And this was how our love story began. It was fast and unexpected and the most powerful thing I had ever felt before. I started spending every day with him. He would take me dancing and sightseeing, sometimes we would just stargaze. It was amazing how many stars could be seen at night, back at home it was never possible to see so many.
And did I mention the kisses? I think the that must be my favorite way to spend time with him. Every time we kissed I felt so connected to him, the way he holds my waist, so carefully but so possessive at the same time, how his fingers interlock in my hair keeping me close. There was no other feeling quite like it.
Amber worn me not to get too involved. We were from two different worlds, she said, but I didn't listen to her. She doesn't know what it's like, this strong connection that I had found with him, I would never find it with anybody else, of that I am certain.
But as our feelings grow stronger, the country found himself in conflict with Guatemala. I could tell Fernando tried to shield me from it, but there was only so much he could keep from me. Tension was rising in Mexico, young men had already began enlisting in the army to fight and protect their country. Fernando didn't speak much of it, but I know he was worried.
He seemed a little bit distracted lately, like he had something on his mind but he always shrug it off when I mention it. So I had to take other measures to find out what it was he was hiding from me.
"Mi amor" I hear Fernando call. I was currently in the market with Amber, we had not make any arrangements to meet today so I was surprised to see him there.
"Fernando?¿Qué estás haciendo aquí? " I ask, kissing him in welcome.
"I was running some errands for mamá" he explained holding me close "And I missed you too much"
"I missed you too" I tell him sweetly giving him a quick kiss
"Do you have time to come to a place with me?" he asks hopeful
I look at Amber to get confirmation, I had been neglecting her a lot lately, but she just rolled her eyes and told me to go. She was tired so she was just going to rest at the hotel.
"I'm all yours" I tell Fernando making him flash a bright smile, the one I love seeing so much on his lips.
He took me to the woods, surprisingly.
"If I didn't know better I would say you are taking me somewhere remote where no one can hear my screams as you kill me." I tease him as he takes me further into the woods
"I am taking you somewhere remote but I am not planning to kill you" he reassures me "At least not yet" he adds this time teasing me.
The sun was coming down, and the light it poured trough the tick vegetation was beautiful, it almost felt as if we were somewhere far away. I was so memorized by the landscape that I didn't notice where Fernando had taken me.
"Oh wow" I say, in fact those where the only words I could mutter as I contemplate the sight in front of me. Fernando had taken me to a little beach, isolated by the woods. It was very hidden, so it didn't surprised me that it was desert. "How did you find this place?"
"I found it when I was a teen, it was by accident really, my dog ran away and I followed him here." he explained "I've never seen anybody else here"
"So it's your secret spot?" I ask entwining my arms around his neck
"Yes, it is. Not even my family knows it exists. This is usually where I come when I have to make a big decision, or just think." he confesses
"Oh really? And have you brought many ladies here?" I ask not wanting to seem jealous
"No. Eres la primera" he admits. I smile secretly pleased that I was the first girl that he had brought here.
"You must really like me then" I say looking at him lovely
"No." he says confusing me "I love you Ruby Sheridan. Te amo y siempre te amaré."
My answer was to kiss him. And I hoped that in that kiss he could feel everything that I felt for him, but to be sure I still said "I love you too. It's unreal how much considering we only know each other for a few weeks."
After our exchange of love, Fernando started building a fire in the sand so we wouldn't get cold from the night breeze. I sat in the sand with his guitar in my hands, he had been teaching me how to play. I sang a soft tune as I play around.
"You sing beautifully, mi amor" he says as he sits behind me , his legs open so that I could sit in the middle.
"Thank you" I say blushing, I always loved to sing but I never actually let anybody hear me sing before.
"Why so shy? You have a beautiful voice." he pursues
"I don't know, I just.. never actually sang for other people before" I confess, he was instantly intrigued by that.
"Will you sing for me?" he asks gently kissing my forehead
"Hmm...since you asked so nicely I just might." I tell him . I place the guitar in the right place, I had learn enough to know a few tunes "If you laugh, I'm going to be the one to murder you and hide your body so nobody ever finds yo." I threaten. He smiles amused but nods in reassurance.
"This is just a little something I have been working on lately, it's not complete yet so bare it with me."
I start playing a soft tune on the guitar.
"No time for rest
No pillow for my head
Nowhere to run from this
No way to forget
Around the shadows creep
Like friends they cover me
Just want to lay me down
And finally try to get some sleep
We carry on trough the storm
Tired soldiers
In this war
Remember what we're fighting for
Meet me on the battlefield
Even on the darkest night
I will be your sword & shield
Your camouflage
And you will be mine
Echos of the shots ring out
We may be the first to fall
Everything could stay the same
Or we could change it all
Meet me on the battlefield"
We were silent for a while, the burning of the fire was the only sound that field our ears, both sinking in the words I sang.
"You know" he says after a while. I simply nod.
"Who told you?" he asks softly not letting me go. I lay back against him, my head placed in the space between his shoulder and neck.
"Your mother told me" I admit. There was no point in hiding it anymore.
"Why didn't you say anything?" he asks
"I was waiting for you to tell me" I tell him "I understand why you're doing it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
"I never expect you to" he says "I need to protect my country and my family."
"I know." I simply agreed
I turn to look at him, so that we could both be eye to eye. "I love you Fernando Cienfuegos, and I will love you for as long as I draw breath on this Earth."
"Why does it feel as if your saying goodbye?" he asks suspicious and a little alarmed
I hesitate before telling him but he has a right to know.
"We both have duties to our families. Mine has just came to claim me." I confess "My father wrote to me. He wants me to come home, apparently he has arranged for me to be married."
He tensed at my words, I smile sadly. I guess some part of me knew that this was too good to be true, now here we are, him on his way to war and me, on my way to a forced marriage with a man I did not know. I see a tear fall down his eye and I gently kiss it away. I was trying hard not to ball my eyes out right now.
"But let's not think about this right now. We still have some time, you and me. I don't want our last days to be filled with anguish and sadness." I plead with him "Theses weeks with you have been the best of my life, let me hold on to them a little longer."
I kissed him to prove my point, a few loose tears fell down my cheek but as I kissed him I could tell he too was crying.
"Love me tonight Fernando." I ask of him "Hazme tuya"
And he did. He loved me like I had asked of him, right there in an remote beach, away from the rest of the world, both trying to savor what was left of our time together.
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