The incessant ticking of the clock on the wall was driving Allegra Fairfield insane. As if it wasn’t bad enough that she was sitting on a hard wooden bench in the middle of some godforsaken divorce court!

At first glance, one might describe Ms. Fairfield as a plain woman. But upon further notice, one might note her vaguely striking features. Her short cropped hair was white like cream, and her complexion was not much darker. She looked to be around around sixty-five years old. Though she was sitting down, her height was easily gagued at around five and a half feet tall. Allegra's eyes were the most prominent feature on her face, they were exactly the color of the proverbial stormy sea. It was easy to notice that in her day, she was once a beauty, but as time went on, her small frame became haggard and worn out. The innocence in her youthful eyes became lost. Her mannerisms became slow and forlorn. She was a woman who had seen great pain and suffering, though with every heartbeat she tried not to show it.

‘Oh god, not again.’ she thought

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The constant ticking of the clock was quite annoying, though admittedly it did keep her mind off…no, she didn’t want to think about it, she couldnt thing abouit it. Allegra had spent the last fifty years of her life trying to suppress those memories, and she had no intention of remembering them now. It would be tantamount to stabbing herself repeatedly in the eyes with a hairpin. Allegra involuntarily shuddered. No, she refused to think of it now.

Too late. Like a tempestuous wave, a flood of memories pulled her under. She struggled to maintain composure. Her attempts were obviously in vain, as a single teardrop fell to the floor

, but Allegra paid no notice. She was too busy remembering James.

Nearly fifty years ago, James Hutchinson was everything a girl could have wanted. He was smart, funny, kind and handsome. He was everything Allegra could have asked for. Chivalrous and empathetic, she wanted him forever. The best part was he wanted her forever also. Allegra knew it was a love for the ages, one that had never before been witnessed by mankind.

The memories consumed her.

Remembering every touch, every kiss, every moment, she was in another time. A time where fairytales came alive and dreams came true.

“I have a gift for you” he murmured. His voice, so clean, so perfect, cut her heart open once again. She had been so sure it had healed! Though, one must wonder, can a heart, once broken, ever fully be mended?

“oh you do, do you?” she asked. He nodded, his chocolate hair waving about as he did so.

“Ill show you” he pulled a necklace out of his pocket. With the shape of a heart, the locket bared the inscription ‘je suis toujors votre.'

“It means I will always be yours. Forever.” He whispered into her ear as he clasped it around her throat.

The scene changed.

Lying on her back, underneath the beatific clear night sky, her hand was held in his. Pointing up at the millions of tiny suns, she explained each and every constellation above. His calming voice explaining how every small point made up a massive figure encompassing all of the heavens. She was safe. Nothing could ever hurt her.

But Allegra knew now. No longer was she so naive as to believe she would never be hurt by someone she loved. No longer was she so innocent as to believe nobody could ever leave her.

She couldn’t breathe. The pain was too much for a hundred, let alone for one person to bear. Her frame slowly slumped against the wooden bench.

She remembered everything. The feel of his lips, the way he said her name. It was too familiar.

Allegra was crying openly now. After nearly fifty years of denial, she had finally come to terms.

Once again, she couldn’t restrain herself. All mental barriers were broken. A montage of memories flashed through her mind.

Flash.

At the dance, James dancing with little Marsha White, smiling and flailing wildly about, they both seemed to the enjoying themselves. Why shouldn’t they be? She had once asked herself. It’s a dance, and anyway, there’s no way he could actually like her, he loves me! Besides, Marsha asked him to dance!

Flash.

James and Marsha enjoying dinner in a cozy, candle-lit restaurant, both most likely thinking Allegra was home in bed. Tears running down her face, she could almost literally feel her heart breaking.

But he loves me. He loves me. He loves me!

Flash.

James saw her spying.

Flash.

Apologies mean nothing

Flash.

Ten years on, her wedding day. John Suffolk was a fine man, he would take care of her nicely. She still missed James.

Flash.

A flash into the present. There she was, in the insufferable divorce court, crying for all to see. It was too much.

Allegra had to run.

Taking her leave, she flew out into the main reception area, and out through the main door, onto the crowded streets. Cars zoomed past, people ran by. And there she was, all alone. Again. As she hailed a cab, her eyes locked onto a shiny black car moving by. It was James, and with a wave of acknowledgement he was gone.