her
head was still all over the place, she was so happy.. She was near walking past the cars, out of sight from Steve but not out of his heart! She didn't saw the guy with the bandaged arm by the van until she almost walked into
him.
“I'm
sorry.” He said.” I wonder if you could help me. I need to load
my suitcases into the van and can't manage it.” He
seemed really sweet and her heart went out to him. She helped him lift the suitcases in to the van and didn't even think to ask how he'd managed to get put them where they were. She didn't even ask why he'd gotten into the back of the van behind her, or why he shut the door on her... But it
was the last thing that she ever did.
