Saying Goodbye

For Day 10 of BlogFest 2012 we were given a picture prompt by today's host Daphne Palmer Romero of  My Distant Husband.  My interpretation for this prompt is a fictional story.  I hope you enjoy it.

     Could it only have been a week since he and Melissa had sat in this very spot holding hands and watching the tides roll in and out?  He had told her he loved her and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.  It mattered little that they were barely teenagers.  Their love was timeless.  Her eyes had brightened as she looked into his.  She smiled the sweetest smile, blushed, giggled, and promised she would love him forever.  They had kissed to seal their promise to each other.  It had been his first kiss and it had been magical.  They had sat there a long time discussing their hopes and dreams for the future as they watched the sun set into the horizon.  It had been so perfect.  His life had held so much promise…then.  

        Tears clouded his vision as he gazed out to sea remembering the rainy Tuesday night that had followed.  It was not supposed to end like this!!  They had their whole lives ahead of them.  They had been the best of friends ever since he could remember.  Melissa had always been there, ever since that first day of kindergarten.  They had been instant friends and inseparable ever since.  Now because of slippery roads and a drunk driver his dreams with Melissa were gone.  Her life had been snuffed out.  When she left this earth, she took his heart with her.  Instead of the joy he once felt when he gazed out to sea, he only felt heart wrenching pain.  He railed at the fates that had taken her from him.  Sure they were young, but in his heart of hearts he could never imagine anyone taking her place.  She would always hold a special place in his heart.  She had been his dearest friend.   It had only been recently that he realized how beautiful a girl she truly was and that his feelings had run far deeper than mere friendship.  He never had wanted to lose her.  How would he go on without her now?

         He stood on the beach watching the tides, feeling the breezes against his face, as he waited.  It seemed necessary to wait for the sun to set.  She had loved the sunset.  She would have wanted him to stay.  He was alone on the beach, still he felt her presence.   As the sky darkened and the sun crept lower into the horizon he thought of her smile.  He thought about the way her sun kissed hair used to blow into her eyes, and without thinking she would push it away.  Finally the sun was gone, night had fallen, and with one last glance to the sea he whispered goodbye and walked slowly away knowing he would never forget his first love.