One Last Dance

Dancing has always been special to her – to them. That’s how it all began – with a single dance that Freshman Homecoming. It wasn’t just any dance – it was the last one of the night.

She could remember merely watching that first Homecoming Dance. She just watched as her friends lost themselves to the music – letting go and making fools out of themselves. But she wasn’t like them. No, she was the quiet one – the invisible one, the wallflower. No one noticed her. A part of her was okay with that. But, that night, as the lights dimmed and the DJ announced the last dance, she wished someone would ask her.

She was a hopeless romantic. What was more romantic that getting asked for your last dance? Despite the fact that she hadn’t wanted to dance that night, as the last song began, she realized that she wanted to – even for just a moment. If only someone would ask her.

Lost in her musings, she did not see him approach. He was the cute boy in her science class with an easy smile, but at times a moody personality. No, she didn’t stalk him. She didn’t need to. His sister was her closest friend, but he never noticed her – until that night.

“Hey.” His voice was soft, uncertain, and not yet quite past puberty.

She looked up then, surprise lighting up her features. Her mouth parted slightly, hair falling over her face like a curtain. Nervously, she pushed her hair back behind her ear. “Hi.”

He smiled at her, brown eyes shining, and held out his hand. His voice was a bit more confident this time. “May I have this dance?”

Slowly and hesitantly, a smile tugged on her lips and she placed her hand in his.

His grip was gentle but firm as he led her to the dance floor. With one hand on her back and the other encasing hers, she braced her remaining hand on his shoulder.

Suddenly, it was like the music and everything around them faded. No, it wasn’t awkward. It was peaceful in a sense. She knew he was watching her. The moment she looked up, he smiled at her, not quite speaking. It was as if she was waiting for him.

“Why now?” she finally asks, remembering that he never noticed her before this night.

He seems taken aback by her question but just as quick it was gone, replaced by a fond smile. “You were always out of my league, Adelina. You always had this wall around you somehow. It was like you didn’t want anyone to approach you. And I…”

She nodded. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “I always liked you.”

“But I didn’t,” she confessed. “You were always scowling at me.”

He chuckled. “But now?”

“I think I do,” she whispered, slowly becoming aware they were the only ones left on the dance floor and the music had long faded. “I think I really do, Lorenzo.”

They were inseparable from that night on, much to Lorenzo’s sister’s chagrin, not that they minded her much.

Their second dance came the night of their sophomore homecoming. This was more relaxed than the first. She was no longer a wallflower, but a young woman who had grown into her own identity. Though he still wore a scowl, there was always this light in his eyes when he gazed her.

When the dance began that night, she never left the safety of his arms from the first dance to the last, they were together.

Rumours started after that night. Bets were made when they would end up together. Even their parents came into the picture wondering what the nature of their relationship was really like. They were friends. That’s all they were. But somewhere in their heart of hearts, they knew they were something more.

That homecoming dance their Junior year, changed it all. They knew they were too young. Their emotions still new to them. They couldn’t decipher what they felt. But they went with it.

Together, in the new state of their relationship, they knew they were like a storm brewing, or an earthquake building pressure waiting to be unleashed.

The night it happened was the night of their Junior year Prom. She was a vision in pink. She looked like a fairytale come to life and he, the exact epitome of a Prince Charming. But, appearances always have a way of hiding what’s within. Somehow, appearances were always part of an illusion.

That night they exploded. That night, the storm was unleashed. All the pent up frustration and hurt from the past months surfaced. They couldn’t stop it. And so, everyone’s perception of the so-called “Golden Couple” was shattered that night. But perceptions weren’t the only thing shattered. That night, two hearts were broken and trust was crushed.

They never talked to each other after that night. They couldn’t. Maybe it was shame, maybe it hurt, or maybe it was pride holding them back. Whatever it was, it got the job done.

As the night of their Senior Year Homecoming dance approached, she was a wreck. She couldn’t go back to where it all started. Just as the clock struck 7, her fairy godmother arrived in the form of her friends. They couldn’t let her wallow in self-pity, they said. This was their second-to-the-last dance and she wouldn’t be breaking tradition.

The moment she arrived at the school gymnasium, everyone turned deathly silent. Looking at the end of the aisle, she knew why. He stood there waiting for her. In his hand, he held a single violet rose, the exact shade of her dress. That’s when she realized, everything was set up.

He met her half-way, offering the rose and she was too stunned to do anything but accept it.

