Second Chances

Once there was a man who had thought he understood what love was. He eventually was hurt so many times that he kept his feelings stowed safely behind a wall in his mind. He was good at such things. He had learned to shield himself from the white noise and all the pain that found him.

Then all at once, he found himself in love in a way that he had never felt before. He was uncharacteristically willing to take huge risks and change his life to obtain this wonderful thing. Eventually, it fell apart and he found himself alone, and knowing the true meaning of heartache. His heart hurt so badly that he was wondering if he might die.

Finally, with only himself to rely on, he found his way back home to his own land and his own people. He struggled to rebuild his life. He wondered if he could ever again, feel that feeling, that love that he once had. It seemed like it was so far away. How could that ever happen again?

Years had passed, and now he remembered how last night he sat near her in that noisy club. His shyness had finally given way to his desire to be close to her. It felt so good and so right to feel her warmth against him. They were both confused by all of this. They had both been hurt so much before.

The next morning, he woke up alone, still thinking about her. The feelings were so strong that he wasn’t quite sure where it all had come from. A single tear escaped from the corner of his eye, and rolled slowly down his cheek. He wiped it away with his hand, and an almost imperceptible smile flashed across his face. He knew, after all this time, that he could feel that way again.