The Kiss of Time

She asks me if I know anyone else who has been getting back these memories and I nod tentatively and tell her about Anton and then I recognize the familiar look of hope in her eyes, the same feeling that I felt just moments ago. "Meet me in the parking lot with him after school, I'll tell you what I know." She says. And then we part ways, and I make my way to English class, pondering about what she could've figured out, what she knows that I don't.

I see Anton already standing outside of class, waiting for me. Just looking at him brings back so many memories that we've had. Memories that I now appreciate and cherish, memories that I now hold onto with every bit of my soul as I don't know how long it will last. I don't know if these memories will be so ruthlessly taken away from me once again. Memories of the only boy I've ever loved, a love so intense that when I look at him, nothing else in this world matters. When I approach him now, it's like time stops in its place, like everything in the world halts to make space for our overwhelming emotion for each other.

Anton and I take our seats next to each other at the back of the classroom and I tell him about my encounter with Beatrice. And just like before, I see the same sliver of hope in his eyes, the same one apparent in Beatrice's eyes. The same sliver of hope I still feel.

I can't focus in class. How was I ever able to concentrate on anything while being in the same room as Anton? Now I can't go a millisecond without glancing at him, trying to memorize every single minuscule detail of him. Right now he is drumming a beat on the desk with his knuckles and I think I'm going to combust right now, everything he does makes my heart flutter in my chest, my pulse go up in a matter of seconds.

After a dreadful hour, class is finally dismissed. I walk out hand in hand with Anton and though I see everyone giving us curious glances, I couldn't be bothered because all that matters is that I'm holding Anton's hand and he's holding mine and all I can think is that I love him and nothing can ever beat the eternal love I feel for him.

"Are you hungry?" He asks me while he puts his arm around my shoulder and I think to myself I could die right now. It feels so good to be secured and safe in his arms, to be enveloped in the soft oversized fabric of his grey sweater again, to be wrapped in his scent. He always smells like sweet cologne and fresh laundry detergent.

"Not really." I reply and I can't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling? What are you thinking?" He asks me.

"I'm thinking about how I've missed you so much. I can't believe I went so long without the memories of our late night drives, movie dates and how we would just talk on the phone about anything and everything till the crack of dawn. I'm so happy we're together again." We make eye contact and I see his smile lines quirk up.

He leads me into an empty classroom. "I'll never let you go again. We'll make new memories together, I promise." He tells me and what happens next just comes so naturally. Our lips meet and a fire ignites within me. He is so gentle and soft and everything in between. I tangle my fingers in his soft, fluffy hair. I remember how I used to curl my fingers in his hair all the time.

We break apart and I look up at him, our breaths coming in shallow pants. His hair is already ruffled and it's adorable.

"Fuck, I love you so much Nicole."

When he says my name its like I'm hearing my name for the first time. The alphabets of my name on his lips and the way he enunciates every single syllable with care and affection is like music to my ears. He reaches out to cup my face in his hands and once again, our lips rendezvous but this time its different. This time its more intense. We cling onto each other like our lives depended on it. Adrenaline rushes through my blood as his hands caress my back. He tastes sweet, sweet like candy. When we kiss every bit of anger and annoyance that has coursed through me over the past two weeks goes away. Our kiss is passionate, it just feels right. Like the final piece of a puzzle.

I take in this moment and try to memorize every single detail, afraid to lose it once again and I can't help but wonder if he sees me the same way I see him. Like he's the only person that matters in the world.