Elmer was only a naive boy when he first laid his eyes on Cindy. She was radiant, with her soft blonde curls bouncing as she laughed and her blue eyes twinkling with vivacity. Even at such a tender age, her allure was irresistible. Elmer was smitten, his youthful heart thudding in his chest whenever he stole glances of her during break time. Their elementary school days were filled with whispered confessions to his diary, a collection of yearnings for a love he was too young to fully comprehend.
When high school came, a series of twists and turns of fate led them to different schools. The distance did nothing to quell Elmer’s feelings. Instead, it fanned the flames of his admiration. He often rehearsed confessions to his mirror, his reflection mimicking the anxiety, the excitement. But whenever he found himself in her presence, words seemed to desert him, leaving him as tongue-tied as he was when he was just a boy.
Years ebbed away like a silent river, carrying Elmer from adolescence to adulthood, from college to employment. His heart, however, remained anchored to the girl of his youthful infatuation, a phantom figure that haunted his every dream.
One fateful day, they met again. Cindy, once vibrant, was now a teller at the local bank. Her smile was the same, but her eyes… they held a sadness that stole the breath from Elmer’s lungs. The facade fell, revealing a story of a love turned sour, a husband who mistreated her, a life that had become a shackled existence.
Elmer was aghast. The mere thought of Cindy subjected to such atrocities was unbearable. His heart ached with regret, not for his unrequited love but for the silence that had cost Cindy the happiness she deserved. He wondered if his confession, had it been verbalized, would have changed their destinies.
Late into the night, he couldn’t shake off the image of her forlorn face. He felt a profound urge to comfort her, to hold her, to wipe away her tears. This time, there was no shyness, no fear of rejection, only a profound longing to make things right. The memory of her, once sweet and innocent, now tainted by sorrow, evoked an intense desire to protect, to love, to cherish.
Days later, Elmer found himself standing in front of Cindy’s door, a bouquet of roses trembling in his hands. As he knocked, he felt the flutter of old butterflies, but this time they carried not the weight of juvenile crush but the intensity of mature affection. When Cindy opened the door, her surprise was evident. Yet, beneath that surprise was a flicker of something else, something Elmer hoped to be hope.
“Cindy,” Elmer began, his voice firm yet gentle, “I’ve loved you for a long time. I regret not telling you sooner. And I regret even more knowing what you’ve been through. I wish I could take back time. But what I can do is promise you this: If you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for the love you’ve lost, for the happiness you’ve been denied. I’ll make sure you never feel that pain again.”
As he spoke, he held her gaze, his eyes shimmering with sincerity, with love, with a hint of erotic longing that caused Cindy to blush. His words were a balm to her bruised heart, his determination a promise of a brighter tomorrow. And in that moment, standing on the brink of a new beginning, they both dared to dream of a love that was, that is, and that could be.
Mike m. luster 