Okay folks, here is the final part of my creative short story. If you have not read the first part, you might want to go back and read it before proceeding.....
Letting go
The final chapter....
Emily decided she needed some fresh air. She turned away from Josh and went outside. Josh, feeling a little warm also, follows her.
As they step outside, a cool breeze washes over them. Josh looks over to Emily. The wind brushes her hair away from her face and he is mesmerized by the woman she has become. Like a fine wine, she seemed to improve with age. In his mind, he is kicking himself for letting her go, but kicking himself even harder for not trying to find her after she disappeared. He wonders if things would be different if he did search for her years ago. Would they be still together today? It was a question that could never be answered because their lives took different paths. Emily, seems to be the same person, but a bit more reserved. As for Josh, he was living a pretty hard and fast existence, but seemed to calm down over the years.
As for Emily, she needed some fresh air to clear her head. She felt the need to keep her emotions in check. She is now free from those pesky unanswered questions that have bothered her so, but bothered with something completely different.
Emily thought that she built a strong enough wall around her heart. Her time away from Josh changed her. That little girl that wore her heart on her sleeve is no more. What she thought was love was nothing but an emotion to clog clear thinking. Her choices in suitors were carefully scrutinized. She had a list of attributes that any man interested in her needed to meet before she even considered going on a date. Even her husband had to meet and exceed what she thought was acceptable. Emily thought she had it all figured out. Romance and desire were things dreamers believed in, and Emily was no longer a dreamer.
Emily and Josh had a connection so deep that they understood each other without ever speaking a word. All it took was a look and she knew. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Josh looking at her. She just can't muster the strength to look at him just yet and closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath of the crisp night air. She knew that this conversation was going to be tough. Her mind is torn and she sees that Josh is struggling too. They both know what is right, but they have feelings that cannot be denied.
Josh grabs Emily and gives her a kiss. A kiss that Emily has dreamed about......
The kiss made Emily weak in the knees. As she feels as if she is about to fall, Josh catches her and holds her close, they look into each others eyes.....
Emily's mind starts to race with thoughts of how wonderful it would be to have a one night stand with this man that has had a piece of her heart for so many years. To throw caution to the wind, to be wild and free once more, but she knows that if she takes the chance, she can lose it all. She knows that her heart will not allow him to be a one night stand (that kiss told her that), the marriage that she has would be damaged beyond all repair, and she could not risk breaking up the family she has for another man. Then suddenly, her thought pattern changed. The pain from years ago came back to remind her that this was the man that broke her heart. The pain was what made her a stronger woman, a more cautious woman, and maybe a bit bitter. After all, it has been years since they have been near each other. She knows that she has changed. Maybe he has changed, too. Maybe that loving soul has become vicious; looking to put that last notch in his belt of women he slept with - To take advantage of her and toss her away - all that talking earlier could just be a lie? Emily was scared.
Josh seeing the pain in Emily's face finally speaks to break the silence. Josh knows what Emily is thinking about. He is thinking the same thing. There is a place in his heart that is just for Emily, but he has a place in his heart for his wife and family. He is torn. Yes, he would love nothing more than to be with Emily just once to ease the pain in his heart, and hers. He knows it is wrong to act on his feelings, he still has love for her in his heart. He decides to tell her what is on his mind.
As Emily listens to what Josh is saying, she is getting the feeling that he is just as torn as she is, which makes her even more confused.... 'Why did he kiss me?'.... 'Why did I not stop him?'..... 'Oh, what do we do now?' As Emily tries to rationalize her actions, she sputters and stutters, trying to get a sentence out. Josh holds his finger across her lips to stop her. He knows what he wants. That kiss was something that made him feel alive again, it sent a tingling sensation all over his body as if every muscle in his body was waking up from a long slumber. He knows that what he did was wrong. He knows the consequences of his actions. He saw the fear in Emily's eyes. Fear of losing control, fear of taking a risk that she is not ready to take. Josh loves Emily. He loves her enough to tell her just once... "I love you Emily, always have... always will", and walk away. As Josh is just about out of sight, he looks back at Emily one last time and smiles.
The End
Good story. I want the real names though. :)
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