Say Yes to Me

    The breeze was refreshing. It’s these kinds of summer days that I enjoy the most. When it’s really hot during the day but at night it's just a nice breeze to cool you off after a long day. I looked at the floor as the breeze brushed some leaves across our path. I stood there watching it as I laid my head on your shoulder while we sat on the fountain's edge. Even though you were wearing nothing but a black tank top and some blue jeans you were radiating heat. I could feel it rolling over my head as it laid there on your tan shoulder. Oddly there was no one around except for me and you. The plaza was deserted except for the night lamps to keep us company. And of course the candle in my hand. 

    “What are you thinking about?” he said over the wind that was starting to pick up.

    I brushed my windswept hair out of my face, “The parade. It was a nice way to end such a shitty week.”

    “Oh, yeah did you tag along with your friends or did you go by yourself,” I swear I could almost hear him smirk when he said that. The very same devilish smirk that lured me in the first time that I saw him. 

    I looked up at him. His black curly hair looked like waves in an ocean from the blowing wind. “What are you trying to say? That I’m a friendless loser?” I said jokingly. “Huh?” I said jabbing at his stomach with my finger. 

    “Nothing at all. I just know how you like to try and push them away,” I nestled my head back into the crook of his neck. 

    “Yeah well for your information I did go out with them. And I even had, dare I say, fun.”

    “Oh yeah? What did y’all do?” he questioned. 

    “Well obviously we went to the parade which was so freaking hot. Afterwards we went to a couple bars and had a couple drinks. There was this guy there actually and he kept trying to hit on me. When I was playing pool he kept trying to do that corny thing where you get behind them and teach them how to shoot.”

    “And what did you tell him?”

    “Oh come on do you even have to ask? I rejected him, softly of course. You know how hard it is for me to say no to people,” I said. 

    “Yeah if it wasn’t for that you probably never would have gone out with me.”

    “Oh come on that is so not true. I liked you before you even said hello to me,” just then I noticed a stream of hot wax coming down the candle. I tried not to draw attention to it and braced myself for what was about to come next. The hot liquid spilled over onto my hand and I resisted the urge to make any noise knowing that the pain would fade away very quickly. I hadn’t even realized it but I had been holding my breath the whole time and when I finally exhaled I tried to do it as quietly as possible. I guess I wasn’t quiet enough because he looked down at my hand.

    I looked up at him as his face became distorted with sadness. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself,” he said solemnly.

    “I swear I’m fine… it’s fine I promise,” but my pleas weren’t enough. He stood up. 

    “I think it’s time for me to go,” he said regretfully.

    “Come on, I'm fine. Just stay, just for a little bit longer at least.”

    “You know I can’t do that.”

    “And why not? Why can’t you just say yes to me?”

    “You know why,” and he began walking away. I could feel hot tears coming out. I tried to wipe them away quickly before he saw them. 

    He turned around and looked at me, “I’ll see you around dollface.” I just shook my head yes because if I spoke I knew I would just completely break apart. The candle felt hot pressed against my stomach. He turned and disappeared into the night. 

    When I finally made myself break out of place I turned back to the fountain and bent down. I placed the candle on his shrine. He had died many months ago at this fountain and now there was nothing left of him besides this shrine.