Author Information
A Fading Bonfire
A Fading Bonfire
Mary was only fifteen and she had known Ben for about ten years, but she never thought that their friendship could turn into something else. They had been playing around since they were kids, talking to each other and sharing laughs, but never had they fell in love. He was already sixteen years old and he was already one of the crazy lovers, a poem writer and a flower sender he just wanted to make her fall in love. Ben tried just about everything always showing his profound feelings, but he was just not corresponded, it seemed like Mary was looking for something else. At the beginning this captured Mary´s attention, she was delighted to be loved, but suddenly she realized it had to stop, this wasn´t right nor for her or Ben. The next morning Mary decided to talk to Ben and tell him that he had to stop, that she would never love him and that he should move on, obviously these harsh words crumpled Ben´s heart and he instantly busted out in tears. It was the last time Ben knew anything about Mary, long hot summers went by and strong cold winters froze his feelings, he finally realized that he would never look back into her eyes.
Years later, it was a hot summer day, the sun was setting, and the beach was lonely. Down towards the end of the beach around a well-lit bonfire was Ben celebrating his 20th birthday with all his friends, Ben noticed that everybody was there and he didn´t even realize that the most important person of his childhood was once again missing this very important occasion, which seemed that year after year became more heartbreaking for Ben. Suddenly Ben looked back to the ocean and for his surprise there she was, Mary was sitting at the beach in her red polka dot bathing suit with her long brown hair running down her back looking towards the bonfire. Ben was amazed, he couldn´t believe what he was seeing when suddenly Mary began to walk towards him, he began to quiver, it was years since he had seen her and she looked even more attractive. “Hello, Ben” were the first words that came from Mary, Ben didn´t answer he couldn´t even open his mouth. Ben wasn´t sure if he really wanted to listen to Mary, but he just stood there without saying a word, while Mary told him how her life was miserable without him, she had realized that Ben was a very important part of her life and that they needed to be together. Ben just shook his head as in saying no and Mary kept on trying to make Ben understand what was happening, but before Mary could finish explaining all this to Ben, he finally spoke “We can´t Mary, I still love you but I just can´t hurt you” “I am really happy that you could be with me on my last birthday” he added, then he turned around and walked away. Mary was confused, she didn´t understand what Ben meant, but she knew it was over, that she had blown her last chance.
Months after Ben´s 20th birthday Mary received a letter from Ben were he explained that a year after Mary left him he had been diagnosed with a severe disease and he knew his time was close, so he realized he couldn´t be with Mary just for a few months, because that would hurt her more than the illness could even be hurting him. “I can´t be selfish enough to hurt you just to make myself happy a few months” read the last line. A tear ran down Mary´s cheek, and she realized what she had let go since the beginning, just in a blink of an eye, a part of her life was gone, gone forever.
