love
All you need is Love, and Love is all you need.
Time over Merlot
"Knowing your keyboard is not the same as knowing a person", Allison said across the table with a questioning look on her brow. "I came here to get to know you, and for you to get to know me", she continued. Jim looked up from his phone, until his eyes met Allison's. A cocky smile came across his face. "Well sweetheart, we are going to have many, many years together, no need to learn everything about each other all in one night", he said as his eyes returned to his phone. Allison gasped. "The nerve!" she exclaimed, and threw her napkin down at the table. Unmoved by her show of emotion, Jim motioned to the waiter across the room, first circling his index finger above his head, and then pointing down towards the table. Under the table, he turned his phone off and slid it into his pants pocket. He slowly brought his empty hands up to the table submitting them for Allison's inspection. The smile still on his face, he said "Sweetheart, I just had to finish that little bit of business, now I'm all yours". The waiter came and set two glasses before them, and poured from a bottle of Merlot. Allison's eyes cooled and face softened. "Allison, I have to do certain things to pay for this dinner", Jim said as he spread his arms out, coaxing her to look around. "But, if you noticed, I was in a hurry to get those certain things done", he continued. He lifted his glass, inviting Allison to do the same. "I wanted to hurry and get those things done, so I can slow down and be with you. Look at this wine sweetheart. Look at the color, smell it, you can almost taste it already. It's the same way I feel about being here with you. One doesn't gulp it down in a big hurry. You sip it, enjoy it", he went on. Allison's complexion was changing as they both took their first sip. Jim heard a faint laugh from across the table. "Smooth talker. You're laying it on pretty thick sailor", she said. "But, go on", she beckoned. Obviously, she was attracted to the tone of his voice. She also studied his face as he continued, "Wine speaks to you". He smelled the glass, glancing up at her and then back down to the glass. "If you just take your time and enjoy everything about it, it begins to tell you where it came from, what it's been through over time, like a person would. If you listen to it very closely, you can hear it say 'slowly, pace yourself'", he whispered holding the glass to his ear. She did the same, and they both laughed and took another sip. Over dinner, they continued sipping, always simultaneously. They began sharing where they were from, their favorite songs and singers, their favorite movies and actors. They spoke of books and teachers they had back in school. They spoke of all sorts of experiences and adventures they had with friends in their youth. If there were patrons sitting at the empty tables near them, they might have thought Jim and Allison spoke on the verge of being inappropriate as the bottle of wine diminished. They would have heard them sharing how each one of them had three children, and laughing about being there together even though they both were married. But, they wouldn't have guessed that they had been married to each other for over 45 years, and that they had their first date 46 years ago on a Monday. Jim's self confidence never waned over the years, but to him it wasn't self confidence, it was the confidence that he found the right girl. Every Monday evening for 46 years they spent together with a bottle of Merlot, sometimes more when they were younger. This alone is quite an extraordinary feat, and yet with Jim's undying appreciation of his Allison, he keeps the tradition to this day. They never even changed the name, first date, every Monday evening has been 'first date' for them. Through their many failures and challenges, as well as their successes, they spent every Monday evening together. The places might have been different. Their emotions might even be different as they sat down. But, each first date night always ended with enjoying each other with laughter and a dance. Ones closest to them describe them as the happiest couple they ever met. Jim is 79 and his Allison is 82. "Whether it's our first date or our 1000th, you're always my dream date", Jim said to Allison across the table. For the last couple of years, Allison's eyesight has declined some, and she has had short term memory problems. After hours, Jim finally stood up, took a few steps towards Allison, bent over and whispered in her ear. He extended his hand. She rose up regally and followed him to the center of the room. They danced.
By John Liles5 years ago in Humans
The Night We Had a Merlot
It was raining gently, and I was preoccupied with my problems of work, school, and money; the usual suspects of so many of our generation. I hurried to catch the elevator in my apartment building as the doors were closing, and luckily, she was there to hold them. I was consumed with the letters in my hand and failed at first to notice her.
By Andrew Hall5 years ago in Humans
Leave Me
“Liaya?” I try to whisper as my tears fall to the collar of my tuxedo—I fail when I hear pleading screams echoing through the speeding train. My lungs collapse, and my heart sinks to the pit of my quivering stomach. They couldn’t have gotten to her. Where are the police? Where is my fiance? I hear gunshots flying across the train as I hold on to the pillar. My knuckles turn white against my bronze skin as I bite down on my lower lip. My nostrils flare, and the intoxicating scent of flesh and blood and gun powder fiddle with my nostril. I grit my teeth as I sink back under my seat, hiding from the gunmen as they step through the train, their boots nearly entering my line of sight.
By Aida Fakhry5 years ago in Humans
Of Flowers and Wine
“How is it going?”, Beatriz asked as soon as Ana answered the phone, voiced laced with curiosity and expectation. Sighing, Ana let her elbow rest on the terrace's parapet, eyes gazing over a London bathed in orange and pink hues. The city was breathtaking during the sunset. The high-rises reaching for the sky and reflecting its light, the London Eye pulsing with bright colors, St. Paul’s forever stoic and the Thames’ dark waters cutting the metropolis like an enormous snake.
