Love Blossoms

The first time I saw her I knew she was the one. I never believed in love at first sight until that moment. That very second, as soon as I saw her, I knew I was hooked. I was on the park for my morning stroll as usual, and she was out for a run. As she rushed by me, our eyes met, for that brief moment we exchanged glances. 

The way she looked at me with those dark brown eyes just blew me away. She was a redhead, I always did have a thing for reds. Something so mysterious and intriguing about them. 

I continued walking my usual route across the park, crossing the wide open field, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her, as she ran a lap of the path that ran around the perimeter of the park. 

I had to do something, I had to speak to her. There was just something captivating about her. I knew that if I did take this chance I would regret it. I might never see her again. I waited for her to come around once more on her lap of the park. 

As she went by, I smiled before jogging along beside her. She smiled back, amused that I was tagging along on her run. Then she laughed, flinging her head back and started running quicker.

I laughed along, and tried to keep up, just happy to be in her company. As we ran, she picked up the pace, faster and faster. I held on as long as I could, not wanting to lose face, nor to be apart from her. I managed to last a few minutes before I had to stop, breathing hard, as she bounded away across the park, still laughing at my pitiful attempts.

When she had finished her run, she came over to where I was sitting, just enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air. I shifted up, and she sat down beside me. We sat there for a wonderful, beautiful moment, watching the busy park, children playing and whizzing around on their bicycles, dogs scamping around and chasing tennis balls and sticks. I can’t remember what small talk I made, but I felt a connection, and I was sure she felt it too. Finally she got to her feet and stretched. She gave me a wave and headed for the park gate.

As she reached the gates, she turned and looked back in my direction. I felt my heart pounding as I waved again. 

And that was how it started. This little affair, as I came to think of it. We just seemed to hit it off straight away. We would meet each morning on the park. She would be there running, as usual, and I’d be out for a walk. When she’d done with her running, we’d sit next down side by side. It was a little thing but I really enjoyed our time together.

Those mornings spent on the park with her were highlight of my day. I looked forward to those moments so much. I would rush through the gates and scan the park, looking for her. It was silly really, like a teenage crush, but I was really starting to feel something for her.  

We would hang out together and catch up. I tried not to get carried away, but I’ll admit I found myself thinking of the future, of family.  I could imagine the two of us settling down together, raising little ones of our own.

Of course it was all too good to be true. 

Something so beautiful was never going to last.

One morning, a few weeks later, as I entered the park, I spotted her. She wasn’t alone. Another guy was sniffing around. He had locks of flowing blonde hair and looked like a model, his hair rippling as the wind tugged at it. Having stretched, they set off, running along, side by side, neither struggling for breath. They looked good together, like a couple from a television advert or something.

How could I compete with that? This handsome feller didn’t even have the decency to be out of breath from running. That wasn’t playing fair. 

All that morning, they were together, inseparable. He was always by her side. I had no opportunity to get her alone. I felt wounded. I was gutted. This was our time, our place, the park. I busied myself with my walk, trying to distract myself and look as though I wasn’t in pieces.

The next morning, I found her and Blondie on the park again. This time they were playing Frisbee together, laughing and paying, as the Frisbee was launched this way and that. There was something flirty in the way they played. The chemistry between them was obvious.

I walked by them, as close as I could without getting hit by the Frisbee, hoping she would see me, that she would notice me and that that would break the spell. But they were completely engrossed in the Frisbee as it was tossed back and forth between them. There was nothing I could do, save trying to catch the Frisbee myself and join in their game. How would that have looked? I would have lost her then for sure. 

I headed for home in low spirits, disappointed at how things were turning out. I couldn’t compete with Blondie. I couldn’t get the image of them playing Frisbee out of my head. They seemed just the perfect couple. If she did feel that way towards me then she would have to come to me. I would back off and leave them to continue their liaison. If you love someone, let them go. That was what they said, wasn’t it?

The next morning, I ran across the field towards her, my plans to play it cool and act aloof deserting me. I couldn’t help myself. I found myself bounding towards her, wagging my tail frantically. She looked up from sniffing a blade of grass. She turned away from me, and sure enough, there he was heading in her direction was the Golden Retriever with the locks of blonde hair.

My owner called my name, waving my lead, signalling my walk time was over. I cocked my leg at the nearest tree and went back, my tail between my legs. I would need a doze on my bed and a lot of treats to get over the heart-break.

By Chris Platt

From: United Kingdom