SPOTS ON BLUE

Spots On Blue

by Bannie Bandibas

She's starring at a mirror and realized how long days gone by. Her smooth skin, wrinkled and eyes deepening. Chubby cheeks became worst.

She touches her belly and turns her eyes on it. "I'm an overweight ugly person," with a saddened voice. She leans unto her desk, no, it's his.

"Hey." She heard a voice from below. She looked but didn't saw anybody. As she lift her head, she saw the desk drawer. Opened it and found a picture. It's them, 47 years ago. He's with his thin arms hugging back the cutest girl in the campus. They've changed physically, he got her muscles and she got her fats. Now she fear that he'll change to, he'll love her no more.

She felt her heart tightened, insecurities burdened her.

A blue envelope peeked behind the framed photo, she lifted it up. It is her birthday gift to him, at his 20th. She remembered it, every poem, every word she written inside. The covers got white spots and its color is fading. Then memories came back to her senses, the chills she felt when she gave it to him and the joy when that boy appreciated her work. She never felt it before till he came, her reader who really adore her. He's still that guy.

Moments later, someone knocked. "Babe, are you there?" It's him. He entered the room and found her hugging the envelope.

"I found this." Looking at his eyes with sadness.

"Oh. That gift." He answered smilling, the same smile she saw when she gave it to him. She felt love but still lonely.

"What's the matter?" He added.

Without any hesitation, she asked him. "Do you still love me?" Still starring at him with her teary eyes.

He draw nearer and hugged her from behind. "Of course, I still love you." He pushes the envelope away from her body. "Do you see this spots?" He asked.

"I remember the last time I opened it before I hid that envelope in the drawer. It's before our wedding day." She lifted her head and saw him looking at her trying to keep his tears, breaking. "I cried overnight, praying while looking on that envelope. I prayed to God that we'll last, that the fire would still burn until the candles die. It's been forty years and I think, He is granting my wish everyday. Every morning, I always peek at that envelope and still feel the love." He kissed her cheeks. "Would you open it up for me?" He asked.

They run their eyes on every line written from the first poem to the last page, they both laugh hard. "I'm your happy boy." He teased her.

"Indeed, you are still my happy boy." Punched his chest. "You, bully!"

"Time may fade and have its spots but what's inside of us still remain. The words, the feelings, the love, it's still there and nothing could take it away from us but death."

Spots on Blue | April 7, 2022 | Bannie Bandibas