Chapter 2: Don't Say Never
Chapter 2:
Luis was sitting in his apartment all alone and starring at the picture he held in his hand. The picture frame was heavy and embroided with gold on the edges. He longed to have her beside him again, but they were too far apart to ever come back to one another. Too much had happened and too much had changed. The couple that he saw in the picture reflected a time of joy and love that transcended all else. If only things were different. He needed to stop dwelling in the past, but the wounds left from those painful memories where to deep and he needed to heal. He gazed at the picture for a while longer, which made him forgot his troubles for that one moment and remember what they once shared.
*Flashback*
It had been a beautiful autumn day in Harmony. The branches were full of brightly colored leaves. Sheridan and Luis walked hand in hand through the park basking in the beauty of this little town at this time of year. The children played happily and Sheridan watched with a look of wonder. Luis knew what she was thinking and before he could tell her she interrupted him with her thoughts out loud.
“Luis let’s have a child. I know we have only been married for two months, but I think having a child would bring us even closer than we already are, if that’s possible.”
Luis’ expression remained neutral, he wanted Sheridan to think he was outraged.
“Luis please say something, I am sorry if you don’t…”
“Shh. Sheridan I was joking of course I feel the same way. Nothing would make me happier.”
Sheridan’s eyes sparkled and Luis took her hand in his and said.
“You know I think that having a little run around the house, would fill our lives with more joy than I ever thought possible.”
Sheridan wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer for a kiss.
*End of Flashback*
A single tear hit the picture frame. He couldn’t bear to be apart from her, but he knew that too much had changed for them to even try to work it out. He had replayed the scenes in his mind over and over, until he decided the best thing to do was to file for divorce. They needed to move on, without one another. As hard as it was for Luis to sign those papers, he knew Sheridan would be better off without him in her life. Suddenly, he threw the picture frame with all his might across the room and it hit the wall with a fierce bang. It shattered to the floor in a thousand pieces fully. The only reminder left from the clutter was the picture of a once happy couple, which remained whole.
Luis needed a distraction, something to ease his pain. He spotted the CD player out of the corner of his eye and walked toward it. He turned the knob and the music began to filter through the room.
“Did you think my life would end that day.
That you walked, when you broke my heart.
Did you think I couldn’t make it through,
Ohh without you. Did you think you’d stop
My world with goodbye, oh no.
Did you think I’d crumble inside”
“Not me, I’m still breathing.
And this heart of mine is still beating.
I – I am not feeling. Any pain, no baby
Not me - I am still breathing. This old
Heart of mine is still beating. The tears
I cried have dried you have gone and I’ve
Survived I am still breathing.”
Luis listened attentively to the words and he did not feel the same way. He couldn’t survive. Each day without her was harder than the last and the hardest part was not being able to see her – ever again.
More painful memories flooded Luis’ mind as he recalled the day when everything changed.
To Be Continued…
