rhythm, competing with the pulse of my heart . I reached in the car, picked up the necklace, and turn ed the heart over in the palm of my hand. Newly inscribed words graced the back:
“ To Katie, Forever my Love, Patrick. ”
Everlasting Love
I couldn't tell you if it was the sweet smell of honey, or the sight of her shadow that caught my attention. The light from the street lamp above surrounded her as if her soul was aglow. She was the most angelic creature I’d ever seen.
I looked down at the ten Zyprexa in my hand, fully intending to down the lot. As she approached, I stuck them in my pocket. My other hand stayed fisted around a paper bag holding the bottle of Jack I was planning to use as a chaser. I stared at her. I couldn't help it. She was lovely. The most beautiful creature I'd ever seen.
I swallowed the saliva that hung on my tongue. “ Can I help you? ”
“ Yes, I ... I'm lost. I thought there was a phone booth somewhere along this embankment. I must have walked too far in the wrong direction. I was wondering if you know where one is and if it’s very far away. ”
“ I do, and you're not far off. You're actually almost there. I'm going that way if you'd like to walk with me, ” I lied. Anything to stay in her company because I was suddenly dumbstruck—like a schoolboy with his first crush.
“ Ah ... by the way, my name's Cole Murphy. ”
“ Hello, Cole, I'm Carena. ”
“ So, Carena, what are you doing out here on a chilly night like this? ” Remembering, I quickly added, “ Besides looking for a phone booth. ”
She smiled and my heart sang.
“ I just left the antique shop down the road, and needed to call a cab. I didn't realize it was so far away. It's nice of you to walk with me. I hope I'm not keeping you from anything. ”
I chuckled and held the brown paper bag to my side so she wouldn’t see it. “ No, nothing that can't wait. ”
I needed to do something fast to get to know this woman. There was something about her, I couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but I couldn't just let her walk away. She was too beautiful.
She wasn’t wearing much of a coat and she did look rather chilly.
“ Listen, it's very cold out here, especially this close to the water. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? ”
“ I don't know. I really should call for a cab. I hear the cabs around here can take forever after you request a pick-up. ”
“ Well, how about we go make that call. Then, while you're waiting... ” I saw the hesitation on her face. “ One quick cup. Just to warm up. It’s a little colder out here than I thought it would be. ”
“ Okay, just to warm up. But I don't have much time. ”
I wondered where she needed to be by a certain time, but I didn’t want to pry and scare her off, so I nodded and led her to the phone booth that just happened to be right next door to a small café. She made the call while I waited outside the booth.
“ They said it would be thirty minutes, ” she said and smiled.
It must be my lucky day after all. The pills in my pocket weren’t going anywhere soon. I had thirty minutes to win her heart. Could I do it? I had to. Now I had a reason to live.
We sat at the corner table in the cafe, overlooking the river, sipping our coffee. We had plain black coffee, the only kind I drink and I was glad she didn’t go in for that fancy schmancy cappuccino stuff. She looked a little confused, actually, when she read the menu. When I suggested two black coffees, she smiled and nodded. I found myself telling her all about my family, my likes and my dislikes, all the things I've never cared to share with a woman before. Completely immersed and enjoying my unnatural knack for dominating a conversation, I forgot we were strangers.
“ You have beautiful eyes. The way the golden specks sparkle against the brown is fascinating. ”
I stared into those eyes. Lost in their rich honey swirl, and without thinking first, I said, “ I love you, Carena. ” I found
“ To Katie, Forever my Love, Patrick. ”
Everlasting Love
I couldn't tell you if it was the sweet smell of honey, or the sight of her shadow that caught my attention. The light from the street lamp above surrounded her as if her soul was aglow. She was the most angelic creature I’d ever seen.
I looked down at the ten Zyprexa in my hand, fully intending to down the lot. As she approached, I stuck them in my pocket. My other hand stayed fisted around a paper bag holding the bottle of Jack I was planning to use as a chaser. I stared at her. I couldn't help it. She was lovely. The most beautiful creature I'd ever seen.
I swallowed the saliva that hung on my tongue. “ Can I help you? ”
“ Yes, I ... I'm lost. I thought there was a phone booth somewhere along this embankment. I must have walked too far in the wrong direction. I was wondering if you know where one is and if it’s very far away. ”
“ I do, and you're not far off. You're actually almost there. I'm going that way if you'd like to walk with me, ” I lied. Anything to stay in her company because I was suddenly dumbstruck—like a schoolboy with his first crush.
“ Ah ... by the way, my name's Cole Murphy. ”
“ Hello, Cole, I'm Carena. ”
“ So, Carena, what are you doing out here on a chilly night like this? ” Remembering, I quickly added, “ Besides looking for a phone booth. ”
She smiled and my heart sang.
“ I just left the antique shop down the road, and needed to call a cab. I didn't realize it was so far away. It's nice of you to walk with me. I hope I'm not keeping you from anything. ”
I chuckled and held the brown paper bag to my side so she wouldn’t see it. “ No, nothing that can't wait. ”
I needed to do something fast to get to know this woman. There was something about her, I couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but I couldn't just let her walk away. She was too beautiful.
She wasn’t wearing much of a coat and she did look rather chilly.
“ Listen, it's very cold out here, especially this close to the water. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? ”
“ I don't know. I really should call for a cab. I hear the cabs around here can take forever after you request a pick-up. ”
“ Well, how about we go make that call. Then, while you're waiting... ” I saw the hesitation on her face. “ One quick cup. Just to warm up. It’s a little colder out here than I thought it would be. ”
“ Okay, just to warm up. But I don't have much time. ”
I wondered where she needed to be by a certain time, but I didn’t want to pry and scare her off, so I nodded and led her to the phone booth that just happened to be right next door to a small café. She made the call while I waited outside the booth.
“ They said it would be thirty minutes, ” she said and smiled.
It must be my lucky day after all. The pills in my pocket weren’t going anywhere soon. I had thirty minutes to win her heart. Could I do it? I had to. Now I had a reason to live.
We sat at the corner table in the cafe, overlooking the river, sipping our coffee. We had plain black coffee, the only kind I drink and I was glad she didn’t go in for that fancy schmancy cappuccino stuff. She looked a little confused, actually, when she read the menu. When I suggested two black coffees, she smiled and nodded. I found myself telling her all about my family, my likes and my dislikes, all the things I've never cared to share with a woman before. Completely immersed and enjoying my unnatural knack for dominating a conversation, I forgot we were strangers.
“ You have beautiful eyes. The way the golden specks sparkle against the brown is fascinating. ”
I stared into those eyes. Lost in their rich honey swirl, and without thinking first, I said, “ I love you, Carena. ” I found
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