Waiting For Juliet...

Photo Credit: @lymmerik

At exactly 6.01pm, I stood beside the old ticket box and waited. The cold breeze kept me company as I took in the all too familiar sight of the abandoned Theatre. There was no repeat of my earlier bouts of nostalgia, I had revisited this spot for far too long to still feel anything out of the ordinary.
I made myself as comfortable as I could standing, and I let my thoughts wander...

I had met her here at the front of the theatre all those years ago. Back then this place was the pride of the city, and anyone who was anyone came here regularly. She was a politician's daughter, and I was just a civil servant trying to wind up after a hectic day at work.

It was one of the shortest conversations I ever had with a beautiful lady, but it had turned out to be the most significant. I can't remember what exactly we had talked about in those few minutes, but she had certainly said all the right things. I believe I did as well, because we had dinner a few nights later, and again a week later, then again, then again.

As things heated up, I knew I was falling in love. Her blue eyes appeared to me everywhere, and her smile spiced up my frequent daydreams. I told whoever was willing to listen about her, and at every possible opportunity, I spent my free time in her company. It was complete bliss for a few months, until...

It was late at night that day. We had just seen a beautiful rendition of Handel Messiah here at the Grand Theatre. The night was cold, and there was a feeling of expectation in the air; like the night was about to unload something strange on its visitors. As we left the hall and stepped outside she clung to me. I smiled and held her hands, I remember that they felt warm that night.

We paused outside, at exactly the same spot where we first met, and there where she stole my heart, she had broken it too.

"I am married" she had said

I let my hands fall to my side as my brain attempted to process this information. After a few seconds, I opened my mouth in an attempt to say something, but nothing was forthcoming. So I simply stared at her lips, and my thoughts at that moment roamed around how sweet they tasted when I kissed her for the first time three nights ago.

"I should have told you this a long time ago, but I couldn't. I never knew I would fall in love with you this way."

I simply continued staring at her lips.

"I know it's wrong of me to have led you on this far, and I am sorry. I do wish you'll understand however, that I never loved anyone like I did you, and I do not think I ever will."

"I would stay with you, but then maybe this isn't right. We've been as under the radar as possible, and for as long as we can be, but things have moved pretty fast in the last few days, and I fear my heart can hold no more."

That was when I spoke,

"Don't leave me"

"I am sorry Hannah, but I must." she said

As she hugged me in readiness to leave, the tears fell from my eyes. I couldn't bring myself to hug her in return, but her last words remained with me...

"Someday I'll be back here, sometime after work hours. I'll find you, and then I'll never leave."

...I've been at this Theatre at 6pm everyday for the past nine years, and she still hasn't showed up. I'll love no other woman, and never will I love a man. I'll be here in this abandoned theatre as long as I live, until the building turns to debris, or I see my Juliet again...

I looked at my watch, It read 9.15pm. I started the long walk back home, tomorrow I'll return...

THE END

#SladenSpeaks

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Written for @thewritersblock Art Prompt Writing Contest

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