Another Chance

Light streamed through the blinds casting a warm shadow over my bed, my alarm clock was blaring. I quickly attempted to silence it, it was a rickety old thing, the ones you see in movies, except the paint was chipping, and it had fallen off my nightstand so many times that it was dented in several places. I sighed as I stretched my arms, sliding my feet around so they were touching the floor which was surprisingly warm. Suddenly something hit my foot, I yanked it back onto my bed then realize it was just my cat, Ocean, I grab my slippers and a robe as I trudge to the bathroom. After a quick relaxing shower, I trek into the kitchen, Ocean padding behind me her sandy colored tail gently twirling back and forth. The sun has risen now casing a brilliant light over my tiny kitchen, I love mornings like this. I scrambled around the kitchen looking for some cat food. I finally found it and poured Ocean a bowl. Then I rummaged through the fridge and pantry looking for anything tasty, I settled on some avocado toast. 

“This is the life,” I murmur to Ocean. She looks at me her big, bright, beautiful, blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

 After breakfast was eaten and cleaned up, I drift to the bathroom and get ready for my day. After applying some mascara and lipgloss I walk to my closest, Ocean close behind. 

“What to wear, what to wear?” I mumble, Ocean simply watches. I decide on some light washed, ripped blue jeans, and a burst of sunshine yellow, blouse. After slipping on some black heels and grabbing my worn brown leather bag I quickly pour Ocean another bowl of food and bounce out the door. 

“Hey, Opal! Wait up!!” I glanced quickly in the direction of the smooth deep voice and then quickly start to speed up. It was my next-door apartment neighbor, Oliver. He walks closer and I almost gag, 

“Whoah, cool it on the cologne,” he looks at me like he is hurt. His face turning a couple of shades of pink.  “Or don’t I add quickly, just a suggestion.” We walk to the elevator and ride down in awkward silence, 

“Seriously,” I thought “You’re such an embarrassment to yourself.” 

Once I get to the parking garage and quickly locate my car, and drive to work. I am an aspiring artist, my studio is only a couple blocks away and I am expecting a very excited buyer today! I pull up to the brick building. It is 2 stories tall and all mine. I walk inside heels clicking on the paint-stained concrete floor. I scrape my hair into a messy ponytail and grab my apron. I usually would have just worn casual, paint coved clothing but I had a buyer coming today so I decided to look decent. I throw my shoes aside and crank up my music as I pick up a paintbrush. 

I already had sketched out what I wanted the painting to be so now all that was left was a pop of color. I lost myself in painting, the blending of colors, the simple stroke of a brush. I was immersed in my work and didn’t even realize that so much time had gone by. That was until I heard the tinkling of the studio door opening. I race across the room, throw off my apron, and clumsy slip my heels back on. I turn to the mirror and attempt to tame my curly hair, but decide to leave it up in the ponytail. 

“Hello” a jolly voice came from downstairs. I race down the stairs, then pause to collect myself. I then walk out onto the floor. 

“Hello, my name is Opa-” I gasp, “M-Mason?” 

“Opal?” he says surprised. So many emotions were running through my head, I was confused, what was my highschool sweetheart was doing at my art studio. Mason’s face was screwed up into a look of concentration, the way it used to when he was taking a test or skateboarding. I silently push the memories away. 

“I’m um…” he starts, “the buyer that was uh, interested.”  

“Oh, um, well then” I blush feeling a bit embarrassed. “Come along then.” 

“Okay!” he says excitedly. “It’s been so long,” he says fondly. My blush harshens 

“Uh, yeah” I squeak, silently praying that he would not go bring up the last time we saw each other. 

“You look great!” he adds. His ears getting red on the tops as they used to whenever I would flirt with him. 

“You do too,” I added silently in my head. Then I trip over my own foot. I topple over and my face turns bright red. I can tell he is resisting the urge to laugh,

    “Well, I can see you’re still clumsy,” he announces. I try and laugh it off as he offers his hand to help me up. 

    Suddenly all the old feelings are flooding back when we would sneak out to Mr. Smoothie, our favorite restaurant, and talk for hours on end. At school when he would kiss me in the hallway right before we went to class, and when he would look at me with such love in those emerald green eyes, glimmering in the sun. I grab his hand. He must feel it too, his eyes are locked on mine, and once again I stare into those eyes, and the love is still there. I start to shake. 

    “W-Why did you leave?” I ask softly still starting, his hand still in mine, our bodies slowly moving closer to each other.

    He sighed looks around and says, “Let’s talk about it over coffee.” I nod. 

    We meet up at a quaint little place called, The Bean. We walk over to a table, the waitress comes over and he orders 1 small white chocolate frap and 1 black coffee. 

“You remember,” I grin. He looks at me and smiles.

“ I have thought about you every day, and you deserve an explanation. When we were together you were my sun and moon, a day without you was like a day without food,” I smile, he still loved food. “Things got complicated really quick, after we graduated I was planning, um well, I was planning on proposing.” I gasp. “Before you say anything let me finish,” I nod very slowing my smile vanished. “But you… I didn’t think you were ready, and before I knew it we were fighting and you moved off to college.” I couldn’t breathe. All those years I had spent wondering if I was ever going to see him again, all those sleepless nights. He had wanted to propose? I could barely breathe. 

“Here you two go!” The waitress had come back and set the steaming cups before us. I just stared at mine. 

“Give me another chance,” He said, “Let me be the man I should have been.” It was to much everything was spinning.

    “I-I have t-to go I think.” Before he could oblige I quickly ran out the door and got into my car. This was to much. I pressed my lips together as I leaned against the steering wheel. Another chance. Should I do it? Could I do it? I sat thinking. Suddenly I sat up.

“What would be the harm?” I thought, “It’s not like I’m still in love with him, or are you?” I quickly pushed the thought away as I ran back into the tiny coffee shop. “Yes,” 

“Wait. what?” He sounded surprised. 

“Yes,” I said again. “I will give you one day.”

“Great!” he said. 

The day ended at my favorite Italian Restaurant. “I think… I think I’m still in love with you.” He smiled. “Me too, he said, “Me too!”