It was before…
It was just before noon when the call came. I wasn’t expecting one, and certainly not one from her. I recognized her voice right away. She said she had to see me. It was important. Could I meet her by the bridge?
I didn’t have to ask her what bridge since there was only one bridge on our island that crossed over the river to the mainland. The one where I last saw her.
I quickly finished my lunch and headed out, not knowing what to expect. I hadn’t heard from her since college and that was 20 years ago.
I pictured in my mind what she might look like. My last meeting with her, was when we broke up. She was crying then. It was something that had to be done. She said it had to be a clean breakup, but never gave me the reason why.
I remember her walking away from me, slowly and then breaking into a run, to get away as fast as she could. She gave me no reason for the breakup. I was distraught and angry. I thought we had something good. And that was it. I never forgot her. I pictured her constantly in my dreams, even to this day. I never saw or heard from her again after that. That was until now.
As I approached the bridge I noticed someone sitting on a bench. Her hair was different. She was bent over and certainly looked much older. I sat down next to her and didn’t say a word.
“I’m sorry,” was all she said.
My only response was, “Why? Why did you leave me?”
There was a pause before she answered, “It’s complicated. I was sworn to secrecy. I wanted to tell you the truth, but that would have put your life in danger.”
Now I was really confused. She went on to tell me how she had witnessed a murder. How she was a material witness to the crime and had to be put into witness protection. How the perpetrator of the crime escaped and she was on the run. It never went to trial, for he was killed in a mob shootout. But she was still a target. So she changed her name and kept on moving. She left the country and cut all ties with anyone that knew her.
“So why did you come back now?” I asked.
Again she paused. “Because I couldn’t leave your question about us be unanswered. I cared for you then as I care for you now.”
I began to feel warmth in my heart. Those feelings from 20 years ago began to stir. “Does that mean you are coming back to me? Can we pick up where we left off?”
It was then that she began to cry again. “No. As much as I would like it to be so, it still can never be. They’re still looking for me and I fear that they will catch up to me soon. I just wanted you to know.”
And then she was gone, just like before.
I guess I got the answers I was looking for after all those years. For me, it was better not knowing. I still keep her in my dreams. Only this time, I know the love is still alive.
