The Bestman

Leaving Too Soon

"I told her I was lost in this world,
and she smiled,
because she was lost too,
we were all lost somehow,
but we didn't care,
for in the chaos,
we found each other. "
- Atticus.

Joanna's POV

He looks so good drenched in the rain. Can he get more handsome?, I wonder. I stare at him as he closes his eyes and let's the rain pour over him. He cherishes each and every drop that falls on him. He looks happy. I don't want to break his moment, so I go at the back of the car and stand looking at him.

He opens his eyes and I get an idea. I bend down and hide from his view. He calls my name. I stifle my giggle. He calls my name louder, and I slowly move to the back of the car, crouching low. He looks around and I jump out and scream. He screams too. His scream is so funny, I begin to laugh.

He's trying to control his laughter and pretend to be mad at me. I begin to run around the car and he chases me. I slip and fall. My butt hurts, but I continue to laugh just remembering his scream. He sits beside me and laughs too. My phone begins to ring. Shit, it's my mum. I'm late. I should get to the hotel and pack.

We reach the hotel. I open the door by myself without waiting for him to open it for me. I look back and he silently laughs. Then he looks at me. I don't want him to go. I don't want this to end so soon. I just met him. Why does an amazing thing come into my life, just to leave immediately? I curse my fate.

It's cold and I'm shivering. He sees me trembling and hugs me. As his warm body envelopes mine, I pull him closer to me. I don't want to let go. I won't let go. Let him do it, I think and stay there holding him.

He slowly and gently releases me. He looks at me and I look at him. He holds my face and cups my cheek with his palm. He bends down as if to kiss me.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh. My!
He's gonna kiss me!
My heart beats faster. I guess my palms are sweating, that to in this cold weather. I stop breathing as I lean a little forward and close my eyes.

I remember the stranger I kissed at a night club four months ago. That was meaningless. I was depressed, the guy was interested. He kissed me, we made out for a while. It was amazing. But that was it. Temporary.

I didn't want to feel the same with him. I don't want to kiss him, when it would mean nothing. I didn't want him to be something temporary in my life. He is something permanent. I wouldn't want to tarnish his memory by making out with him and he joining the list of the guys I kissed.

I open my eyes immediately and turn my face to the side. I look at him and he looks hurt. Oh no! He misunderstood me. He's thinking that I don't want to be kissed by him. I want to be, only and only by him, but not under these circumstances. Not when it's just temporary.

He holds my face between his palms and kisses my forehead. Oh. My. That was an amazing gesture. So we're cool. No misunderstanding. My heart aches at that little gesture. My stomach has butterflies and my knees go weak with that little gesture. How can anyone be this amazing?, I wonder.

He let's me go. He turns back. I stare at him, hoping he'll turn around. He doesn't. He gets in the car and drives away. It's really over. He's gone. My chest hurts. I sit on the step and hold my chest.

He came like a lightning bolt. He struck my heart and vanished. I slowly get up and climb up the steps of the hotel. I enter the elevator and press a button for the wrong floor, hoping that when the doors open, he's standing out with that beautiful smile on his face and saying " Fourth floor please".

The doors open but he isn't there. I finally go to my room and get into the shower. It's a relief when the hot water falls on my face. I stand under the shower watching the tiny rivulets of water drops cascade down my body.

I close my eyes and the image of him standing in the rain comes into my mind. He was facing the sky. I think of the time in the car when it pained him to say that he works under his father. I remember the time when he said that he earns money to fulfill his dreams.

He made sense. Just dreaming wouldn't get me anywhere. I needed to work hard to earn enough to buy a car or a shack or to travel. I needed a good job. But then working hard all my life is not what I want. It would never make me happy.

I remember the look on his face when I asked him whether he was happy. He was shocked. So maybe he wasn't happy with his life. Several bad decisions of mine made me an unhappy soul. But he didn't look like he was the kind of person who would make foolish decisions. He was practical. He would think a thousand times before making the right decision.

Something made him unhappy. I wish I knew. He's gone now, Jo. Stop thinking about him, I mutter. Wherever he is now, all I wish for him is happiness.

I didn't even take his number. Damn! OK, I need to stop thinking about him. I get out of the shower, wear my pajamas and begin to pack. I'm tired, but I want to finish packing so that I can sleep in peace without having to get up early.

I put in the last of my shoes and close my bags. I lie on the bed and close my eyes. I hear a muffled sound of my phone ringtone.

"Aaaaaarghh! What now! ". I get up and see the caller ID.

Unknown number. Great!

" Hello? "

" Hello Joanna. It's me Robert. "

Oh. My. How on earth did he get my number?!