Song: Life After You by Chris Daughtry

I'm out here alone...Just trying to get home.
To tell you I was wrong, but you already know.
Believe me, I won't stop at nothing to see you.
So I've started running...

No color existed in this familiar scene. No longer red. Yellow. Or purple. Wherever I turned, only long lines of soil ruled the land. The fresh scent of tulips no longer whistled in the air.

The people were all gone—not a soul lingered except mine.

There was no young couple holding hands when I turned to my right, nor a small family taking pictures or an elderly couple. Although their smiles still remained fresh in my memory, I could no longer feel the same happiness I felt that day.

My story never turned out like how I imagined it to be from the start. The love filled with passion, hope, or trust that I wished for...was it ever there?

The sun shone brightly down through a cloudless sky as I continued walking down the mulch path. My lips faintly curved into a smile as I remembered the distant moment we bumped into each other. But it disappeared as soon as it came...

I stopped and stared far into where the mountains stood, taking a deep breath as I recalled those beautiful emerald eyes along with the profound sadness in his voice.

The melancholy expression in his eyes. The bitterness in his tone. Everything made sense to me now. Henry and I. Our fate was destined to cross. We were bounded to each other whether we wanted it or not.

After strolling aimlessly for another hour, I drove to the Skagit Valley Casino and Resort for lunch, finding myself in the same footsteps I took that day. When the waitress seated me, my eyes naturally drifted over to the table where my friends and I sat a year ago. Then to the table where he sat with his colleagues.

I lightly chuckled, recalling the memory of me ducking in front of Adam to hide myself from him.

"Are you waiting for another party, my dear?" the nice waitress asked.

I shook my head with a pressed smile. "No, it's just me today."

She nodded. "What can I get for you?"

"I'll have your Chicken Fettuccini."

"Great. I'll be right back." She left me alone without further inquiry.

After lunch, I proceeded over to the casino and came across a crowded roulette game. I still had no clue on how to play the game so I just watched on. The crowd cheered loudly as the dice landed on the number eleven and I thought I heard a familiar voice by my side, but when I turned, there was no one standing there.

My eyes darted left and right to scan the faces around me, but there wasn't the gaze of those familiar eyes always looking my way.

Eventually, I arrived at the same slot machine where he put in a one-hundred-dollar bill and motioned me down to sit down. I sat on the leather chair and my hands felt the surface of the machine.

How he whispered in my ear. How he gently grabbed my hand to press the bet button. The memories replayed constantly in my mind.

After the casino, I stopped over by the Winner's Lounge, sitting at the same table we sat that night. I observed the couples dancing on the floor and remembered how nervous I felt as he asked me to dance with him.

How he courageously took my hands, dragging me to the middle of the dance floor. How he lightly placed his hand on my waist, lessening the distance between us.

In the late afternoon, I headed up to Mount Vernon. I didn't know what was waiting there for me, but I knew I wouldn't feel complete without going.

When I made it to downtown, I parked my car on the street and strolled down the sidewalk, looking at the various restaurants and shop.

I came upon Pacioni's Italian restaurant—the place my friends comforted me after getting stood up by him.

After a couple minutes of walking, I saw it looming in sight—the river walk bridge. Although an uneasy feeling lingered in me, I managed to cross the street, each step bringing me closer to it.

I stepped onto the wooden plank sidewalk lining the side of the Skagit River and walked down towards the bridge.

Other tourists walked by, smiling and uttering hellos as I passed them down the river walk.

After a long day, the sun was finally setting in the west as darkness slowly consumed the sky. The river walk grew quiet and empty as people left to retire for the day.

It was time I should leave too, but somehow I didn't leave. I didn't know why.

Standing alone in the cold, dim path, I finally convinced myself to. I turned around in the opposite direction and headed back towards the car.

My eyes remained on the ground as I walked back to my car.

But then ...

I heard a pair of footsteps growing louder in the distance and when I lifted my gaze, I thought I was dreaming. I was afraid to blink because if I did, I was afraid he would dissipate into thin air.

"Ally..." I heard him mumble my name.

He was real. He wasn't a dream.

"Henry..." I muttered through a breath. I wanted to run to him. Throw my arms around him and have him comfort me. But I held myself back.

This was too good to be true. This wasn't real. It was only my imagination. I shook my head, shaking off the idea that it would be him of all people.

"Ally," he called out a second time and this time, I had no doubt it really was my Henry.

He was here. He was really here, waiting for me. How? How did he know I was going to be here?

He took a step closer to me and this time, I didn't fall back. His footsteps halted when he was in front of me, only an arm's length away.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered. He managed a tiny smile as his eyes filled with tears and I felt my own eyes burning from beginning to cry.

I remained quiet, unsure of how to respond. I felt ashamed simply looking him in the eye and knowing full well what I had done. I escaped, ran away from my problems...from him, but here he was, standing right in front of my path.

"I'm sorry for making you wait for me ... I'm sorry for leaving you all alone by yourself when you needed me the most. I'm sorry ... for so many things unimaginable ... But I'm not sorry for having met you. Because without you, I wouldn't have known what love was. Ally...I love you. Do you believe me?"

My lips pulled into a smile as I nodded, a tear streaming free down my cheek. His thumb rose to my cheek, brushing away my tears.

"I love you too," I whispered.

He gazed into my eyes deeply, the corner of his lips slowly rising into a smile.

This moment...only I knew how much I wanted him—needed him.

Even after how many times I had been hurt over and over again by him, after how many tears I cried because of him—it was still him...only him in the end...

Henry.