He offered her a hand then with a sad smile on his face. “May I have this dance?”

She hesitated.

“For tradition’s sake,” he added hastily.

She slipped his hand into his and they were swept away in a dance just like they were four years ago. Just like that, everything disappeared. All the hurt from the past few months disappeared.

His hand was on her cheek, wiping away a stray tear.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I miss you,” he said.

She buries her head in his shoulder, her arms circling his neck and her hands finding themselves in his hair at the base of his neck. His hands settled on her hips, pulling her closer.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “It’s my fault.”

“But it’s mine, too,” she whispered, her voice muffled.

“I just want it to go back to the way it was,” he said.

“Me, too.”

And just like that, it was like the pain from the past few months disappeared. She was back in his arms where she belonged. But this time, they were friends. Nothing more.

The night of their Senior Year Prom was one she could never forget.

As the lights in the room began to dim, the music slowed and the DJ announced the last dance of the night. Young men separated from their friends moving across the room to the young ladies they fancied.

In the darkest corner of the room, she stood alone – watching, just like she did that Freshman Homecoming. He was nowhere in sight. She hadn’t seen him since the night began.

“Hey.”

She nearly jumped in surprise as she turned to face him. His face was gaunt and shadows were under his eyes.

Despite the pain she saw in his eyes, he held out a hand for her. “May I have this dance?”

She placed her hand in his without hesitation.

“What happened?” she asked, as they swayed to the music.

He gazed down at her, looking straight into her eyes before averting his gaze. “I –” he chokes, a stray tear escaping his eye.

She wiped it away, her hand cupping his cheek as he leaned into her touch.

“I—I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“What are you sorry for, Lorenzo?” She asked desperately, her own voice breaking.

He took a step back from her. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“What—”

“I’m sorry, Adelina.”

“Lorenzo –”

But he was already gone.

The days blurred into months and the months into years. She didn’t even see him at their graduation. His sister who was normally a fountain of information was clammed up. No one would tell her anything. Until, her eighteenth birthday.

Her parents took her to dinner that night. As they pulled into their driveway, the entire place was transformed into a fairytale – much like the one she always dreamed of. Lanterns hung on the trees surrounding their property. On the ground was a trail of candles.

“Mom? Dad?” she asked uncertainly. “What is this?”

They only smiled sadly at her. “Go ahead.”

Hesitantly, she followed the trail of candles into their backyard where a familiar figure stood holding a bouquet of violet roses.

It was then she understood why her parents insisted on wearing something formal for dinner. It was another set up.

He walked towards her slowly, giving her the time to study him. He was different. The shadows she had seen under his eyes the last time they saw each other was still there – only it was so much worse. The pain in his eyes had only intensified as if walking caused him pain.

He handed her the bouquet and she took it without hesitation. The words were still caught in her throat. She was afraid that the moment she would speak, she would breakdown.

He held out a hand to her. “May I have this dance?”

Uncertainly and hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.

“Why now?” she asked as they swayed to the music of the night.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered, voice hoarse as if he hadn’t drank water in months.

That was when she noticed the way his clothes hung off his frame. “What are you not telling me?”

“The day of our Senior Prom, I got the news that I was sick.” She gasped and he continued. “As I danced with you that night, I knew I couldn’t allow you to go through this with me –”

“That was my decision to make,” she interrupted him.

“I know that now,” he told her, lifting a hand to her face.

“Why now? Why come back now?”

“I promised myself I wouldn’t see you again until I was better,” he whispered. “But three months ago, they said it was incurable.”

A sob broke free from her. “No.”

He wiped the tears from her face. “I wanted to die knowing that you could live without me – that you could move-on. I came back tonight to say goodbye.”

“Lorenzo, please –”

“I love you,” he told her as he took a step back.

She took a step toward him. “Lorenzo, please, don’t take this decision away from me again.”

He smiled sadly at her. “Adelina—” he collapsed.

She screamed, rushing to his side, cradling his head on her lap. “Please.”

“Adelina,” he murmured.

“I love you,” she whispered. She could already hear the ambulance coming on the way. “Stay with me.”

“Always,” he whispered as his breathing slowed.

“I love you,” she repeated.

“Love you,” he echoed as his breathing became more laborious.

“Lorenzo?”

His eyes drifted close.

“Lorenzo?”

The ambulance came.

“I love you.”

That night was her first heartbreak.