Untangled

A strand of hair blew across her face. Tucking it behind her ear, her unblinking gaze at the bluish green mountains out in the open sea travelled to the distant familiar figure that was gradually coming closer. Months of anguish and sleepless nights were finally coming to a close. It was time to stop living in what-ifs and make a decision.

A soft smile grazed her lips as she drank in the crinkly eyes, crooked grin and endearing stare. Months of suppressed emotions bubbled to the surface and she took a deep breath to steady herself. Looking down at the small book in her hands, she took a last flip through it. Photographs, a dried rose, perfumed notes in different colours; bits of memories flashed by. Stopping now and again at a few dog-eared pages, worn with use, she stared blankly at them occasionally looking up toward the sea.

It had been torturous, a meticulous perfectionist like her, to have all her well-made plans blow away by a whirlwind of something she could not control. And yet, it had been a truly exhilarating ride with guilt-trip detours now and again. Trying to hold on tight to someone familiar, someone she knew she could trust, could love her the way she wanted to be loved, all the while her heart was slowly stolen away by someone she never imagined she could fall in love with. And she was never one to embrace change.

It was difficult to do the right thing, and even more difficult to convince herself that it was right. But in the end, she knew it was what she truly wanted. It was always him, even if he was the unknown, somehow deep down she knew something was there. And she was banking on it to get them through.

She stood as he strolled up to her side. She brought her arm to the back, and with all her might flung everything in the sea; the book taking along her regrets, her uncertainties, her hesitations. Taking a deep, calming breath, she turned to him and flung her arms around his neck. Bringing her lips to his ear, she told him she loved him for the first time.