In a Different Time

Some people can wait for a life time to find “the one”. Sometimes, it occurs when you least expect it, a flash of colour unexpectedly brought into your life, the sound of their laugh catching in your head, refusing to ever leave, a shared gaze that lasts for a split second too long. Sometimes, we meet the right person at the wrong time, a year too soon, a month too late. Sometimes, we hope for a change in this incongruous pattern, crossing our fingers, praying to a believed deity, wishing on a star. For some lucky individuals, things work out and they meet their soul opposite at the right time, in the right place. For others, if it had occurred in a different time, years from now, a week from now, a day from now, things could have played out so differently.

Emily Rose was fifteen years old when she first laid eyes on Max Heather. He was, to her, a vision as he casually idled into her math class 20 minutes late, unaware of the looks he received, or the way Emily’s breath caught in her throat. She was old enough to know that Max was one of those few individuals in her school that she could classify as “good-looking”, but she was too young to know any better and so she let herself fall unmistakeably and irrevocably in love. As time went by, she realised that, although she had never uttered a word in his presence, she had somehow fallen for him, unaware of what may comes. She wasn’t quite able to pinpoint what it was about him that had attracted her in the first place. Perhaps it was the way he laughed, a deep, throaty chuckle that caused his eyes to crinkle and his head to fall back, or the way he bit his lip when he was concentrating on a serious subject, or the fire in his eyes he suddenly developed when describing one of his many passions. Emily was not able to pinpoint what it was exactly, because really, it was a whole lot of little things.

It wasn’t until Emily was asked to tutor Max in maths that she was able to talk to him. Although for only a short hour every Monday afternoon, Emily cherished every moment that she spent with him, relishing in the moments when he would accidentally brush her hand or when she caught a whiff of his aftershave as he bent forward to write in the correct answer. As time progressed, the two young individuals soon became an item, delighting in their time spent together, embracing every moment. As their final year approached, the two were still joined at the hip and spent all their time together, whenever they were free. As graduation approached, Emily began to feel a slight tugging towards unease, as apprehension began to set in place as their uncertain future became more obvious. Arguments flared between the naive couple as they started moving in different directions, taking a turn for the worse and separating from what they once were. As the end of their high school year approached, it became apparent to the once playful couple that old ties were no longer present, so they parted ways.

As time progressed and years went by, Emily Rose would think back to those high school years, with a small smile playing on her lips at the memories the two inexperienced teenagers had together. If only they had met years after, she would think to herself as she pecked her husband on the cheek. If only fate had waited out a little longer, she would sigh quietly, as she picked up her children’s misplaced toys. If only it had happened in a different time, she would say, as she slowly closed her front door, making sure to put on the bolt.