- A SHORT STORY -
We walked up to the glass door. My heart was pounding. We stopped. He took a look inside the long corridor behind the secure double glass doors. He could see those who went ahead of him. They were walking slowly as they tried to fall in line.
We walked up to the glass door. My heart was pounding. We stopped. He took a look inside the long corridor behind the secure double glass doors. He could see those who went ahead of him. They were walking slowly as they tried to fall in line.
He turned around and looked deeply into my eyes through his own blurry eyes. I looked back at the dark brown eyes, eyes that were simultaneously staring into my soul and asking me a thousand questions at the same time. "Do we need to do this? ... Can I stay? ..Can this not wait until another day? ..Can I bury myself in your arms? ..Is the love still there? ..What if I ...?".
He squeezed tighter on my palm, his palm was sweaty and slipping away from mine. I gulped inside, but smiled outwardly. I think he detected a trace of fear in my smile. I could not tell. He confirmed it for me, with a tighter squeeze of my palm. He looked around and seemed to mind the din of the people milling around, clearly unaware of the gravity of the situation. Some were laughing. Some were chatting on their cellphones. Finally, with a sigh, he let go of my hand, saying "I will go now". I just nodded, trying hard not to betray any other feeling.
He stepped inside the first set of glass doors. I instinctively tried to follow him, as I had done these past few years. It seemed like a lifetime now, since the day we first found each other. "Sorry, but this is how far you are allowed", a voice told me very gently, but firmly.
"Thanks, I understand", I said, trying to regain my own composure, and stepped away, just trying to get one last glance of him as he labored along the line. I stood there until he turned the corner and I could not see him any longer.
I started walking back, my head a bit lowered.
The same voice caught my attention again. "Please don't forget to be, attt the driveway, when the bus drops him back. Today is the first day of kindergarten ... the school bus may be back anywhere between 3:15-3:30 PM. Enjoy your day!"
"Thanks, I will!", I responded, continuing to walk back, feeling a bit lighter. My daily wait would begin for the return of my gift each day.
