Love Stories All Around - A Romantic Short Story

Some Tiersen matches the day, don't you think?

Somewhere in a deserted alley a couple was sharing their last kiss goodbye. He was cold she was crying. He didn't want to go on with her. He told her he had lost interest in their relationship, not that he had found someone else. She has been so wonderful with him, who would be worthy to take her place, but you see.... people lose interest with time. They miss on the spark of the first days and months. The warmth of their first kiss and the excitement of the first night in bed. He had been with her for so long that he had forgotten what it's like to live all this again. And difficult as it is to find another one to open his heart to, he wanted to take his chances.

Selfish! How selfish! What about her? She never missed all that because waking up beside him every morning reminded her of the indescribable joy and enthusiasm she had felt the first time they had got together. And she was reassured that if a man had managed to make her feel like this, he had to be worthy to spend all her mornings waking up in the same bed with him. I guess now she realized that it doesn't always work the same for both.

As he was walking away he told her to take care and that he will think about her. Then, he did his jacket up, put his hands in his pockets and took quick steps trying to keep himself from looking back, chickening out and changing his mind. He had to feel the pain, die a little inside to be resurrected later in another romance.

She stayed there and cried for a while. Then she swept her tears, fixed her hat on her head and headed home. She would just have to learn to live alone again. She went through a park on her way back but didn't bother looking at the trees or the flowers or the benches by the fountain, she was looking down.

Somewhere next to the fountain, sitting on a bench was a boy and a girl, teenagers. They were talking and laughing and looking at each other in the eyes. The sparkle was obvious. He was almost stuttering with every phrase that got out of his mouth. She wanted to laugh but she kind of liked it. She was trembling and her heart pounding. They could feel their stomachs twisting, their lips shaking and their breaths hot coming out of their mouth as if there was a fire burning in their lungs.

They leaned closer towards each other. She could feel his burning breath upon her face. He could smell her fear mixed with longing. Inch by inch they got closer. And closer. And their lips finally met. It was a numbing feeling at first. They didn't know what to do. Then she slightly opened her mouth and let his tongue inside to explore her unknown world. A taste of mint. She had been chewing gum some time earlier. He gently put his hand behind her neck, she stroke his hair.

A dog came barking and interrupted them at once. They looked at the animal in surprise, then looked at each other and burst into laughter. He held her hand and left the park together. He wanted to buy her some ice cream. There was a famous ice cream shop just round the corner, opposite the hospital. They got there, he went in and she waited outside. As she was waiting her eyes fell at the big building across the street. The big hospital captured her sight for a moment but then he came out of the store, holding two ice cream cones in his hands, gave her the one and they continued walking down the street.

Somewhere in an ICU room in that hospital an old man was holding his wife's hand. She was critical. In life support for more than a month now. Looking at her and then at the machines that held her back to him his eyes started shedding tears. He took a deep breath. Her condition was irreversible. The doctors advised to let her go, but he couldn't. All this time he would not dare. They had spent a lifetime together, how was he to end it?

Their children were outside. They had been trying to talk their father into doing it. They knew their mother was not in there anymore. There was just a body unable to support itself on its own. Their mother had already moved on and they were only keeping her chained with all those tubes and electrodes wrapped around her body. They had to let her go.

He was alone in the room with her. He could not believe what he was about to do. He laid there next to her, whispering how much he loved her. Telling her stories from their life together. Memories he would have to carry alone from now on. How he was going to fix that fence she was always complaining about but he would not bother repairing. How he would start eating more healthily and cut down on those beers he liked so much.

You know, he had to do it himself, because she would not be around to remind him all that. And you know? She would not be around to tell him good morning with a cup of hot coffee every day. He would read his newspaper with the TV on in the living room and no smells of food being cooked would come out of the kitchen. But he could not change anything. He wept hidden in her hair that smelled like medicine. He soaked her pillow and the whole bed was shaking from his sobbing and just like that the periodical mechanical sound turned to a continuous beeping noise. She had done it by herself.

Somewhere in the same hospital a woman was in labour. Doctors and nurses were talking to her, instructing and encouraging her. But she did not listen to anyone of them. Her eyes were pinned on her husband. She was in pain but she could not stop smiling. He was stressed, all sweatty and nervous. He didn't talk. Just stand in the corner looking at her. Their eyes were doing all the talking. Even when the pain was too great she did not close her eyes, she could not miss his or she'd feel she was lost.

Pushing and screaming and clenching her fists she was trying so hard. And with a final push it was there. A baby's scream was heard echoing in the room. The relief they both felt was beyond words, but they still hadn't stopped looking at each other. He was glancing once at the baby and once at her and he was smiling so wide. When the doctors allowed him to come closer he fell all over her, held her strong and kissed her face that was all covered in sweat.

The doctor cut the umbilical chord and the nurse brought the baby to meet his parents. He was so beautiful, blood and other disgusting fluids were all around him, but they didn't care. He was theirs. For a moment they were left alone in the delivery room. She kissed their baby's forehead and as he kissed hers a sigh of relief went out of her mouth. They had made it!

Just some thoughts...

I never celebrated Valentine's day. I considered it a cheap commercial day, an opportunity for companies to sell more. But you know what? Valentine's day is not about the heart-shaped cards and teddy bears and chocolates. It's just a day to remember and celebrate love.

For loners, it is a day they are reminded how single they are. For the ones in a relationship it is a great opportunity to spend some time together if their overly busy lifestyles don't allow for much quality time with their significant other. No fancy restaurants or expensive jewelry, no silly heart-shaped boxes with more heart decorated mugs or picture frames inside. A simple hug and an "I love you", "I'm here because I care for you" will do and not just today, not even every day. When you feel like it and when you see that your loving person needs it the most.

To the romantic souls that are here I wish you will find (if haven't already found) a person to celebrate love with. To the heart-broken ones I wish you soon get over the failure and move on to the new battle (after all, Love is a battlefield, guys). To the ones who have given up on romance, I will just wish you will find ways to let love in your hearts. After all, love is not what movies, books and series show us. Love is supposed to make us feel comfortable and generous and giving and complete. And it's not just a man-woman thing (not even a man-man or woman-woman thing). Love is a way of living!

*Original story and images by @ruth-girl - Steemit, 2018

Thank you so much for your time!

Until my next post,
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