Unbroken

He stood alone on the outside of the mall looking nervous, his unsteady breathing was drowned by the sound of his heartbeat in his ears, one.

He tried to calm himself but the pains of the past burned behind his chest.

He looked around for a distraction, and the city lights caught his eyes.

For some reason he always found them relaxing; the spectrum always different even if you had seen it a hundred times.

He noticed the flowers had closed, tilting toward him as if telling him to go in. He drew a deep breath and went inside…

She was outside a store nervous but trying to repress it.

He glanced down at his watch when he saw her and smiled, 9:00 p.m.

She was beautiful even through the sadness that painted her face blue.

She watched him walk toward her and a small smile slipped through the cracks of a larger, broken smile.

It was as if she didn’t know how to smile like that anymore.

Her blue eyes were as bright as his fears and his brown eyes were as deep as her worries.

They stood in wordless conversation before she put her hand out, and he shook it introducing himself and she followed suit.

They began walking, at first just to find a store that caught their interest but then later to talk.

He walked with his hands in his pockets, looking down at his shoes and he’d glance over at her.

He noticed her glancing back at him and they turned their heads away, smiling.

They started to talk, lighthearted conversations; where they were from, family, growing up, and life.

Each conversation started and ended with a smile.

And each smile brought them closer.

They turned a corner and their hands touched; but neither pulled back, they lingered and stayed.

And now she could hear her heartbeat in her ears, two.

They walked into a restaurant hands still together; only to be seated and have their eyes do what their hands could not.

The breeze came in through a window, ruffling her hair and causing her to blush.

A pink lamp turned on beside her and a purple one on her other side.

Color and people faded from the room as they smiled at each other, and it all seemed to hit her and reflect making her glow in his eyes.

A hand stretched out across the table tentatively in a way that asked, will you?

It was met by another, and her heart told her no.

Maybe she thought to herself; maybe he’s really different.

Maybe-she won’t hurt me he thought. Maybe I can trust my heart on this one.

She’s amazing, he’s so sweet. They paused in their thoughts, but maybe it’s too soon.

Maybe I’m rushing. Maybe she won’t any different. Maybe he doesn’t care like I think he does.

Maybe-and they could hear their heart beat in their ears, three.

She drew her hand back and he dropped gaze.

They looked back at each other, tears stinging in her eyes and biting loneliness threatening to throw him back into depression.

The people, color, and sound of the night life trickled back in; wonderland is gone because this is reality.

He looked down at his watch and concluded it was time to go, before he ruined it further.

They stood and walked toward the door, hands that were clasped before now too afraid to touch again.

They stood outside silently for a few minutes looking at the scenery before she thanked him for the evening and bid him farewell.

He opened his mouth but all he could hear was his heartbeat in his ears, four.

She attempted a smile, waved and walked away, waving him looking after her.

He watched till she was out of sight and then turned the opposite direction and walked away.

Lost in thought and feelings that didn’t make sense; he wandered onto the train and she fumbled blindly through her purse for her keys, tears falling down her face.

A deep sigh escaped him and a sob climbed its way from her throat.

Heads rested on the window and they watched the rain fall; but this rain felt different on their skin, because it was theirs.

The train jerked forward and the car began moving, them farther and farther apart.

The tears in her eyes, the pain on his face, the softness of her hugs, the gentleness of his voice, the smile on their faces when their hands touched, and the feeling that flowed between them.

He sat forward and her tears stopped, the train slowed and he rushed for the door tripping over people with hasty apologies.

The door slid open and he flew out the same time she did.

She went back to the store where they met while he waited for her outside where they split.

He went to the restaurant, trying to stomach the fear building in him.

She stood where they split trying to hold back her tears. A tear fell down his face onto his shoes as he walked away, not bothering to wipe his eyes.

She cried silently in the dark, outside didn’t look much different than she felt, empty and alone.

The door was halfway open as he heard the announcement “The mall will be closing in two minutes”.

He glanced down at his watch, 11:58. He stepped out and walked into the courtyard, and there she was. Standing alone in the courtyard, crying.

“Caelyn” he whispered as he got closer to with tears almost spilling down his face.

She turned and looked up, her eyes wet. He opened his mouth to speak again but found he could not; her face buried in his chest wetting his shirt in noiseless sobs.

He held her there, and color faded while passing cars made no noise and people ceased to exist.

She looked back up at him, and watched him, his expression was pained.

She cautiously put her hand in his and stared into his eyes giving him her wordless promises, I won’t ever hurt you purposefully and I won’t leave unless you want me to.

She took a step forward and he wrapped his arms around her and she hugged him tight. He tilted closer and kissed her forehead, thank you; I won’t or hurt you either.

They released their embrace and stood smiling at each other.

They noticed a light sparkling in the distance, shooting star he said as they watched it approach.

They stood there, hands together wishing upon the star to be unbroken, five.