The cool thing about doing Winter Cleaning is discovering bits of yourself that you had forgotten about.  While cleaning and reorganizing files on my laptop, I came across this short story I wrote back in 2006.  I particularly liked this part of the story, and thought I’d share it with you.  I hope you enjoy it.

Excerpt from The Touching of Souls

Outside his apartment, she had thrown her arms around him in an endearing embrace as he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.  Standing on her tippy toes, they shared a tender kiss.  It didn’t matter where they were or who was watching, she was literally swept off her feet.  As they pulled apart, Kelly’s fingers lingered on his shoulders, slowly sliding down his arms, and finally resting in his hands.  She swung their hands together side to side, as she slowly looked up at him with her glistening eyes.

“So this is goodbye?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, a little hoarse.  She looked down at the cement pavement, letting the words echo in her mind.

“Can’t we make this work?  I want to visit again.  I want to make more memories with you,” she beckoned.

“I miss you too much.  It hurts when I barely get to see you,” he replied.

“Once a month,” she said, offering a false grin.

“Is not enough,” he finished, “We should see other people … people that are much closer to us.”

Kelly bit her lips, slowly letting go of Ryan’s hands, feeling empty as her fingertips touched the open air.  Straightening her back, Kelly walked towards her car.  She was about to open the door when Ryan grabbed her hand and swung her into his arms, once again.  She could smell his cologne, a smell she couldn’t describe, but one that she would never forget.  It was the smell of Ryan.

Kelly snuggled against his chest as he gently laid his chin on her head.

“I’ll miss you,” he whispered.

Kelly said nothing, hugging him closer, listening to his heart beat.  Finally she pulled away.  Before getting in the car, Kelly turned around and said, “I love you, in a sense.”

Ryan looked into her eyes and gave her a sad smile, “I truly liked you,” he replied, “and always will.”

Kelly backed the car out of the driveway, suppressing the tears from flowing out.  As she drove off, the image of Ryan leaning against the open doorway of his apartment, expressionless, was implanted in her mind.