Creative response to “No One’s a Mystery”:
He’s always on time. But today, of course today, he isn’t. No call no text, I’m just sitting here alone waiting for him. It’s my birthday today and we had such special plans to spend it. Of all the days for his boss to keep him late, not today. As I see his car rounding the corner, I jump up from my spot on the steps of my high school, where the deserted halls echo the sound of emptiness. Thank God he is here, finally we can be together and have our magical day.
“Hop in babe, let me take you for a ride,” he winks at me and shifts into gear just as the door is closing. I slide across the cab and wrap my arms comfortably into his, the stick between my legs as he shifts again.
“Tell me again baby,” I nudge him lightly against his cheek with my nose.
“Am I going to have to tell you all the time after today?”
“Forever and ever.”
“Ok, ok. You’re the only one for me. There’s never gonna be another girl for me.”
I rest my head on his shoulder and sigh. We have a cool six hour drive ahead of us, but in his arms I could ride all night. He wont turn up the heat for fear that I’ll get too hot and pull away, so he turns up the volume instead.
“…I drove all night, to get to you, is that alright?…”
***
We finally pulled in, with cheetos and coke cans strewn across the cab floor, me wrapped up in his leather jacket. Him in a skin tight white t-shirt, but still warm as can be.
“…this fever for you is just burning me up inside…”
***
We come out of the chapel hand in hand, running to the car, laughing as my five-dollar veil, my something new, flies off behind me, I throw the plastic flowers in the direction of a couple waiting outside for their turn; their chance at forever. His heavy leather jacket, my something borrowed, clashing with my bright converse, my something blue, all does nothing to compliment the look of my mother’s tragic white prom dress, my something old. I am a bride no one would want to be, but I know that no matter the stage of the wedding, today begins my life.
I graduated today, and tonight I was married.
We drive off with only hopes in our future.
“Tell me again baby.”
“You don’t know it already?”
“Just tell me again.”
“You’re the only girl for me baby.”
“Forever and ever?”
“Forever and ever.”
“And ever.”
I close my eyes and see it all unfolding, as the rode takes us off into the sunset, my cowboy and me.
