Me

It was summer. They’re staring at the sky for a long time now. It’s fascinating how it turned from peaceful blue to fierce red with an orange hue as the sun starts to set. The beauty of it adds to the warm breeze as they walk in silence. Their hands were clasped with each other as they listen to the angry waves, one after another. She always love to walk bare as the sand sticks to her feet. Glued to her were the memories of the shore where they first met. 

She broke the silence. “Babe?”

He, still in awe with the ambience half mindedly answered. “Yes, babe?”

“Who were you?” She asked. She always wondered what was he like before someone broke his heart. If it was indeed someone or something. 

He was astonished. His consciousness was back now. Confused, he asked. “What do you mean?”

She stopped walking and looked at him. “Who were you before they broke your heart?”

He thought for a moment. “Who am I?”. That question never crossed his mind. Now, he is gasping for an answer. “Who am I?”. He asked himself again. 

“No need to answer that, babe. It’s a foolish question after all.” But she wanted an answer though. She wanted a glance of his past self. She wanted to know what changed. 

She smiled. She had a sweet, naive look when she smiled. Oh how he love her smile. That kind of smile that lights up the room full of sorrowful souls. The smile that gives glitter to a dark colored painting. 

“I was me.” He said aloud. It was the first thing that came to his mind.

She was dazed by his response. Her eyes revealed her reaction. She listened as he spoke. She's good at this, listening. For her, the best comfort in the world is to listen, without judgement.. with a pure heart. You see, some people may hear you, but not all listens. She, of all people knows how listening makes everything at ease. This is what he loves about her, she knows when to speak and when to listen. 

“I was being me with no pretensions. I showed the real me.” His reaction swifted from childlike giggle to a firm grown up man. “You see babe, I’m not always good. I become impatient. I got angry. I am human, I make mistakes.” His tone sounded serious. It was after a minute of silence that he spoke again. “But people tend to mold you to be perfect. They want you to be impeccable in everything you do and say. I can’t babe, you know I can’t.”

She nodded. She understood, of course she understood.  She wanted to be perfect too, she wanted to please the world. But one day, she woke up tired. Tired of pretending… of faking everything… of trying. 

“And once they realize that you will never be one, they'll leave. I was left a lot of times, it broke me.” He looked up at the sky, closed his eyes for a moment and spoke again. “That’s when I started to hide me. I faux my happiness. Pretended to be okay when I’m really not.”

She can hear the sadness in his sighs. Long and mournful sighs. This is what she hates the most, seeing her loved ones aching. She sucks at comforting other people with words. She gave him a warm hug. 

“You know you don’t have to pretend when you’re with me.” She put on a smile. 

He looked down and stared at her. “That smile is freaking contagious.” He thought.

“You don’t need to be perfect. I don’t want perfect.” She shrugged. “Just be you, alright babe?” She’s giggling now. Wanting to brush off the tension of the topic. She’s good at it, diverting. 

“Thank you.” He landed a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for not leaving when you saw the worst part of me. Thank you for letting me be me.” 

“Hey! No crying! Such a cry-ass-baby you are.” She laughed while hitting his shoulder. 

He laughed too. How can he resist that laugh? She’s always funny and brilliant. She's tough yet soft. She always has room for people who needs a shoulder. 

“Babe.” He sandwiched her cheeks between his hands, looked her in the eyes “Thank you for mending me.” They settled with a kiss. 

The truth is there’s more he wanted to say, but a kiss says it all. It was all he needed from the emotions flowing in his veins. He was broken then. He’s healing now. All because of her.