Point of No Return

She took a breath. It was shaky.

-Yes, she said. He’ll be here any moment.

She stood up. She smoothed the wrinkles that weren’t there.

-I know you must go, Joseph, she said.

-I don’t have to, he said. I’ll do whatever you want.

She looked at him.

-I wish you could stay, she said. I feel safe with you. At peace.

He reached out. He ran a hand through her hair. She leaned into it.

-If not now, when? he asked.

She pulled back an inch.

-You know we can’t, she said. Today belongs to someone else.

-I understand, he said. Goodbye, Rosa Sharon.

He turned to the door.

-Wait, she said. Will I see you again?

He stopped.

-You’re about to be married, he said. It’ll be hard to keep like this. You’ll be consumed by the marriage.

-I won’t accept that, she said.

-We’re making a mistake putting it on hold, he said.

-What if we were meant to be together? she asked.

-If we were meant to be together, it would be even more difficult after today, he said.

He froze and turned his head to the door.

-I can hear your dad approaching down the hall.

She heard it too. She stepped back.

-There’s still time for you to back out, he said.

-What?

-Do you want me to walk away right now, or do you want me to spirit you away from here? he asked.

She inhaled sharply. It was a cliff edge.

He held out his hand. His other hand was on the doorknob.

-What’s your choice? he asked.

She looked at the door. She looked at his hand.

She grabbed his hand.

-Go, she said.

He headed into the hallway and toward the service exit.

-We cut through the kitchen, he said. To the parking lot.

They ran. The dress was heavy, but she held it up.

They got into his car. He started the engine.

-We drive off into the sunset, he said.

She watched the hotel disappear in the rearview mirror.

The car ran.

Rosa Sharon sat in the passenger seat. She finally exhaled.

Joseph drove with one hand. He reached over with the other. He squeezed her fingers.

-The next chapter is yours, he said.

She looked out the windshield. The sun was dying.

-Thank you, Joseph, she said. -For everything.

-I’m here for you, he said.

She turned in the leather seat.

-I know you are, she said, squeezing his hand.

He kept his eyes on the road. The streetlights flickered on.

-Where do you want to go first? he asked. He had no plan.

She looked at the passing streets. She didn’t recognize them. She laughed, a small, giddy sound.

-Anywhere, Joseph, she said. As long as I’m with you, anywhere will do. Isn’t that strange?

-I understand that completely.

He brought a hand up. He brushed her cheek. She leaned into the touch, eyes closing.

When she opened them, she studied his profile.

He was a stranger.