163 RECALLING THE ACHE EIGHT YEARS AGO LUKE’S POV I took a deep breath as I held the door open for Harriet, my heart pounding with excitement. This was our first date since we both met, and I wanted it to be perfect. As we stepped into the elegant restaurant, Harriet’s eyes widened in awe. “Wow, this place is amazing,” she said, looking around at the crystal chandeliers and the intricate decorations. “I’m glad you like it,” I replied with a smile, feeling relieved that she was impressed with my choice of venue. As we were led to our table, I couldn’t help but admire Harriet’s beauty. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her emerald green eyes were sparkling with excitement. I felt lucky to have her by my side. Settling into our seats, I ordered a bottle of her favorite wine, and we began to catch up on each other’s lives. We talked about our jobs, our families, and our dreams for the future. It felt like no time had passed since we last saw each other. “I’ve missed you, Luke,” Harriet said, taking my hand in hers. “I’ve missed you too, Harriet,” I replied, my heart fluttering at her touch. The food arrived, and we savored each bite, lost in our own world of laughter and conversation. But as the night went on, I couldn’t shake off the nervousness that had been building up inside me. I knew I had to make this night memorable. “Harriet, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you,” I said, taking a deep breath. She looked at me with curiosity in her eyes. “What is it, Luke?” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Her eyes widened in surprise as I opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond necklace. “Harriet, I want you to know that I love you more than anything. I’d love to spend more beautiful moments with you. My heart beats for no one else but you,” I told her with so much passion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she threw her arms around me. I gave her the diamond necklace, and we shared a passionate kiss, our hearts overflowing with love. The other diners around us clapped and cheered, and we couldn’t help but laugh and bask in the moment. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night. The moment we walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, I was already seeing the bright and wonderful future that we were going to spend together. Harriet looked at me with love and gratitude 163 RECALLING THE ACHE in her eyes. 2/3 “Thank you for the most amazing night, Luke. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” she said, her voice full of emotion. I smiled and squeezed her hand. “I love you, Harriet. Always and forever.” “Where are we going next?” Harriet asked with a curious smile. “It’s a surprise,” replied, leading her towards the park nearby. Walking towards the park, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this moment. It had been a rough one for us, with our busy schedules and conflicting priorities. And also, Ariel’s crap family wants me to get married to her. But tonight, I wasn’t thinking about all those. It was just me and my beautiful woman. I hadn’t gotten married to Ariel, and I hoped I wasn’t going to. When we reached a clearing, Harriet’s eyes widened in amazement. The night sky was lit up with colorful fireworks, dancing and sparkling in the air. “Luke, this is beautiful!” Harriet exclaimed, her hand tightening in mine. “I wanted to do something special for you, to make up for all the time we’ve missed,” I said, looking. into her eyes. Harriet turned to face me, her eyes shining with tears. “You always know how to make me feel loved,” she said, before pulling me in for a kiss. We stood there, watching the fireworks and basking in the moment, lost in our own world. As the last firework faded away, I knew that this night would be etched in our memories forever. As we made our way back to the car, Harriet couldn’t stop gushing about how perfect the night had been. “Thank you for everything, Luke. I couldn’t have asked for a better night,” she said, resting her head. on my shoulder. “I’m just glad I could make you happy,” I replied, my heart filled with joy. Driving her back home, bliss reigned within me. The passion in the heart is shining so brightly. Making unforgettable memories with the love of my life was the only thing in my head right now. END OF FLASHBACK Harriet advanced towards me, her black hoodie pulled tightly around her, and I just hoped she was feeling a pang of regret at this point. Standing rip here and seeing her again brought back. memories of our once–happy relationship. How she smiled. But I wondered if she could feel a sense of guilt for what she had done to me. I watched her as she reached out to cover her head with her hoodie, obviously hiding from the cops. And trust me, I was not happy to see her. I remembered the days that were so sweet, blissful moments, wonderful times; our love was our beat. The way her smile lit up the room and how my heart would start to bloom. Those beautiful occasions when we danced in the moonlight’s glow, lost in each other, with the thought that our love would 163 RECALLING THE ACHE 3/3 grow. Those moments were the real deal; they were pure and true, and I thought forever it’d be just the two of us. But then the truth came to light, and my heart shattered with all its might. I couldn’t believe what I had heard or what I saw. The pain burned like a fiery bird. She cheated and betrayed my trust, and at that moment, our love turned to dust. I couldn’t understand; I couldn’t see how she could do something so disgusting, how she went ahead to deceive me, lying down in the bed of lies. Still, even in the midst of all the pain, I couldn’t help but remember the love we had gained. The memories flooded back. Of all the moments we shared, the good and the bad, I remember the way her hand felt in mine and how her laughter was like a sweet wine. I remembered the way she looked at me with love and adoration, so pure and free. But I also recalled the ache in my heart–the pain that came with her cheating sights. And though I tried to forget and move on, the memories of her lingered on. For she was once my everything. But now, she was just a painful sting. eves a She could obviously see the hurt and anger in my I remembered the moments we had shared together and the love we had once felt. But it was all shattered when she cheated on me, ruining our relationship. Even when she stood there, I knew for a fact that her heart was not heavy with regret. The damage was already done, and now the both of us just stood still, staring at each other with blank expressions. 164 FIRM ABOUT IT
