A soft cooling breeze rustled the palm trees and the waves lapped lazily at the shore. I sighed contentedly and stretched, making the hammock rock gently. I couldn’t help the slow sly smile that crept across my face, although I did feel a twinge of guilt. I thought briefly of my colleagues back home. They would be just starting the meeting about now. I could almost hear the droning hub-bub of their voices as they discuss budgets and planning for the next year of business. Soon they would be enjoying the hot and cold buffet lunch compliments of the restaurant they had hired for the conference. Chewing on mints and sipping cold water they would get down to business.

It had been a long and very hard couple of years, particularly the last few weeks. The small fashion label had grown enormously, thanks to careful planning like the meeting I was missing right now. I probably should have rescheduled my vacation so I wouldn’t have missed it. But I’m sure they will fill me in when I get back. If it was crucial I be there, then Ken would not have asked me to take this trip.

I couldn’t believe my luck in having a boss like Ken. He was so understanding and even though I should not have let my personal life interfere with my work, he supported me every step of the way.

It’s the same old story, everyone goes through a serious relationship breakup at sometime, maybe more than once. I never thought, though, that I would be affected so badly by it. I mean, I’ve broken up with men before, yeah it hurts but you get over it. This time is different. The pain of losing him takes my breath away. I thought we were so perfect together. We had so much in common, we laughed all the time and we never really had a disagreement. Sam always seemed to be so sensitive and caring, my every wish was his command. He told me loved me. We were getting married. We had even decided what would call our children. This is where we were going to have our honeymoon.

I stood up and walked down to the waters edge, my feet sinking in the wet sand. It all seemed so long ago. If only the waves would carry away the memories, then maybe I could get on with the rest of my life; my life without him.

It probably would not have hurt so much if it had not been my best friend. I had always been a little worried about how much attention he gave her. I knew she liked him but I also felt I should trust them both. I didn’t want to seem as though I was possessive or prone to jealously.

I sighed. It was all in the past now. The sooner I left it there the better.

My tummy grumbled and reminded me of the time. I wandered back to the restaurant at the resort and claimed a table in the corner. The beach was a comforting sight through the palms just beyond the open window.

Reaching for the menu I looked up as a man approached me, a friendly confident smile on his boyish handsome face.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

I caught my breath and glanced back at the beach. The waves were receding, slowly, carefully, and floating on them, being carried away, was a fuzzy, hazy image of Sam’s once loved face. This was a chance to finally let go. Taking a deep breath I turned back to my companion with a friendly, encouraging smile.

“I don’t mind at all.”

Categories: Short Story