She and He Series

Fulfillment

Copyrighted © 2008 Arden Ashart

The pianist started playing “Right Here Waiting”. The soft music washed over her; she almost started humming along and swaying like she had when she was a child. As she looked around the semi-crowded room through the dusky candle lighting, her tension melted away. Just like that she was relaxed, calm.

Then she saw him. The black suit he wore blended in to the room, but she saw him. He stood from a table at the far end of the large room, skirted around a couple walking toward the dance floor together, making his way graciously toward her. He was clean shaven, his curly hair slicked back. He was standing tall, and smiling. His eyes shone with light, with the love she had only recently begun to see.

When he neared her, reaching his hand out to take her own, and kissing the back of it so lightly, she bit her lip, feeling the tears gather in her eyes. It was so beautiful, exactly what she had always dreamed. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, her breathing was a little too rapid, but he didn’t seem to notice.

His eyes traveled over her evening gown, a blue moon of form-fitting silk, V-necked with a twist knot resting between her breasts and hanging from her shoulders without a waist to it. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” the words were barely a whisper; she couldn’t have done any better without letting a tear escape.

“Dance with me,” he asked, his eyes pleading, his body leaning toward her, all like she might dream of refusing him.

She nodded and he smiled, taking her hand and gently led her along, putting his hand at the small of her back. They wound their way through tables to the dance floor, where four other couples were moving with grace and ease.

He spun slowly around and took her into his arms. Her head went naturally to his shoulder, her hands placing easily at his back, his along her shoulder blades. Their steps were without thought as they swayed together. It was such a simple thing, to be so close to someone else. But to her it was more; it was the fulfillment of her greatest desire.

She did cry then, a tear down each cheek, and held him closer.