“You Seem Familiar…”

They spun.

They danced.

I had to watch it all.

 He danced with her around the floor. They seemed so happy together. I glanced around the room, looking to see who was here. Quite a few students from high school. Both their families. Other people I didn’t or couldn’t recognize.

I went to grab a cup of champagne before leaning against the wall, and taking a sip as memories of the past flooded my mind.

———————————————

“I love you.” Runo told me laying against my chest during our break. I looked down into his warm chocolate brown eyes. “When we get older, I want to marry you.”

I giggled at him. “Ru, we’re only fourteen. Are you sure?”

“Positive,” He grinned the silly grin I had fallen for, “I’m counting down the days until I can tell you ‘I do’.”

“I love you too. Now come on, we’ve gotta finish high school before we can get married.” I pecked him on the cheek as I heard the bell ring.

He groaned. “I hate logic.”

“Me too.” I snickered.

————————————————

“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly. “You used to say love was forever.”

"Well I lied! Pack your things, we're leaving." My mother screamed. No, no, no! This is not happening!

"But school! My…” I stopped myself from saying boyfriend. She didn’t know about Runo yet. I guess now she is never going too now, “friends!" 

She ignored me, instead shoving stuff to the floor. I winced.

“You'll make new ones! You're going to have to return here anyways and make new ones then!" I nodded slowly trying not to give away my fear. 

"Okay Mom. Can I go spend my birthday with them at least." I wanted to go see Runo and tell him about this.

"Go." She waved me off, and I shoved my phone into my pocket.

————————————————

“I’m moving.” I told him, tugging self-consciously on my sweater as we were laying on the grass at the park celebrating my sixteenth birthday. I didn’t look him in the eyes, worried to see his reaction as I continued. “My mom doesn’t want me here anymore. Something happened to her and my father and they’re getting divorced.” I gulped looking at him, my vision blurry. “I’m scared Ru. What’s happening to my life?”

He looked at me sympathetically, before pulling me into a hug the smell of his cologne helping me relax. “I don’t know, but it’s going to be okay Mia.”

I sniffled, before choking out a laugh. “I feel really childish for crying. Reminds me of all the teasing.”

“It’s normal to be emotional. And don’t worry. I’ll wait for you until you come back and I can marry you.” He smiled, looking me in the eyes.

“Really?” I asked him.

“I promise.” He swore and I knew he ment it

 I sobbed into his shirt, from relief, joy, and sadness.  

“Now I have a gift for you. Here.” He grinned after a couple minutes before he pulled out a small box. “This is to prove that I’m going to marry you the second we see each other after we turn eighteen.”

“I love you.” I muttered, pecking him on the lips. I laid down on his chest. “Tell me a story.” I closed my eyes as he started talking about a book that he read. 

I held onto his promise as we drove away from the place that used to feel like home, with my mom talking in the background. Now it was just another house on the block to me. 

At least I would have a future with him. That was one thing I wouldn’t let go.

———————————————

“Don’t hit me!” I yelped, pulling my hand over my face.

“What’s on your hand?” I pulled it down and saw the silver prize I loved and had been given on my ring finger. 

“A… ring…” I hadn’t realized I pulled up the hand with Runo’s gift on it. 

“Oh please.” Billen scoffed. “There’s no way someone wants to marry you.”

“Then you’ve never met my boyfriend.” I growled. “He promised, and has always told me about it.”

“Oh really? How do you know he really loves you?”

“He gave this to me on my sixteenth birthday along with huge confirmation about the promise that he made when we were fourteen.”

“What promise?”

I looked him in the eye, with the confidence that talking about Runo always gave me. 

“To marry me.”

———————————————

“Do I know you?” I heard someone behind me ask. I turned around and saw him. Runo. “Sorry if it’s rude, but you seem familiar. Have we met before?”

Yeah, we have! I wanted to scream at him. I was your boyfriend! You promised to marry me! I wanted to break down and cry and beg to know why he betrayed his promise. I wanted to feel his soft lips on mine again. I wanted him to talk to me about the books he would read. I wanted him back.

Instead I told him, “Maybe. I used to live here, but I moved away a long time ago.”

He smiled. “Oh. Well I’m Runo.”

“RUNO!!!” Someone yelled. He turned around to see our friends from high school. “Hurry up!!”

“Ok!” He yelled back, before turning to me. “Sorry about that…?”

“Michal but some of my friends call me Mia.” I offered to see if it would spark anything.

“Sorry about that Michal I’ve gotta go.” He really doesn’t remember me? I wondered as he ran off to his friends who were playing charades.

I stared at his shrinking form as he walked over there before standing next to his wife, Iris, and kissing her on the lips. They group let out a chorus of “Oooo~!”s before they all started laughing and shoving each other. I winced.

“Oh Runo… what happened to you. You’ve changed so much.” I whispered as a couple tears ran down my face as I sank into a chair. “My love…”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I got to my feet before stumbling outside away from the closing in walls.