Page 73 of Once Bitten

Chapter Twenty Nine

It was as green as I remembered.

Fields and fields of nature’s playground, as far as my eye could strain to see.

The sun was starting to tire, lagging in the sky, ready for its quiet descent into bedtime. The angle of the orange tinted rays casted a soft hue over the miles and miles of countryside that whizzed by my window in the back seat.

“How long to go?” I asked the driver.

“Not long, lass, maybe about 5 minutes. You’re in a hurry, aren’t ya? Must be on your way to meet a lucky lad.” He chuckled to himself.

I smiled at the easy warmth of the locals, which had helped considerably when I’d arrived, not knowing where I was going and how. They’d made everything easier considering the kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering their wings in my organs.

I sat back, calming my breath as the road began to match the memories imprinted in my head. Not long now.

Would he even be there? Heather had called to check on him the day before and she said he’d had no plans to leave.

Would he even want to see me?

I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

But he would listen to me, I would make sure of that. If anything, he had taught me that I was stronger than I ever thought I was. I had learned I could live without him, but didn’t want to. So here I was, half way around the world, to tell him, that sadness or smiles, I wanted to experience them with him in my life, by my side.

“We’re here, lass.” The driver turned his head to tell me, interrupting my thoughts. “You look beautiful in that blue dress, my dearie. Is it a special occasion?”

“Yes, it’s my prom,” I smiled at his confused face. “Thank you.” I paid him and slid out of the car, watching him drive away, the wheels turning up the dust on the cobblestones.

I stared up at the grey building towering over me, wondering what awaited me inside. Instinct whispered to me to go to the back entrance. As I turned the corner, the field of furze spread out in front of me, and I stifled a gasp. The vastness of the view overwhelmed.

Yellow to eternity. I would never get tired of it.

Or maybe it was the sight of a lone figure, his back turned to me, watching the sunset that took my breath away.

I dropped my bag and walked toward him, the hem of my silk dress dragging against the blooms, stirring up yellow petals and pollen in her wake.

I moved almost silently, holding my breath, waiting for him to turn around.I stopped, mere feet away from him and took a deep breath before I spoke.

“Close your eyes.” I paused, giving him time to follow my instructions. “Now take a deep breath.”

I watched as his shoulders lifted, then fell.

“What does it smell like?”

He cleared his throat. “Like someone I once knew. This smell will always remind me of her.” He turned facing me for the first time. “Nice dress.” He said, without a smile but a cocking of his eyebrow.

“Thanks, it’s had a few rough runs, but I thought, third time might be the charm.”

He turned back towards the sunset. And away from me. Was it too late for us?

“I hear you might be getting a divorce?” I said.

“I might be.” He said, emotionlessly.

“Are you sad about it?”

“I don’t want to break my promise to anyone.”

“I know. That’s why I told her to rip the divorce papers up.”