I hope everyone is doing well, just wanted to say: Thank you for reading my stories! It makes me happy to know that other people out there like my writing too. I hope everyone is having a great summer. Thanks again!!! And I hope you enjoy!

Will You Still Love Me?

Margot Pierpoint

When two children meet each other it is what people call friendship at first sight, but when two children who are destined to love each other, always, that is what people call a miracle. And when Elyse and I met, it was more, it was so much more. If it could be called anything, I suppose it could be called a blessing, our serendipity.

***

Will you still love me?

The question hit me the way a great wave crashes the shore. How do you answer a question like that when the person you have always loved is leaving and yet they ask you to keep loving them. 

 No.

I can’t. My entire life I have wished for Elyse to love me the way I did her. And now when she has finally asked me to love her, finally shown that she loves me, I can’t. But why? I didn’t have to think to answer her question, I didn’t even have time to think how she might react. In my heart I just knew. The look on Elyse’s face was enough to put a jab of pain into my heart. Her eyes fell and she hung her head. All the hope she’d had a moment ago had vanished. But still she reached for my hand and gave it a quick squeeze. Think about it. She whispered and walked away. I couldn’t help thinking that I had made a mistake, that maybe I had just been angry with her for leaving. But inside it felt right. There was nothing I could do now. Elyse would still leave and I would forget her. As was the way of things. With my head clouded with thoughts I walked home, paying little to no attention to my surroundings. Had Elyse really meant it? It sure seemed like she had. But then why wait fifteen years to admit it? If only this had been different, if only she weren’t going away. The thing is, I want to still love Elyse. I want to always love her. I fall asleep still thinking of those five words that changed everything.

Will you still love me?

She whispered. I was at Elyse’s house again. I don’t know why I tourture myself. I guess just couldn’t stand leaving things the way they were. This time she cupped my cheek in her soft hands and looked me in the eye. This time I knew what to answer, it was what was right.

Maybe.

Elyse’s smile warms me right to the bones, filling me with a hope so strong and lovely. She slid her hand down my arm and stopped at my wrist, twirling, she let go and spun away. I stood there staring after her well aware of the ridiculous smile that must have crept onto my lips. I give myself a shake, remembering that there is nothing ridiculous about love. With nothing left to do I gather my things and make for the front door. In a box by the door marked PICTURES a group of pictures litters the top, not yet packed up. One catches my eye. I pick it up and hold it closer. It’s an old photograph, taken when Elyse and I were only five. I recognize her bright orange curls and round happy face. We stand in an embrace smiling at the camera. I remember many days like this one, the many hours we spent in her back yard playing family or sword fights or animals. The picture flutters to the ground as I realize with a jolt just how much I’m going to miss her. And I realize I was wrong, this was not the way of things. I loved Elyse, and I won’t ever forget her. With a sudden burst of energy I ran back to where Elyse was packing a box marked BEDROOM and grabbed her wrist. 

 Will you still love me?

I ask, watching her eyes carefully. The surprised expression on her face vanishes replaced with a lovely smile. She cupps my face in her hands, draws me close and whispers.

Always.

Then she stands on her toes and presses her lips to mine, filling me with an uncontrollable joy. Suddenly I don’t care that she is leaving. Maybe I will leave with her, maybe we’ll leave together. All I know is that I want to keep her here, in my arms, forever. I put my lips close to her ear and whisper.

I will always love you.

And I have kept this promise ever since. In my vows to her, in the house we bought, in when her mother died, and when our daughter was born Elyse looked at me and asked, with her lovely smile lighting up her face.

If I name her Wynn, will you still love me?

***

I watch as our two lovely daughters run and play in the grass. Wynn has her mother’s hair, bright and curly. Laurel has her eyes, perfect and green like the grass they played on. I glance at their mother, watching her as she smiles at her daughters. Our lives were happy and filled with joy. We still loved each other and I am sure we always will. All that began with one question. The question that our daughters ask us when they do something wrong. The one I ask their mother when I’m feeling bad. I will ask: Will you still love me? And she will answer with her unwavering smile.

Always.

Love, love will keep us together

Stop, cause I really love you

Stop, I’ve been thinking of you

Look in my heart and let love keep us together

—Captain & Tennille (Love Will Keep Us Together)