185: THE DANCE 4

THE DANCE 4

2True love isn't 3

Romeo and Juliet. 

It's Grandma and 

Grandpa who grew

old together. 

✦✧✦✧✦

His hands captured my own and he placed it around his neck where it should be. Then his arms slid around my waist and pulled me close to his chest until no air could pass between us. The soothing warmth of his body made my eyes flutter close. 

He doesn't only smell like my Ace and looks like him physically. His touch felt like Ace too. The thought made a tear drop from my eyes. 

When I think back on these times

And the dreams we left behind

I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get to have you in my life

When I look back on these days

I look and see your face

You were right there for me

The singer start to sing. I listened intently to the song' s lyrics with my eyes still closed while very slowly we moved to the rhythm of the song. It was Ace's favorite song and so was mine. Hearing it play only intensified my yearning for him. 

If only he was here then I have nothing to ask for more. My birthday would be beyond perfect. My whole family is here and so are my children. What more could I ask for? This night would be so magical and the joy I would feel would be beyond words. 

In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart, there'll always be a place for you for all my life

I'll keep a part of you with me

And everywhere I am, there you'll be

And everywhere I am, there you'll be

The lyrics simply hit straight to my heart making me so emotional. The emotions I'd been trying to contain broke loose and a tear fell from my eyes… then another… and another until I was quietly weeping. The mask I wore proved to be a useful disguise to hide my tears. 

Well, you showed me how it feels

To feel the sky within my reach

And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me

Your love made me make it through

Oh, I owe so much to you

You were right there for me

I thought I was brave enough to hide a lonely part of myself tonight but I was mistaken. It took a single song and a mysterious man to push me into tears. 

The man's hold tightened around my waist in response as if he felt my inner battle. He pulled me closer into the warmth of his body, providing me with all the comfort he could give. 

I let my head drop into his chest. The musky scent of him fill my nose, helping the turmoil inside me calm down a bit. My ear is pressed close to his chest and I could hear the erratic beating of his heart. Was he nervous? Why would he be? I asked myself with my heart in the same condition as his. 

The song went on and we continued to dance. A hundred pairs of eyes were watching us but I felt as if we were alone inside the hall. I couldn't hear anything except the song and I couldn't see anything except him. 

It's as if the universe paused and the world stopped spinning. The only thing that seems to matter was the dance. 

Very slowly, his fingers went to my hair. Then he caressed the mask that covered my face.

He was tall, and I looked up to him in order to see his face and know what he felt but the mask he wore completely hid his expression. The mystery surrounding him thickened but my curiosity to know him more only deepened. 

When he lifted my mask off my face, I didn't protest. Instead, I allow him to take it off as if I was baring my very soul to him. His fingers gently wiped the tears from my cheeks until it was completely dry. He was so tender that my heart wanted to weep. 

In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart, there'll always be a place for you for all my life

I'll keep a part of you with me

And everywhere I am, there you'll be

And everywhere I am, there you'll be

There you'll be

The last part of the song ended but the instrumental continued to play in the background, making the scene even more emotional than it already was. 

"Happy happy birthday, Phoenix." He whispered. 

My lips parted open in shock. Was the fates playing a practical joke on me? Why did he sound exactly like my husband? 

I opened my mouth to speak but no words emerged from my lips. Instead, a warm stream of tears flowed freely down my cheeks. 

He caressed the wetness of my cheeks with his fingers. "Hush, stop crying my love. I'm here…" 

The words were spoken so softly, like a subtle wind brushing against my heart. But instead of refraining from crying my tears flowed more abundantly as realization hit me. 

He took off his mask, exposing his handsome face to me. 

"Ace…" A sob erupted from my lips. My vision turned hazy by the amount of tears I'm shedding. 

I lifted my hand to reach for his face only to stopped halfway. "Are you even real?" The question just slipped from my lips." My hand limply fell to my side. 

He allowed the mask to fall on the floor. His hands captured my own and brought them to his face to feel the warmth of his cheeks. "I'm here now… I will never leave you alone again, love." He murmured, his eyes wet with unshed tears.

When he pulled me into his arms, everything melted away, including my doubts. My hand clung to his neck and his arms encircled my waist. 

Ace was hugging me. I couldn't believe it! 

The thing I'd been asking for came true. I have nothing more to ask, everything I ever needed was already in front of me. 

pqdm.com