Category : Stories

Sub Category : Romance

She sat opposite of me like an enemy at the gates.  Clearly angry for something that I have done since last we met, I wish in my heart of hearts I knew what I had done.  It has been two weeks now since I sent her the story she inspired, though I suppose that could be what has her so upset it seems unlikely that a free book would shadow her humour so much.

“You are an excellent writer Taylor.”

“Oh, uh, thank you very much.” I stutter at the unexpected compliment.

“So the story you sent to me is the story I inspired for you when we last saw each other?”

“Uh, yes, it took me a while to write it.  I had to sort through some complicated feelings to get the story straight.”

“I see.  So what made you decide to make the death of the baby seem like an afterthought.”

“Well, the story was about overcoming obstacles to have love.  Those two were so deeply in love that they fought with everything they had to keep it.  The fact that their life spiralled into a tragic tailspin was sad, but wasn’t the point.  Like they say, ’’tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.’.”

“I suppose that is true.  It’s interesting that you talk about them like they were real people that lived.  The story is supposed to be fiction right?”

“Yes, it is fiction of course.  They lived an entire lifetime in my head.  When I write I experience the story similar to the way I write it.  I often feel what they feel.  It is just find that it makes me a good writer to empathize with the characters.”

“So you loved this character like he did?”

“In many ways I did.  I certainly understand the love he had for her.  That feeling like that person belongs in your soul and you in theirs.  She was the missing piece in his life, to him she could have been a grotesque deformity and he would have loved her because of who she was.  He knew her soul was the kind, gentle, loving being he was looking for in his life.  In his heart he felt a need to turn his life around and be the best he could be was because of her. The man he became because of her was proud to fight the Scottish.  It didn’t matter he might die.  If he got to make a stand and try his best to protect her, then it was worth it.”

“Maybe this was a mistake.”  She says standing up to leave.

Without thinking he reaches out and grabs her hand.  As soon as he touches her a flash of memory comes back to him.  He returned to that poor mother losing her baby in the winter, except, the mother is not the girl he remembers, it is Eve.  Letting go as quickly as he grasped her he glares at her hand as if it was a snake that had bit him.

“It, it was you.  How is that even possible?”

“It’s not.”

“But, I just saw as clear as day.  There is no one quite like you and that was definitely you.”

“It’s not me!”

“Fine its not you.  It is very strange though.”

“Whatever it is that gives you inspiration from me must have picked up on how I read or something.  When I read I like to place myself into one of the characters in the book.”

“I suppose that’s possible.”

She pauses on the brink of finishing her walk out of the cafe.  Torn on the edge of a decision she decides to sit down again.  “What did you mean when you said there is no one quite like me?”

“Oh, yes, back to that.  There is something unique about you.  It’s maybe not something specific like a beauty mark, more like a set of behavior.  The sum total of you is unique enough that for someone paying attention they could identify you.”

“So, even after I rejected you and walked out of here, you still feel something for me?”

“Well I can’t really control how I feel, just how I act about it.”

“And how do you choose to act on how you feel?”

“Well, I chose the simple way. ’If you love something, set it free.  If it is meant to be it will come back to you.’”

“So you wagered your romantic future with me on a nursery rhyme?”

“Well, it has its merit as wisdom.  It is not easy knowing you are upset with me.  I never intended to upset you, but now that it happened I have no choice but to face the consequences.  If I had railed against you leaving, physically barred you until I plead my case, that would never have changed anything for the better.  Letting you leave was hard, but since I wish you no harm I had no choice.”

“So now you believe that me coming to discuss the book is me returning to you?”

“Well, no.  This is what it is.  If it was you ’coming back’ you would be willing to go on a date or something.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“In mind for what?”

“A date.”