Table with a view...by
kris11Comment by K3Master: She had said to come here, and so he came. She had promised. 4pm that day, end of the pier, I'll be there, come what may. Rain or shine. Better or Worse. I'll be there.
He stood there, and gazed at the empty table. The wind howled, and the snow accumulated faster than he could have imagined it would. He knew that this was weather that was not predicted. It had come out of nowhere and had pretty much shut the surrounding area down. Forced it into a virtual stand-still. He knew, as he had made his way here over icy roads, through brutal conditions, that there was not much hope that the promise would stand.
But she HAD promised.
She would be here, but she wasn't.
He walked to the table, careful to not slip on the treacherous surface of the pier, and stood there, willing her smiling face to be across from him. Willing her hands to reach out and take his. Willing her laughter to echo across the waters. A small sob escaped him then, and he shut his eyes tight and blinked back the tears threatening to form. He then placed the rose he had carried on the table, where it scattered the forming snow.
I'll be there, she had promised. Now, only this symbol of their love was here, the red of the petals contrasting with the white of the powdery snow. A breeze struck then, picking up the rose and flinging it out into the water, and he did cry now. There was no longer any effort to hold it back.
She had promised, so many years ago, but had never shown up, and would never be able to be here again. Never be able to promise another thing. So he would keep her promise for her, and each year, on that anniversary, he gave his offering. Every year he would return. He would be here.
He promised.
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