last•moments
By Artsy_Artsy_Art

"Are you really going to leave me? After all these months? We got to know each other! It felt like eternity Brandon," her voice breaking with desperation.

"I'm sorry but I promise I'll come back, I promise." That was really I could do. Promise.

She hugged me tightly with tears running down her face. It broke my heart to see her like that, all I could do was hold her as she fell apart while I struggled to be strong. I pulled away from her for a bit and looked in her eyes, the colourful light I was used to was gone and replaced by tears that seemed like liquid diamonds.

It seemed like forever ago when our paths first crossed. The preppy girl and the average guy. I always believed she'd want nothing to do with me, oh how wrong I was. It was the last week of school and our teachers found humour in bombarding us with home works that were more than the tiles on the Taj Mahal. According to her, she's never had anything to do with school, she never wanted it even but considering the family she's from, it's an obligation to her. I offered her specific study sessions at her house on Wednesdays only just to make sure it wasn't too much and also forfeit the fact that I'd be a nuisance. She actually did comply with all of it, all to my surprise. The bonus I got for all of it was getting to know her. We shared stories and she didn't have any trouble discussing the few guys she dated and all. They weren't average joes like me, it made me seem inferior to her but unlike most of her kind, she didn't have a problem with it. I felt more inferior after I found out I've never kissed a girl in my eighteen years of existence.

A week ago, before the final exams, I checked my email and saw that I was rejected scholarship to study at John Hopkins University although I outmatched the requirements. This troubled my parents a lot and they opted that I join the military. I didn't want to but I had no choice. Absolutely no choice. I couldn't wait another year either and even if I could, my parents wouldn't support it. I knew I was going to leave my family, I knew I was going to leave someone that my eyes finally caught.

"I know I should've told you earlier Zoe, but I didn't want to hurt you. I just didn't want to."

"But now you've done more pain than you could've," she whispered and my heart broke. I pulled her in for another hug and this time, I held her tight so I wouldn't fall apart.

"I'm sorry," I whispered on her head that was tucked underneath my jaw. She pulled back and looked at me, her eyes filled with expectation that left me clueless and somewhat confused. I didn't know what she wanted but there was tugging that made me decide that now's the only time I'd get to do what I've always dreamed about.

"Zoe," I whispered and she blinked.

"What is it?"

"Zoe."

"Brandon?"

"Zoe, I love you!"

She hugged me and I could feel her hands digging into my back as she tightened her arms round me. I could feel her tears running down my right arm, and I raised up her face a bit just to have one look, and I thought to myself, If it's the last time I'll get to see her again, I have to make it unforgettable.

I mustered courage and pressed my lips against hers and even if it wasn't movie perfect, there's absolutely no replica of her lips in the entire world, not one. I could barely hear her breathe but the feel of her lukewarm lips was totally comforting. I needed nothing else at that moment. I pulled my face away from her but she placed both her hands behind my neck and pulled me back in. She didn't want to let me go, I could tell. With her steps against mine, I gently fell on the bed and she fell on me, without letting go of out faces in contact. She was skinny framed and I was partially built, so snuggling was at it's perfect conditions, she finally let go of my face and looked at my eyes in silence, I looked at hers too, and then she just placed her head on my chest and fell asleep.

If I had a choice, I would've stayed.