Sweaty.
"Scherese..." I mumbled.
"Lonna." she mumbled back.
"Did you know I love you?" I asked her.
"All too well." She whispered.
She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head in the nook of my neck and shoulder.
I smelled her strawberry-red hair.
"I have to go away Lonna. I can't stay. You know that." She said.
I Nodded. I knew.
I knew.
"I'm really sorry. I wish I didnt have to." She said tightening her grip. I nodded again.
We lay there the rest of the night...Not sleeping.
So I said once more,
"I love you Scherese."
No reply.
I drove her home to her nasty homophobic parents.
She didnt kiss me goodbye. She didnt even hug me. Her parents were watching through the window. She did caress my knee and smile though.
"Thanks a bunch Loni, I appreciate it...everything." She opened the car door.
"Yeah. No prob Reese. I'll miss you." I said.
"Same here." She said.
Once more,
"I love you Reese." I said hoping for a response.
"Me too." She said fast and rushed away.
I never saw her again. Not a call. Not an email. Not even a post-card from her new home in Maui.
Years went by.
I waited for her.
I loved her.
Something did come.
An invitation.
To Miss Robin Lonna:
You have cordially been invited to
Celebrate the marriage of Mr. Steven Raykell and Ms. Scherese Mckay.
The date is promptly set for October 25th.
Time: 11:00
Please RSVP as soon as you can by August 30th.
Thank you.
I went.
She was beautiful.
I cried.
Her parents were happy.
I drank.
She never said hello til the end.
"Hello Robin." She said with a smile. "Glad you could make it."
I shrugged.
"Guess that makes at least one of us."
I left.
sweaty