72 "The Last Dance"
Closure to a lost relationship.
The Last Dance
The day had gone by very slowly. He had thought about doing this for a while now, but when this day came, it just seemed to drag by with minutes seeming like hours. He was standing at the bar in the saloon, where they had been together a few times when they were dating and he knew she had frequented the place many times before they had met. He had a feeling she would be there that night because she and her son always came there around his birthday to celebrate.
As he waited for the time to tick by, he reflected back on their time together. He could recall their departure much easier than their meeting. After dating for a couple of years and a couple of uneventful trips together, she informed him that she could never love him because she knew deep in her heart that he was still deeply in love with his previous girlfriend. After feeling that his heart had been broken, then really facing his own feelings, he had to admit that to himself and face the fact that his heart actually belonged to one woman. (That’s another story.)
The time had just edged past 8 0’clock and he had just approached the bar and ordered another drink when he saw her walk through the door with her son and some older man he didn’t recognize. The three of them were laughing and seemed to be having a good time already. He couldn’t let that bother him. He came for one thing and one thing only. As he sat there and watched them for awhile, he realized that she really hadn’t had the feelings for him that he had hoped for during their relationship. She seemed very happy and content, but then she was always that way whenever her sons were around.
He had one more drink and decided this was the time to make his move. They had found a table where they were sitting when he walked up to them. When she looked up and saw who was standing there, her face went pale. He thought she was going to pass out. Her son, realizing who he was, stood up in a threatening manner.
He waved his hand for her son to sit back down and in a soft voice simply said; “I’m not here to cause any trouble and I don’t need any introductions or explanations. I just want to ask your mother for one dance. Is that alright with you?” he asked the older gentleman with them.
The older gentleman just nodded his head in approval and muttered, “Just make sure you bring her back.”
He replied, “I will be more than happy to bring her back.” And without another word he reached out his hand to her. With a little hesitation she reached for and took his hand and he led her onto the dance floor.
As they took their position, in which he was a perfect gentleman and didn’t pull her close, she started to speak and he simply placed two fingers on her lips to stop her from saying anything.
The music was playing a slow song, which is all he would ever dance to anyway, and they danced all of the way through without either one of them saying a word.
When the music stopped he politely walked her back to the table and said, “Returning as promised.” Then he turned to her and said, “Thank you for the last dance.” He then slowly turned and walked away with the threesome at the table staring at him as he walked through the door without looking back at all.
Greg