Unable to control my overwhelming feelings, I swung my arms around him tightly as he wrapped his around my back, lifting me slightly off the ground and onto my toes.

"I'm sorry," he apologized again through sniffles as his jaw rested on my shoulder, nudging against my neck. "I'm sorry for everything."

"I know. It's okay. I'm sorry too," I said, tightening my arms. I was never going to let him go again. I couldn't bear to live without him—my good person.

I pulled slightly away as his arms stayed around my waist.

"Thank you," he said.

"Thank you? For what?"

"For loving me."

My hands cupped either side of his face, wiping away his tears. He leaned and pressed his forehead on mine as he gazed into my eyes, smiling so happily. He lifted his lips to place a kiss on my forehead firmly as I closed my eyes.

When we finally let go of each other, Henry instantly laced his fingers through mine. "Shall we get out of here?"

"Yes," I replied with a grin. "I drove a rental car here."

"I'll have someone take care of it. Don't worry, Ally," he reassured.

He led us down the sidewalk towards downtown, gently swinging our hands back and forth until we got to his car parked in the lot by the bridge. As we closed in on his car, he let go of my hand so he could open the passenger side for me. But instead, he took my hand and turned us around, saying he wasn't ready to leave just yet.

....

Later, Henry pulled into a small cottage that was already lit inside. Henry opened the front door with his keys, and I walked into the cozy, comfortable living room.

There were two couches situated across from each other and paralleled to them was a crackling fireplace. Past the living room was a tiny kitchen and off to the side was the stairs to the next floor.

As I observed the place, Henry's arms snaked behind me around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder, rocking our bodies back and forth.

"What are you doing?" I asked playfully.

"I just want to hold you," he muttered sorrowfully. "I miss you, Ally."

I placed my hands over his, caressing them softly. "Me too."

"Are you hungry? Did you eat anything yet? Do you want me to make something for you?"

I half chuckled and half smiled from all his questions. I removed his hands and turned around to face him, taking his hands in mine. "Henry, one question at a time."

He lightly smirked. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

After settling into the cottage, I sat on the barstool in the kitchen as I watched Henry cook something for dinner—a late one. I offered to help, but he shooed my out of his kitchen, insisting he wanted to make a meal for me by himself.

"You can help by watching," he playfully joked as he washed the vegetables in the sink.

"I'll do that then," I joked back.

Henry laid out the table when he finished and I walked into the bathroom to wash up for dinner. After washing my hands, I stared into the mirror and placed a hand over my beating heart.

Was this really happening? Just yesterday, I was in Sydney.

But now...I was back in the States with Henry who suddenly showed up out of nowhere.

When I came back out to the dining room, he pulled out a chair for me at the table. Sitting down and looking at the delicious dinner that Henry prepared before me—a delicious homemade meal of chicken stir fry with rice and for dessert, brownies—I never thought that I would have the chance to eat Henry's cooking again.

As I scooped a spoonful of food, I felt my eyes slightly burning and the more I tried to suppress it, the more my tears came out. I placed the spoon into my mouth and while I chewed, I silently broke down.

One drop fell and then another after another into the plate of food that Henry made for me.

Henry stood up from his chair and came over to where I sat. He bent down onto his knees and placed a hand on my cheek, turning my attention to him.

He gently took the spoon from my hand and positioned me so that I was facing his direction.

"What is wrong, Ally?" he asked softly. His fingers wiped away a tear before it could fall.

I shook my head in silence, afraid that if I reply, I might break.

He gently grabbed both my hands, placing them flat onto my lap as he held onto them.

"I'm here now. I'm not going anymore, alright?"

"Alright..." I pressed on a grin for him.

His fingers fondled over mine. His expression changed suddenly and he instantly looked down, then back up at me. "Where's your ring?"

A ring of guilt swallowed me. "I...I threw it away. I'm sorry."

"No, it's alright, Ally. Maybe it's for the best. I'll get you a new one." He smiled encouragingly.

"What about the divorce papers?"

"I never signed them. I could never bring myself to do it," he replied, placing a hand back on my cheek. "Let's eat now. Your food is getting cold, okay?"

"Okay."

Before Henry could stand up, I leaned forward and wounded my arms around his shoulders. He relaxed into my embrace, soothing my back with his hand.

After a very long day, it was finally time for bed. I changed into a nightgown that was in another room and when I walked into the room where we were sleeping for the night, Henry was pulling back the duvet.

"I made the bed for you," Henry pointed out as he fluffed the pillow. "You can sleep here tonight. I'll be in the next room over you need anything."

Only me? He'll be in the next room?

He came over to me with a smile and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. He looked down at me with an assuring grin before leaving and as I watched him walk over to the door over, I mustered enough courage to stop him.

I held him back by lacing my arms around his waist, resting my head along his warm back. "Please don't go, Henry. Stay with me. Stay with me tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"What kind of question is that? We're husband and wife," I chuckled half-heartedly. "I don't want to spend another night without you by my side."

One of his hand caressed mine. "You're right. Okay then, I'm not going anywhere."

Once we climbed onto the small full-size bed, I inched closer to Henry's side. I leaned into his chest, soaking up the warmth radiating from him, as he wrapped his arms around me. It felt so right, being near him like this. It felt so safe.

After he kissed my hair, I lifted my head and placed a kiss on his cheek, feeling the pointy edges of his bristles against my lips. I kind of liked it.

"I love you, Ally," he said again as he pulled me deeper into his arms. I would never bore of hearing him utter those words.

I nuzzled my cheek into his chest. "And I love you, Henry."

Please like and comment! Thank you for reading! - May