Say "I Love You!"

   Perhaps it was only I, who worried about that statement. Juliet was what people considered well bred. Her parents attended church. She worked at the local animal shelter. And yet despite her being an upstanding civilian, I could not bring myself to say those three little words.

"Cat got your tongue?"

With a snap, my neck flicked upwards to stare my waitress in the eyes. She raised one over plucked eyebrow.

I coughed. "Er, pardon?"

The woman pointed to my coffee cup, her finger nails pointed and colored as red as her tacky lipstick. The cornor of her mouth rose. "You look mighty distracted. Penny for your thoughts."

I ran a hand through my hair. "It's nothing," I mumbled. "Besides, you're working."

The woman laughed, placing a hand on my shoulder. I didn't say anything as my senses soaked in her delightful bubblegum scent, a homely feeling sifting through my senses. The waitress smiled at me. Nothing in her eyes seemed unkind as I was so used too. She squeezed my shoulder.

"It's never nothing," she chuckled. "Give me five minutes to change out of my outfit."

   When she returned, she was enveloped in a soft pastel dress, delicately sprinkled pink - flaring out her ruby red locks. She sat across from me, gold hoops the size of half dollars dangling from her soft flesh. I was taken aback by the gentleness that seemed to permeate the entire room. It was nearly midnight, and she must have been working hard all day; yet she was sitting here with me.

"I'm Alastair," I said.

The waitress shook my hand with a grip akin to a strong mans. She was a hero in disguise, I thought.

"Beret," she laughed. "Very nice to meet you Alastair."

"You as well, Beret." I cleared my throat and watched in silence as she clutched a white parka closer to her body. Her back settled into the seat lightly. "I find it strange."

"What?"

My fingers laced together and I stared distantly out the window into the dark. My mind wandered to my bride to be, Juliet. She was what most would die for - a simple, elegant beauty - and yet when I said the resounding words 'I love you'. . . it felt wrong. I voiced this to Beret. "I've always felt close to Juliet," I said aloud. "We were born in the same hospital in the same town. It was as if our marriage was predetermined. And yet, I found myself hating and dreading to say the prerequisite words."

Beret frowned. "Is she not the one you love?"

I gave her a pained smile. If only she knew. "No, I do not love Juliet. I should. I cannot."

"Love cannot be predetermined," the red haired woman said. "Love is not a force one can, well, force."

My thumbs rubbed the sides of my palms. I ground my teeth, trying to figure out the right worlds to confess. And then it bubbled over and spilled out over my tongue.

"It's a man!"

She blinked. Silent confusion flushed over her features and my cheeks burned with a mighty pink fury. My head ducked down into the corner of my elbow - never had I ever felt so ashamed. My secret was out and now Beret would shun me - just like everyone else. I should have never -

"That's not so bad," Beret whispered. Her acrylic nails wiped away the wetness forming at the corner of my eyes. Her hoop earring attracted my attention, avoiding eye contact like the plague.

"You don't know how my family would react," I warned, wiping at my eyes vigorously.

"You're young," she said.

"I'll be nineteen this October."

"Don't worry so much, young one. Do not pretend to be a butterfly when you're only still a cocoon."

As she rose from the booth, I saw her smile flashed at me once again. She tossed something over her shoulder. I glanced down and saw a little butterfly figurine in the palm of my hand. It seemed to be well taken care of, despite chips at the edges. The miniature insect was obviously well loved. Though the bright yellow paint withered and the orange was not ad vibrant as it once had been, it was magnificent.

Beret winked and waved as she walked away from me.

I didn't even have a chance to thank her.

—

Thoughts??