The Girl in the Floral Dress

Have you ever looked over at someone across an open room and felt such a sense of fulfilment in the knowledge that this one singular person existed?

A swell of emotion builds in your stomach as your gaze becomes more fixed and unflinching; as you continue to observe your mind is consumed less by her physique, not her slim build, nor slight frame with gentle curves running down her body. Neither is your mind consumed by her short black hair that gently falls down her round face. Nor her subtle brown skin that stands in contrast to that brightly coloured floral patterned dress she has on.

All you see is her!

A woman unlike any you have ever known or seen. Like a shooting star across a deserted night’s sky, her beauty and essence are unmistakable. She has yet to notice your undivided attention and you take this opportunity to cast your mind back to a moment you once shared together.

You recollect the particular day as you sat beside her in an open park with your arms around her shoulders. As she rests on your chest you playfully pull her close and run your hands through her silky hair as you have done countless times before, but this time seems different. “Have you ever thought about what happens next?” you ask as you stare at the open grassy fields ahead. “Next? As in…?” she replies curiously. “When I leave, what happens to us?” She sits up and looks at you, the importance of the conversation suddenly dawning on her.  “I haven’t really thought about it” she says briskly.

You turn towards her and look into her brown eyes, your heart begins to race as you desperately try to confess what you know lies in both your hearts. But it was a lot easier when you practiced saying it in front of the mirror the night before. After a few hesitant seconds, you finally utter the words... “I love you! You know I do. I want this to last forever! I don’t care what it takes! I love you! That’s all I know!”

 A silence falls and all you hear is the rustling of leaves as a slight breeze blows. The moment seems to last a lifetime.

You blurted out the words so impulsively that you failed to see the tears begin to run down her cheeks. Her lips begin to quiver as she looks deep into your eyes. She begins to speak but in that instant, all you notice is her dress as it flutters slightly in the wind, as if to mirror your racing heart. The brightly coloured rose petals adorning her garment seem to dance in the mellow breeze. You try to focus your mind but now you can barely make out what she says over the pounding of your heart as your chest seems to tighten.

But as the breeze quiets down and her dress lay back still in the calm air you hear her finally utter those undying words your heart so longed for. “I love you too!” 

As you reminisce you begin to inch your way towards her making sure not to lessen your gaze for even a second. Perhaps it is because she wore that same dress this evening or perhaps something else is to blame. All you know is it seems as though the world around you is still, silent and non-existent. All you see is her in that floral dress as she tilts her head slightly and finally notices your approach. She smiles and you see from the way she looks at you that perhaps she also remembers that windy day in the park where you bore your heart to her and she, in turn, gave you hers.