Forevermore

Like all doomed love stories, it all began at a pool party.

I hadn’t planned on going, but Julia’s plea to attend was irresistible on a lazy, hot summer day. I felt slightly guilty since I had cancelled our last three plans to get together. But it couldn't be helped. Even though we had been friends since high school, Julia didn’t know how hard it was for me to get away from my husband since he kept such close tabs on me.

Yet today, for some reason, I found myself saying yes. I guess I just decided to throw caution to the wind and pray that he never finds out.

Mind you, part of the reason behind my yes was that my husband had his own party to attend this day –a BBQ at a workmate’s house. Based on the copious amount of beer and liquor my husband took with him, I figured he’d be there for a good while. At least, I hoped he'd be there for a good while.

As soon as I heard the car leave the garage, I ordered an Uber and made my way to Julia’s place.

Of course, I hadn’t expected to meet anyone that day, but fate had other ideas.

As soon as I walked onto the deck, I was drawn to a lanky figure standing by the pool’s edge. His brown hair was unkempt, and his clothes were slightly tattered, but he had an air about him that seemed so familiar yet unique at the same time. He smiled when our eyes met, and I couldn’t help but think his eyes were the kind of green you only see in fairy tales.

I quickly looked away, ashamed and wondering what my husband would do or think if he saw me right now. I instinctively shook my head, shaking the intrusive thoughts away. No, today will not be about my husband.

Today will be about me. No guys. Not even cute ones with green eyes. But no matter how hard I tried to avoid the inevitable, we somehow found ourselves alone, standing beside one another by the edge of the pool, and our eyes met again.

“Hi, I’m Christopher.” Those three words were all it took to break my promise to myself.

We started talking, and I never wanted the words to stop. We joked, laughed, and discussed everything from our favourite books and movies to our past travels around the world. He reminisced about his last vacation by the sea with his late mother, and I told of my dreams of one day becoming a children’s author and illustrator.

As time passed, I found myself drawn further into an enchanting trance, as if under some spell he had cast upon me with his words alone. His voice had such warmth that it made me feel instantly comfortable around him. Honestly, I was amazed by how effortless it felt to be with him at that moment.

Before we knew it, the sun was beginning to set over the horizon, and everyone started heading home.

As we packed up our things, he asked if I wanted to go out for a ride on his motorcycle, and without hesitation, I agreed immediately.

Was this a mistake? I thought as I silently put on the spare helmet. What would my husband think? Worse, what would my husband do if he ever learned about this impromptu adventure?

“Are you ready?” he asked, slipping me out of my thoughts. I looked up at Christopher’s soft green eyes and scruffy hair sticking out from beneath his helmet and decided.

“Yes,” I answered as I hopped onto the back of his motorcycle.

The bike revved to life, and we took off down the road together, with only moonlight guiding our way forward. As we glided through empty streets blanketed with stars above us, I couldn’t help but feel that this moment would stay etched in my memory forevermore — even though, deep down, part of me knew there was no future between us beyond this one night filled with possibility under starry skies.