Theme- Those who did not make it : To the land of love
THE LAST FIVE MINUTES
The sun was crimson red showing its two facets at the same time. It looked passionately angry and yet was going to set sans any hope. Glaring at it, Ryan wondered if Nature always reflects your innermost feelings around you. For he sure wanted to yell. Just yell if it was worth it. Worth stopping Lucy from going away. But he knew it was hopeless. Maybe all his life, it would be that way.
It had been a month back when the bomb-shell dropped. She was going Houston for her studies.Funny he had never considered her a nerd and yet she was great at studies. He had met her seven years back. It hadn't been love at first sight, Nor had they been family friends. Lucy was a junior state basketball player and Ryan had always wanted to be a street player.
Four years they had remained friends, for Ryan never voiced his feelings for her. He feared losing her just cause they were to young. Until eventually, at the end of college's first year (yes, they made it to the same college!), he had confessed that he found her his soulmate. It had been dawn then- the dawn of Ryan's first love relation.
Three years had passed since that blessed morning. The three that made Ryan's life. He had loved her so passionately that they broke up four times due to his overpossessiveness. As Ryan recalled every single touch they shared, every night spent being one, he was adamant he wouldn't forget any moment.
The sun had now almost set. He didn't want this time to be dusk but she was leaving tonight. They had arranged their last rendezvous at a public place. Only five minutes remained for her to come. He braced himself up wishing he had brought some tonic for his nerves. He was going to propose her for marriage even if it was the last thing he did. Even if it was insanely premature for that. He had bought the ring from his labour savings.He wouldn't lose her just like that.
She was twenty minutes late. After all the soul-tearing pain he had gone through in the last month, he felt waiting was easier. Not everybody wakes up in the morning twisting on his bed and moaning, sometimes screaming, in despair. He had gone through that and much more. It didn't matter.
She was dressed in a red top and blue jeans, apparently ready to start her journey away from him. He had dressed plainly.
"I Love You", he said.
"I know but you have to understand my whole life and family depend on me. It doesn't matter if 'we' exist or not"...answered a cold voice he had not expected. The least he wanted was for her to be mellow.
"Maybe not to you but Lucy I have always loved you from my core." He bent down..
"I know you are going away but it can be a new beginning of our love too. It doesn't..."
"I have to go. My parents are expecting me. Listen I am sorry but I was never serious about you. Yeah, I was with you longer than I thought but only cause you were fun. I don't want you to do something stupid now."
He just stared.."I love you"
"I gotta go. Talk to me when you feel alright."
She ran back. He knew she didn't mean one word and yet he sat helpless. He felt darkness pressing on him from all sides. He hadn't expected this to be his last five minutes with her. And yet, the truth knocked the wind out of him.
He rose up and let the ring fall on the grass.He couldn't take it and he wouldn't. It had been the last five minutes of his life- he couldn't possible live after that. His knees gave in and he lied on the grass holding himself, for he knew he was gonna fall apart. He was swinging by the hinges of insanity. He didn't know but he would wait, crying his guts out, waiting for a new dawn. As for the dark night, he was alone to strive through it.
