The lazy afternoon of summer made everything seem relaxed. The smell of coffee and pastry in the air gave a certain feeling of comfort, but it wasn’t enough to make the butterflies in his stomach go away.
He watched as she approached. The breeze made her knee-length dress hug her body, showing off the svelte figure. She smiled as he handed her the bouquet of flowers. Sunflowers. Her favorite.
Her gratitude came in a hug, the tightness of which left marks on his carefully ironed light blue shirt. They sat down and started talking. She gazed lovingly at him while they talked, he holding her hand or caressing her cheek every now and then, oblivious of the people around them in the outdoor café.
Then his face became serious. Her hand went to her mouth as he dropped to his knee and offered her a tiny box. Her answer was drowned by the cheering of the crowd. He got lost in the moment, not hearing the words she said, but he felt and he knew, how lucky he was.
The knock on her door the next morning woke her up. Excited, she ran to the door and welcomed him inside. He handed her the box of freshly baked croissants, which she took to the tiny kitchen. He quietly sat while she started brewing coffee. This has been their weekend ritual for the last three years, rain or shine.
She was abuzz with excitement that morning, she couldn’t stop talking. But her words were lost on him as he sat there quietly watching. He liked how her long hair reached her tiny waist. How her hips swayed when she walked. He found it cute how she would twirl her hair when she’s lost in her thoughts, or how she would bite her lower lip when she was upset.
She handed him a mug of coffee. Black with a hint of hazelnut syrup, just the way he liked it, and no one else has mastered to make. Except for her, his angel.
He thought of how they met. It was raining hard that early evening and his cheap umbrella got blown away by the wind, with no cab in sight. He was about to run for the waiting shed, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and there she was, the girl from next door, holding a big umbrella over their heads.
That led to a friendship he never dreamt possible. With her, his walls of shyness seemed to disappear, his barriers of insecurities crumbled. She was his angel, the one who listened and supported and pushed when needed. She was his confidante, the constant companion who never got tired of listening to his insecurities and woes. She was his ray of sunshine, the only person who could make a dreadful day bright.
She tugged on his arm and led him to the living room. He sat next to her and she placed her head on his shoulder. He inhaled the sweet clean scent of her shampoo. He kissed her head and she giggled. He placed his arm around her as she started talking about the events of the previous day. She talked about the flowers and her plans. She started describing her ideal dress and how she wanted to look her best on that special day. He assured her she would look like a princess. She is a princess. His princess.
She stretched out her arm and showed him the ring. The small stone set on platinum made her slender fingers look regal. He hugged her and kissed her cheek, then tried to kiss her lips.
She pulled away then and started talking. Assuring him that she would always be there . He reached for her and tried to kiss her again. Once more, she pulled away. She bit her lower lip.
He started talking then, reminding her of the good times they shared. He told her of his feelings, and just as before, she shook her head. Again, she showed him her ring. He started ranting. Then he started pleading. Sadly, she shook her head.
She asked him to leave and she went to the kitchen to wash their coffee mugs. He watched her walk away, unbelieving.
He was hers, he wanted to shout. She was his.
He heard the flow of water from the faucet. The sound of the stove being turned on. Then the sound of glass hitting the floor and shattering to pieces. Each sound trying to overcome the lone thought in his head: She was his.
She was his.
His.
Soundlessly, he stood up and approached the kitchen. He wasn’t sure if it was the thunder or his arm around her waist which startled her. It didn’t matter, all he wanted was to make her understand the thought inside his head. He was deaf to her protests, and she was powerless compared to his strength. He didn’t even realize the tears falling down his cheeks as he repeatedly thrusted, deeper and deeper inside her, until she stopped resisting.
He was almost surprised at the warm gush of liquid that poured from her.
She was his.
Only his.
This he repeated inside his head as he held her close to him.
She no longer resisted when he kissed her lips, neither did she smile when he caressed her cheek.
She just stared at him, with unseeing eyes, as she lay lifeless in his arms.