Preludes 3: Cafe Excelsior

Silence.1

I await your dangling keys in midnight. The tired smiles, the speechless arm around my shoulders as you came back home from another overtime session from work. Sweet, sweet weekday romance. It seems that only our 3-carat wedding rings truly capture our love.2

Our promise is starting to fade into sunken realities of everyday needs..3

Maybe I should rip our marriage certificate as your shower your new partner with passionate energy: your endless vacation in office's realm.4

I looked at the pristine certificate: "This is to certified that Cheryl Smithenson and Mark Larsson gave their mutual consent on July 18, 2005." The letters turn into legal typefaces as romance cries out of this certificate. 5

Tears splash over the certificate. I tried to be a good wife. Were you already expecting this isolation to happen? Was it the reason why it took you 20 minutes before you could propose?6

I peered at the bold letters - remember how we met over a World Cup match in Cafe Excelsior? I was running to the Cafe to grab a last minute seat before the match started.7

"Excuse me Miss, but I saved that seat for my friend."8

"Do you know if there any chairs nearby?" 9

"There's no more chairs, and look, if I get out of my seat in 5 minutes both me and my friend are going to lose our seats! But I know how it feels to stand for 2 hours, so if you don't mind we can share a seat?"10

My lips curled into a smile as I thought of our encounter at the Cafe, love, you have convinced a hardcore football fan that she could be an extreme fan but also a lady. Finally, a guy who accepts my football craves.11

But now, ESPN and me seems to be making our own vocabulary of loneliness, as Taylor's commentaries become evening melodies of dish-washing. The games go on, but without the arms around my shoulders as you dissolve into the world of programming. Perhaps the firm has taken over you? Perhaps you were just too exhausted in your journey between realms?12

Remember the time when my flip flops broke and you carried me to the nearest shoe store ? 13

"Baby, you can't rely on flip flops to go with your dresses you know?"14

"But those heels at work give me blisters and I can't rush to the subway!"15

"I am just gonna grab you a pair of Birki's and promise me, be a good girl and try to be punctual everytime?"16

That pair of Birki's still sit at the front door. The strangers were probably staring at our passionate love then, but why does it has to bleed from emotionless's virus?17

Tears flooded across the table. Did our promises fade like cascading snowflakes? Were you expecting this when you headed out every time to play Wii with the neighbours until 3am? Or when you are having the bi-monthly meetings in London?18

I should just dial Suzannah's number, she can get the divorce papers ready..19

What are those faint marks at the back of the certificate? Was it a colour photo copy? "Cheryl honey: No matter what, I still love you always. I can only capture my love for you in the words of 1 Corinthians from the Bible:20

"Love is patient, love is kind.21

It is not jealous, is not pompous,22

it is not inflated, it is not rude,23

it does not seek its own interests,24

it is not quick-tempered,25

it does not brood over injury,26

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing27

but rejoices with the truth.28

It bears all things, believes all things,29

hopes all things, endures all things.30

Love never fails... " 31

Always, Mark.32

The door opened. 33

"Cheryl, baby, guess what? I got promoted and only need to go to London for the AGM now!" you greeted me with a series of long-awaited kisses.34

"What's wrong?"35

"Nothing." Tears swamped across my face.36

"I wasn't even as excited as you are! If it wasn't for you always being there for me, I couldn't have make through it. Thanks for always bearing with my overtime sessions."37

You looked at the reverse of our marriage certificate - "you saw that?"38

"Yeah..I am so sorry, I was so frustrated, I thought our love was hitting bottom sometimes.."39

"I knew, but every time I thought of your smile, my mind would be refreshed. So now if you don't mind, you are definitely going to get spoiled with kisses, fondues and ESPN."40

Remember the day of our wedding with the chocolate fondue? My heart bubbles as your sweetness lingers just like a chocolate.