By Gleice Miranda5 years ago in Humans
Digits
1 Opening the door rang a beautiful bell. Clare stepped across the threshold: shoulders hunched: nervous. Her eyes were hazel: her cheekbones high. Her mess of chestnut hair was a ruffled waterfall. She flicked it back and for a moment anyone who saw her was stunned.
By Raymond Cummings5 years ago in Humans
We Fell in Love in July, That's Why I Like Summer Time
I cannot believe we have already spent five years, seven months, thirteen weeks, five days, and twenty-four minutes together. I could not have asked for anything more desirable. Even though we have not seen each other in quite some time, I still treasure the first time I witnessed your beauty. I knew at that moment that I wanted to spend the rest of my days with you. I vividly commemorate what happened on our first date on a day-to-day basis. It was the most enjoyable night of my life. It constantly reminds me of the first time I ever saw you. I wish I could relive that day a hundred thousand times. I did not recognize that when I saw you that day, that you were going to one day be my girlfriend. We met in school, probably one of the most cliche places to meet, but this is where our story begins. My high School years would have been so much different if I had not met you. I was so lucky we were in World History together in Freshman, Junior, and Senior years of High School. Until high school, I was an extraordinary student. But as soon as I met you, I was too inattentive to pay attention in class. My grades went down in World History but, I did not care as long as I was with you. Remember when I asked you to be my girlfriend after History class that one day? You overlooked me, but you know what? That is quite exceptional. Sure, that hurt a lot. I cried about it every night for sixty-three days, but I did not give up. I still wanted you to be my girlfriend more than anything. Luckily, we had almost every class together in Freshman and Sophomore year. We did not have language together. I took Spanish, and you took Mandarin. I repent, not taking Mandarin. But I was thrilled I sat next to you in practically every class. Every class except for AP Biology. That is the one class we did not sit in together. You sat at the front of the class, and sorrowfully I sat at the back of the class. That separation between us was so heartbreaking for me. Although you were not mine yet, I still cherished you with all my heart, but you did not love me. You loved Jacob Stout. I knew I could not get in between you two's love, so I just waited. You would always pay attention to Jacob, but not me. I disliked Jacob for a long time because you loved him, and he cherished you, but unhappily you did not love me. I dedicated my whole high school life to make sure you ended up in my arms. I asked you to prom, but Jacob Stout also asked you to prom. Lucky for me, you saw my prom invitation first. We ended up going to prom together. It was such an extraordinary night, and I could not have asked for anything more magnificent. You were in my arms for the first time, but it was certainly not the last time. I searched all over the prom to see if Jacob was there, but he was not. He was probably miserable over the fact that you went with me and not him. I did not feel sorry for him at all. He was not a clever guy, anyway. He was a bully, but enough about him. This is our story, not his. If you do not already know me, my name is Atlas Ira-Killian. But friends and family call me Ati or James Bartholomew Jaquavis IV. My story started a long time ago. I have lived an exceedingly prolonged and fulfilling life. But not that prolonged, I am only twenty-six years old. When I was younger, I did not live the pleasantest life. But I tried spending most of my days reliving all of my non-existent childhood memories. But enough about me, karma will hit those who deserve it. It was July 15th. I devoted hours getting ready for that date, even though it was only a couple of minutes. I would do anything to spend those moments with you again. But the pandemic ruined the glorious summer we had planned to spend together. We were going to go to see a movie together, and everything was going to be perfect. Of course, the pandemic ruined all of our plans. On July 15th, 2016, that’s when we had our first date. It was sunset, and it was around 6:35 p.m. Our date occurred on a beach in the Maldives. I still remember how beautiful the beach was. The beach was called Hulhumalé. Hulhumalé was such a gorgeous place to spend our first date. I brought you some Fire Lilies and a glass of Merlot with some very Exquisite Chinese food. It was practically impossible to find Fire Lilies for you since they are only native in Northwest Asia and Southern Africa. The flowers were incredibly delicate. A very mysterious pink kind of reddish flower. It was flawless. I am so glad we are planning to move in together and are going to start a family together. I am tremendously excited about the wonderful future and fulfilling life I will spend with you. One day you would receive this letter, but I am way too shy to do that right now. I cannot wait to see you for the first time in a year tomorrow. I love you with all my heart, and maybe we can recreate our first date? Let us create a new one and with more marvelous memories. I hope you stay in Canada with me for a long time. I hope you move in with me, and we can spend the rest of our lives together. Espero pasar el resto de mis días contigo, Antigüedad.
By Ceo Of Dying5 years ago in Humans
Three Days in January
Monday, January 29th, 2008 You and the boy are standing at the edge of the road. He is chewing on one of the knitted strings dangling from his hat. You try to remember his name. The wind whips across your face, and you burrow deeper into the thick wool of the scarf wrapped around your neck. It’s an ugly day. The soft powdery snow that came with December has turned into piles of frozen dirt. Slick rivulets of black ice stain the asphalt. Aside from the occasional hum of a car, the neighborhood is silent. A small bird flits through the trees above.
By Pria Balasuriya5 years ago in Humans
A First Date That Wasn't A Dream Date
Grenoble, France, Friday, 26th March 2021 "I will be 10 minutes late. I apologize for the delay." a message from Ranjita before our first date popped up on my phone. I wait for her for the first of thousands of dinner dates coming on our way. While I was excited to meet her, at the same time, I was nervous about how our first date would be. I still remember that day.
By Suraj Ghimire5 years ago in Humans
