Reading my fate

I was standing by the wall with my friend, at the party, discussing things that I had known for years, but still had to say them. A young lady passed by us and as she glanced at us, she flashed a quick smile. My friend gave a low whistle as soon as she was out of hearing distance and began to talk about her; about how beautiful she was and began exaggerating her features. His tone had a touch of recitation.1

Then the host of the party announced the time to dance. Each man approached a lady, my friend among them, and offering her a hand, asked her to dance. The ladies blushed and their cheeks turned red (although that was hard to notice, due to the excess of make-up) and they would shyly put a hand in the man’s hand as they accepted the dance. Then the couple would walk to the dance floor together. Typical.2

Soon, everyone was dancing, gazing into their partners’ eyes with a slight smile fixed on their faces. I was alone. And, not surprisingly, so was the young lady that had passed us earlier. Of course, we were the main couple of the evening and I knew it.3

I decided to ignore the lady. I couldn’t believe that she was the one that I had waited for all these years. She sat there, on her chair, her eyes fixed on the dance, with a face that showed that she also wanted to join the dance. But she had no partner. I was the only man unoccupied, and I had chosen to ignore her.4

A few moments passed and I decided to forgive the lady (for the sin of being the only lady that was not dancing) and I approached her with my lines well revised.5

“May I have this dance, ma’am?” I asked her as I offered her a hand.6

She looked at me and must have blushed (It was hard to know, she had so much make-up on) and put her hand in mine. With an artificial smile, I led her to the dance floor.7

One hand still in mine, she put the other on my arm, just by the shoulder. I put my free hand on her waist and we began to dance to the melody of the music; what you will call, a romantic time.8

Soon enough the music changed and so did everyone’s dancing position. My hands now rested at her waist while hers on my shoulders. Now there was nothing but to stare in her eyes fixedly.
Time passed and we moved closer and closer. Now her hands were behind my neck, and mine behind her waist. Our faces were just an inches away. I knew it was time for a little chat. After a well-learned romantic speech, by me of course, it was the time for thing that was assigned upon us; The Big Thing. I pulled her close, and, unwillingly brushed my lips against her. I hoped that would be enough. But curse the lady, she pulled my head closer and jammed her lips to mine. We stood like this for a whole minute (the worst time of my life) and after that, well, you know the story.9

In the next few months, we were married and we lived not so happily ever after. Anyway, I didn’t. But fate has it and my life has to move on as it is written in my fate.