savoring

Here is a link to my first submission (read this first)...

...and a link to Belle's challenge.

***

"Why Alexandria?"

The older of the two ladies grins with a twinkle in her eye. "I guess you'll have to wait and see."

Tori rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Not even a hint?"

I can't help but chuckle quietly to myself. I forgot how impatient I used to be, but I get it. A hint like that is going to drive her crazy until the moment happens, and from what I remember, it's going to be a few years before the minute that changed all of our lives for the better.

Man, 15, even 26 feels like forever ago. So much has happen in the past 20 years. A few books, each one doing better than the last. Moving away from my hometown. I look down at my hand. Marriage. There are still moments when I feel like I'm in a dream and I'm going to wake up to all of it gone.

I'm floating through the memories when someone loudly clears their throat.

Alexandria stands in front of me and I peek around her to see if our youngest self here is still around. She's not there, instead I see Tori, I believe she called herself, walking toward a familiar vehicle. She stops for a moment, turning until she's looking right at me, teary-eyed.

Mom always said I favored my grandmother, and it's becoming more and more evident with every passing year.

Alexandria takes in the scene and decides to sit next to me. Together, we watching the first of us leave.

And then there were two.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice you?"

I smirk at her with that same twinkle she gave Tori earlier. "Don't remember you being so observant."

True to nature, Alexandria banters back, "it happens from time to time."

"That it does." I take a sip of my hot drink, and allow the flavors to dance on my tongue.

"Don't tell me I'll like coffee eventually?"

"Nah, it's the usual, just hot." Chai lattes, hot or cold, will always be one of those timeless parts of our life.

"Why?"

I lean in. "At some point, in all the rush and chaos, you just want to sit and take in the moment, one second at a time. Getting a hot drink reminds me of that. Ever notice how much longer it takes for you to finish a scalding cup of tea as opposed to a lukewarm one?"

Alexandria shakes her cup in agreement, which is only filled with melting ice. She goes over to the closet trash can a few steps away to toss it, and I notice she's starting to glitch. Time's almost up on her little trip.

"I am glad I saw you. Not just for the advice." Her voice cracks. "I miss her."

"Me too." Looking in the mirror almost always gives me a tiny jolt of grief.

Our eyes meet and Alexandria whispers her goodbye before completely fading away as if she was never there.

Now all that's left is for me to sit back and reminisce about the years past.