Lamp Post

      They just broke up with each other. They went separate ways as what he wanted to without telling her the reason. Driven by too much hurt, she returned the necklace to him, the one he gave to her on her graduation night, for thinking that it will help her move on.

      Two months passed but still Jane couldn’t get over it. She wanted even just Tom’s reason for leaving. But since that day, she had not heard from him. She knew that he’s happy now with another girl. She had met her before. Her name was Karen. They even had a long talk and got to know each other just well enough to see that the other lady is...adorable.

      It was late in the afternoon. The sky was dark and heavy clouds are thickening. Jane was on her way to the supermarket. As she was passing by a bookstore, she saw someone that caught her attention. Someone familiar to her. Karen. She felt a severe ache struck her chest. And worse, she saw the necklace, the one Tom gave to her, around Karen’s neck. Suddenly, she was vulnerable by the chill of the evening and stood there frozen. A tear fell from her eye.

      The cold shiver worsened the ache in her chest. She still couldn’t believe the things Tom did to her. After all the moments they shared together, she still couldn’t believe all of it were just trashed in just one moment. Hadn't he felt a bit love for me at all? If he loved me, he would not give the necklace to anybody other than me. He should have kept it and treasured it. She cried harder at the thought.

      Jane ran as fast as she could. It was already dark and thunders began to clap. She ran through the deserted street toward the brook, not minding the deafening grumble of the night sky. Near a lamp post, she bumped into a person. Someone with the scent of a man she knew very well.  Oh no. She started to run away again without looking up, but before she could take her second step he held her and said, “Stop.”

      “What?” She looked at him and it really was him. “What do you want now?”

      Tom did not answer. He couldn’t. They stood in silence.

     Jane just stood there crying, waiting for Tom’s response. Finding her voice, she said, “What, Tom? Say it!”

      “I…” He was stuttering. He was afraid. Afraid to hurt and be hurt again.

    “Well,” she unleashed her arms from his and continued, “if you can’t say it, if you wouldn't say anything, goodbye.” It had always been like this. Jane asking and begging Tom, and Tom just saying monosyllabic phrases. This will be the last time I'll ask you Tom. And I'll leave you with your reasons. Forever. She promised to herself.

      Jane turned and started to take a step away from the place. Away from this man who left without a considerable epilogue. But Tom pulled her to him and embraced her as tight as he could. She wanted to stop her tears but every time she attempts to, it gets worse. She wanted to let go but she felt so weak against his securing arms.

     “This is what I wanted for so long, Jane. I can’t help but think of you,” Tom almost whispered against her ear.

      Jane was speechless. She could hardly believe what he said. She cried harder.

       "I thought that was for the best. But it hadn't felt like that. It was the worst feeling, and it still gets worse, Jane."

    “If that’s it, then why would you leave without even just telling me why? You even gave the necklace to her!”

      Tom’s embrace loosened and he said, “Jane, I…She…”

      “Why, Tom?”

      “You already know the reason and it’s because of my parents. I…”

      She pushed away from him. “I know but it’s NOT enough!” She shouted at him with all her anger and love and hate, all at the same time.

     “I…I love you, Jane. I gave the necklace to her because I don’t want to forget you. Sometimes, I wish she was really you.”

      Really, Tom? Why can't you prove that? Why won't you? She wanted to scream more at him but was overwhelmed by weakness and sadness. “If you really love me,” she wiped her tears and cried again, harder, “you should’ve fought for it. You should’ve because I had been but you gave us up. I love you too, Tom, so much. You...”

      You should’ve known it very well. She was interrupted when he held her waist toward him and pressed his lips into hers. She was shocked and angry in a moment but finally closed her eyes and rested her palms on his broad chest because of the affection she had for him. A feeling she can deny to somebody, to everybody, but not to herself--her love for this man.

      The cloudy night sky witnessed the two. Then it began to rain which accented the quietness of the place and acquainted the two lovers in their night full of hopes of changing the odds that prevents true happiness to reach them, a night which seemed to be the only time left to show their hearts out and to amend life into where they truly belong. For them, it’s hard that their love never lasted for a lifetime… that their love was just until there, by the lamp post.

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© 2008

Revised: December 2012

This story was written when I was still a freshman in high school. This was first published in the school paper, The Burning Pen.