Magic

She asked him if he believed in magic. He didn’t have an answer; it’s not a common question. She asked again, and he replied the best he could. He said he doesn’t believe in magic; he believes in possibility and opportunity. She laughed and kissed him. It was a good kiss, passionate and tender. The kind of kiss that made the park bench beneath them and the trees around them feel romantic.

He was caught off guard and she followed up with a simple question: “how about now?”

Before he could answer, he heard a man’s voice in the background. Before he could focus on what the voice said, he could see the man – her father – approaching them from the other side of the park. As he tried to figure out what to say, he was cut off. Her father did not even give him the courtesy of a “hello” or a glance.

She stood, shell-shocked, face to face with an angry father whom she knew disapproved of the man she secretly loved. Her father had found her the perfect husband. The one who would bring respect to their family name. The one that would make a good woman out of her. Promises had been made between families that could not be broken. After her father finished scolding her and ordered her to leave with him, she froze.

He looked at her father and her and tried to interject but it was too late. She left, following her father into the darkness of night, leaving the love of her life standing alone surrounded only by his regrets.

Weeks went by with no words. He thought about her but she thought about him more. She thought about her family and everything they’d been through. She thought about how much her father had sacrificed and everything he’d done to provide for the life she lived. Then she thought about the man she loved. The one who did not believe in magic. The one who promised possibility and opportunity.

Years went by and she took her newborn baby out for a walk in that same park. She and her husband had moved away but were visiting her father so she decided to return to her special place. As she and her stroller rounded the corner to the bench she knew all too well, her heart stopped.

There he was. Her long-lost first love was still there. He sat alone on the bench, lost in his thoughts. She cautiously approached him. His eyes lit up when he saw her. Suddenly the trees felt more majestic and the air felt cleaner. She sat down and they caught up. They laughed, they smiled and they stared into each other’s eyes. Just like old times.

Then the awkward moment came, the one they both knew was coming. This time, however, he spoke first. He asked her a simple question: “do you remember when you asked me if I believe in magic?”

She was caught off-guard but nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo of his family. A beautiful wife, two gorgeous kids and him, with a big smile. She was stunned.

“I absolutely believe in magic. Thank you for teaching me how to see it.”

He then kissed her on the cheek, got up and walked away, disappearing into the distance.