She sits in the weathered-wicker chair; I in the porch swing. I think back almost fifty years and see her face as it was then: rapture-blue eyes forever reminding me of a lake on a stormy day. She was always the one.

Her beauty endures all these years, undiminished. And as she smiles her wonderful smile, my wrinkled hands iron out.

Then midnight quickly swallows her whole, without warning. Her beauty lost as quick as the new day’s sun rises and finds my eyes.

I dry my new-dawn tears with my once again wrinkly hands.

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    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    1 year ago

    This is a sweet story of enduring love and always seeing the beauty in those we love. Great job, Melissa.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    I doubt you have ever watched the 1945 movie ‘The Enchanted Cottage’, Melissa but your story reminds me of it. A soldier, badly burned in the war falls in love with a plain-looking girl whilst staying at the cottage. We see them through their own eyes where they are transformed into a handsome man and beautiful woman. Love does strange things to us. I always love your stories and this one is… Read more »

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    You perfectly captured the undying love we had for our loved ones. Well done, Melissa. 

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Melissa Taggart
    1 year ago

    You are welcome, Melissa.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    1 year ago

    Melissa, I read this from a different angle, where the protagonist’s love wasn’t as unwavering as he thought it was, back when she was a lovely young lady? This was another great story.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    1 year ago

    Melissa, this is a great story. I love the way the protagonist’s hands lose their wrinkles from the beauty of her smile, and then after midnight swallows her whole (what a descriptive phrase!) the hands are wrinkled again. Your stories seem to get better and better. There can be many interpretations of midnight swallowing a person – and I love considering all of them as I think about the story.

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