Jenna sat looking out of her bay window in her old brownstone. As the sun’s rays beamed on her face she drifted deep into thought; this was the place she had hoped to call home again. She hadn’t had any expectations for her return. She had always thought of this place as home, because of all the fond memories and experiences that took place here. During her travels she would think about them, she would imagine herself laying in bed alone and gazing out at the street, or cooking in her kitchen assembling her mis-en-place, and then enjoying the fragrances and aromas of her creations. She often wondered what it would be like to return, whether she could just pick up from where she had left. But, now she was there, still sitting, with nothing left to imagine. Things had changed, her friends had evolved, but so had she. In the past five years she had gained new perspectives on the world and how she wanted to live. But in a lot of ways she had stayed the same, and retained her old hopes and dreams. The dream to come back to her brownstone, to buzz him up, to cook for him, and to lay in bed in his arms, and tell him about all her experiences. But she knew none of this was possible anymore. Her dreams would not come true. She had to fight to get over it. Her travels had made her stronger, but she still had not gotten over him. The one love she had had in her life had been over for quite sometime.
Over the years she stopped blaming herself, but she still felt an emptiness that she hadn’t felt when they were together. While she tried hard to let others in, it wasn’t the same. The memories of their life together always interfered with her new found life. The only place she could connect with others was through art. She could evoke an emotional response in others and feel a connection as she inspired the uninspired. She helped design many Kouroi, and while the artists weren’t aware, to her, each one had an element of him in it. His shoulders, his hands, or his strong legs. When she was commissioned to help work on the sculpture of a head, she disappeared after designing the eyes and lips, because for the first time in five years she saw him again, and could no longer bare the thought of never seeing this stone sculpture, she wanted to see the live representation of it. This is what had led her to ending the five years of wandering, and come back home. But her love was betrothed to another, and she once again felt empty. She wanted desperately to go to him, she wanted to tell him how she still felt. But, she knew it would be unfair to him. But, the night of the rehearsal dinner she she had felt a connection. She saw how he looked at her. “No its only because he hasn’t seen me in so long. It doesn’t mean anything,” she told herself.
“Why is this so hard? Why did Charlie have to leave?” The only other man next to Aidan that she had come close to falling for had been Charlie, but he wasn’t ready for her. And his only escape was to runaway. Perhaps his actions had influenced her to do the same. The thought of unrequited love was too much for her, and quickly after Charlie’s departure she too ran away.
***
Drew walked up the staircase and rang the buzzer several times. There was no answer. He looked at his watch, he was an hour late, he should have called. Still where could she be? He peered into the glass. It didn’t look like anyone was around. Drew sat down on the steps and figured he would wait for her. He wasn’t leaving until he got an explanation, she owed it to him, they were supposed to be best friends!
Then off in the distance a small cheery girl was walking up. She stopped at the stairs, and looked up at him. “Are you Drew?” she asked. He nodded back at her, “And who might you be?”
“I’m Priscilla, I’m supposed to deliver this to you.” She was holding a vanilla colored envelope. “My aunt Jenna said its very important!”
He took the envelope from her, and on the front in Jenna’s handwriting it said: “To my love, Aidan.” “Where did she go?” demanded Drew.
“I don’t know. I overheard my dad talk to mom, something about sailing.”
Drew sighed, he had lost her again. He would have to wait for her to show up again.
The following day, the wedding ceremonies started. Drew was hesitant to deliver the envelope to Aidan, he wanted to open it, and find out what had happened, but he was a good friend and respected Jenna, so he kept it sealed.
Aidan was putting on his tux when Drew walked him. “Good luck today.” remarked Drew. “Thanks! What have you got there?” asked Aidan noticing the envelope.
“I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but its for you,” replied Drew handing over the envelope.
“Oh its from Jenna.” Aidan’s heart started to race. He had thought about her constantly, since the night of the rehearsal dinner, and had told Sara that Jenna was in town, but nothing more on the subject, because he knew Sara would get nervous. He had secretly hoped that she would be at the wedding with Josh, he missed having her around, but he also knew it would make things difficult for everyone, especially her. He hadn’t anticipated how he would feel if she ever returned. He had just hoped that she was happy wherever she was in the world. But the night he saw her again, he knew what she wanted. And while he loved her immensely and thought the world of her, he knew he couldn’t give her what she wanted, and so desperately needed. As he started to read her letter, a tear ran down his cheek, he closed it, and thought to himself, “if only…”
