Authors: Monica Miller
“Hey, listen… I was thinking about Prom… and the way we met,” Emma started as she shifted to look at me, her hand still in mine.
“That was… something,” I said and Emma laughed.
“Yes, but I remember the feeling I had that day, you know?” she started, and her tone was so sweet and dreamful. A breeze blew a little too hard, making her blonde hair swing around her beautiful face. I smiled, and she looked at me confused. “Anyway, I was thinking about the fact that I really thought it will be special… like… I don’t know, have memories that in 5 years I would still smile when I think about them.”
“And did you?” I asked and she looked away.
“Well… not really,” she admitted and I sighed, looking over at Luke, who was still in the same swing. “I mean, five years ago I barely graduated, and we were… like… living together and… Well, I tried not to think about Prom for a long time,” she confessed and I nodded.
Actually I was thinking about it pretty often, especially when I was too close to her, and remembered the moments we shared that night, but if I told her that would sound too boyish.
“What about now?”
“It still is pretty weird,” Emma said. “It was such an amazing night, but I was so immature about it, talking like that about Gabrielle, and enjoying she was so crushed because she was a bitch in high school, but no one cares who you were in high school, because then life happens, and it won’t spare anyone. And then you and I were nothing, and…”
“I wanted us to be something, you didn’t,” I casually said, and Emma gasped as she widened her eyes.
“It wasn’t like that, I couldn’t-“
“Let’s not go there, okay?” I said as I removed my arm from her waist.
“What? Why? Why?” she asked again and grabbed my hand.
“Because I still remember that fucking e-mail you sent me, and I think it was one of the stupidest things you’ve ever done, Emma, besides dating Alec,” I said and instead of smiling, she stiffened.
“I’m sorry, I don’t… I’m sorry.”
“God, I love you,” I said and turned and kissed her. “I’m over that, Emma, what’s the matter with you? High school was like 10 years ago,” I laughed and she slightly relaxed.
“Do you ever… regret coming with me to Prom? And… Everything?” she asked and her voice was so sweet and low.
“You want me to be honest?” I asked and she nodded, moving her head once up and once down. “Hmm… Tough one,” I said. I loved this – teasing her, no matter how hard Emma would hate me afterwards. “Of course not, baby,” I said and she gave me a punch in the shoulder. “It’s the best decision I’ve ever took,” I smiled, and kissed her again. “Besides marrying you, of course. And Luke,” I continued, moving closer to her and kissing her passionately.
Somehow neither of us cared that we were in a park, surrounded by kids and mothers who glared at us because of our PDA. I couldn’t keep my hands off her, it was like I wasn’t fully aware that I was married to Emma and we were supposed to be together forever. And the thought of it sounded really great. I think I knew from the very first moment when I saw her, as beautiful and selfless. I was just stupid for ignoring it for too long.
But it was true. And there we were, standing on a bench and watching our two years old son playing in the swing with the cutest smile I’ve ever seen. He seemed so happy and I knew that it was the only thing I’ve ever wanted.
“I love you, Emma,” I said as I kissed her lips once more.
“I love you two, Nicholls,” she replied and squeezed my hand.
And that felt good. No. It didn’t just feel good. It felt perfect.
The End