Time is of the Essence

He sat alone on the couch with a glass of Absolut in front of him. This glass was not merely a libation but a doorway to another place and time. He picked it up, took a sip, sat back and moved one of the two ice cubes in the glass with his index finger. He picked up his finger, looking at the drip of vodka hanging from the tip and took note of where his life went wrong and how he was stuck in a never-ending penance.

It happened in such a short amount of time, relatively speaking. He had been dating Sara for what seemed like forever. They first met at the end of Fifth grade when he found out she was dating one of his best friends. Now let me clarify this, dating in the fifth grade amounted to maybe holding hands once in the whole relationship. It was a big step if anyone kissed at that age. It was very innocent.

On came the sixth grade and with it, Sara. This began the journey of Sara and Chase as a couple. We had just decided to go “out” with the help of a few coaxing friends. It was a lot easier dating someone back in sixth grade. For one thing, you never spoke on the phone and rarely were you ever together outside of school. What a perfect relationship. There was some unspoken rule that once the bell rang at 3 o’clock, no more dating.

There weren’t too many memories back then that merit a paragraph but there was six grade camp. Six grade camp was a place where numerous amounts of schools went to the woods to learn more about nature and helping the fellow student. This is also the chance to be away from the parents for a full week. Some kids get homesick, some get in a lot of trouble, but if you are like me and were pretty much a lover and not a fighter this was the chance to kiss your girlfriend without your parents finding out.

I remember building up to it too. We held hands more often which at that time was only when my friends were not around. We were still at that immature age where holding hands with a girl could sometimes be construed as a little feminine, not that there is anything wrong with that. We held hands pretty much every day, and as the week continued we both felt the sense of urgency to get it over with before we headed home. Since we were in separate dorms, we had separate activities but everyone was allowed an hour of quiet time to do whatever they want. This hour was not always in unison with other dorms however the day before we were scheduled to leave, Sara and I found ourselves alone in the forest just behind my dorm. She had snuck out of a activity she was supposed to be doing but thanks to her dorm monitor being a sappy love struck teenage girl, she allowed Sara to come find me and take her shot at getting what few of her other dorm mates were going to get on this little torturous school vacation.

She knocked on my dorm room and I immediately jumped from my bunk to see who it was. There were a few other dorm rooms that liked to play pranks on everyone so I was a little hesitant once I reached the knob. I opened it slowly and realized who it was. Normally, one would try to find out how a cunning act so desperate could be unseen, but I was twelve.

The actual kiss was both amazing and dull. It was my first real kiss. Before this time, I think I kissed other girls but the intent was more pressure than out of liking someone a lot. The kiss was short and only on the lips. It was a very anxious kiss and when it was over, we both knew it was the beginning of something special.

On to the seventh grade; I don’t mention the summers because this too was an unspoken rule. No dating in summer time. I don’t think I even spoke to her but once seventh grade started, we were automatically a couple again. It was a new school and I was a small fish so dating Sara went down to 3 or 4 on my list of stuff to deal with. It was an interesting year. Sara and I split up two or three times although after that time, we could never remember why. I don’t remember dating anyone else in the 7th grade. 8th Grade was even better. We had gone out for about half the year when all of a sudden I broke up with her. Not sure why, I just did. At that time, I took interest in other girls, and went out with a few while Sara went out with others. The ironic thing was at the end of the year when Sara and I weren’t on speaking terms we won the cutest couple award that must have been polled upon much earlier in the year.

Along came 9th grade and along with that, a new school, new people and new friends. The gap between Sara and me was widening. She wanted to get back together so bad but something inside me, and probably a little concern from my Mom told me not to. She did ask me to the Sadie Hawkins which I reluctantly said yes to. You must know that I am only a strong willed person on some things. Women can somehow rule me most of the time. I have no idea if that is from being brought up by my sister and mother with very little male exposure at all growing up or if that is just my mental makeup.

We went to the dance and had a good time. The next day it appeared we were dating again. I knew my Mom wanted me to focus on my schoolwork rather than dating. She was very big on education being a teacher and all. At the time, I didn’t understand. . . I was only fifteen.

Then throughout High School, Sara and I never dated again. I moved to another high school Junior Year and a whole new life. College came along and my Mom somehow got me to stay in the town I was in and attend the Junior college instead of going off to a four year university like I so wanted to. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever ended up agreeing to. Once in college, I found myself in a few of Sara’s classes. We began talking again and sure enough we ended up dating.

I remember a night when we went to Great America in Santa Clara. We spent all day at the amusement park with Sara matching me ride for ride. We both loved the thrill of the roller coasters. That night, when I dropped her off, I leaned in to give her a good night kiss and all of a sudden she grabbed my head and gave me a full long deep passionate kiss. I kissed back of course. We must have groped and fondled in the front seat of my car for what seemed like an hour. We really let the moment last. After the kissing subsided, Sara started to cry, and I was dumbfounded as to why. I asked her what was wrong and she said the three words I wasn’t ready to hear. I think it was too soon to hear. I played it off well though because deep down inside, I knew I loved her too.

That began the last chapter in the Sara and Chase saga. . .