Long-time friends meet again years later

Kerece Williams, Contributor

It could not be her, he thought to himself. After all these years, secretly searching for his first crush, his first kiss, his first love; this is where he found her. At that moment, he remembered that life-changing day 12 years ago as if it were 12 days ago.

It was a very cold night in the middle of December, the Sunday, the day after Tess's mother's funeral. It was already one in the morning, and both their families were asleep, and they had already planned in the day to sneak out. Calvin found her in the forbidden house where they always played a short distance away from their homes since they had lived so close together. She sat in the front room of the house on the floor, she was crying, it was really dark, but she had a little flashlight lying beside her. The dimming light glistened on the tears on her warm caramel skin, and the silence magnified her sniffles.

He didn't bother to speak as he slowly walked over to sit beside her, and she didn't bother to look up, knowing that it was him. They never usually met like this, but Calvin never questioned or denied her request knowing that her mother had died and this was a very delicate time for Tess and, most likely, it was very important.

"Tess", he said lightly as he sat beside her.

"Calvin" she sniffled.

He held her close enough to hear his heartbeat. His fingers soothed through the parts of her cane rows.

"Hush Tess," he said.

The sensitivity of another only brought her more tears.

"Calvin, mi really a go miss you."

"Miss me?"

"Yes" she said lifting herself from his chest.

"What you mean?" knowing what was meant, but not wanting to expect the worst.

"I'm leaving," she sobbed. "Aunty May taking me since mummy dead."

"So what about you dad?"

"He say he not raising no gal pickney."

Calvin hissed.

"So when you leaving?" he asked in hope.

"Tomorrow," she replied

His prayers were not answered.

"Tomorrow!" he replied in shock.

"That's why I had to meet you now because of dat."

She then laid back in his arms.

"I love you, Cal." she mumbled.

Speechless

He was practically dumbfounded, wanting to say it, too, but couldn't, and instead held her even closer. She wanted him to say it, too, but was somehow relieved, believing that this made it less complicated.

She then leaned in close to him while she placed her hands on his under shoulders. The moment her lip touched his, he responded.

Some unspoken mutual decision caused them to break the kiss and then Tess turned and lay in his arms, no words were spoken until when they decided to part.

And now, here she was. She was no longer the girl he knew before. Her skirt was way too short, her blouse was way too tight and her heels were way too high. He never wanted to look at her or think of her as the girl she was, but those fishnet stockings mocked his efforts. The long, thick natural hair that she had was now covered by a long head of synthetic scarlet hair. Her thick but small pink lips were covered with gloss. Her deep-brown eyes were encircled by heavy, dark make-up.

However, she was so beautiful, he thought, she was long-legged-stunning - from behind, he saw the deep dimples in her lower back and her slim waist, minimised by her wide hips. That moment, he knew he wanted her back.

Calvin wasn't a fan of prostitutes, but he quickly agreed when his friend, Shaun, suggested he pick her up.

Tess seemed to have given Shaun a bit of a hard time, but eventually, she came, she sat in the front seat without locking the door.

"I get paid first," she said.

She was left in shock when Calvin turned on the light in the car and spoke.

"There is something I was to tell you a few years ago, but didn't. I love you, too," he said, and then he smiled. He looked deep into her eyes and knew this was the start of a beautiful beginning.