Like Kids Again

I had just arrived at the fundraising gala at CSU Fort Collins, dressed to the nines in my best tuxedo, feeling a little bit like Orson Welles, or at least looking like him, except for the cane. I hurt my knee a few years back and it never quite healed, and with my weight constantly hanging out at around 300 didn’t help it either. I always supported my alma mater when I got a chance too. I received my doctorate in Political Science from there and I was a member of the board of Trustees. This was my first gala, though, scheduling conflicts had prevented me from attending beforehand and I was extremely excited for this one. 
Luckily, the board had gotten the Colorado Symphony to perform at the gala this year. While walking around, greeting people I heard a voice that twinged something from a deep memory. I turned to see where the voice was coming from and I saw from behind a woman wearing a black and red dress. From what little I could see she seemed to be at least my age and she wore her hair down and brushed to one side of her head. There was something about her that seemed vaguely familiar, something that made me both happy and sad. I decided to go up and speak to the women, I knew one woman as a professor of biology. “Dr. Williams, excuse the interruption, I had to come and say hello.” “Dr. Smith, it's a pleasure to see you here. Let me introduce to you a doctor who is using one of our labs for her research, Dr. Jones” 
There it was, that is how I knew this woman. She turned and my suspicions were confirmed, we recognized each other instantly. This woman, who had not changed at all in 15 years, was my high school sweetheart Leah Jones. We broke up when she graduated, because our schedules were just so different. There were never any hard feelings between us but we just drifted apart, stopped talking. But I had never stopped loving her, I had never been with anyone else. 
“Leah. It is so good to see you again.” I took her hand and kissed it, causing her to blush, “Tyler. I can’t believe it’s you. After all this time.” She smiled as she almost literally jumped into my arms. It felt so good to hug her again. When we finally let go I said to her, “You haven’t changed a bit, you are still as beautiful as ever.” I held her hand as she smiled that sweet smile at me and looked up at me with those gorgeous gray green eyes. “You are still so handsome.” She gestured to my cane, “What happened?” “It's a long story.” “Well shall we take a walk so you can tell me all about it? I want to show you my lab.” “That sounds lovely.” I said as I offered her my free arm, “I want to show you my office.” 
As we walked around the university I told her the story of my knee, and the accident I had, the three surgeries, but I also told her about my life since high school and how I was on the board at this school. “And you had no clue I was here as a researcher?” “No, I do not handle the researchers myself, all I know is that when we get new researchers we vote on funding and what not but I don’t know names. I probably voted for your research though. How long have you been here?”  “I have been here for about 6 months. Is this your office?” “Yes, it is. I spend a good deal of time here, when I am not teaching at DU. I rarely venture outside of this part of the university, which is why we haven’t run into each other. Now let's go see your lab, I am dying to know what you are researching.”
“I had forgotten how big this campus is.” I said as we walked to the other end of the university. “Well it's a good thing this is the building.” Leah said reassuringly. We walked downstairs and approached a steel door, Leah punched in a code and the door slid open silently. “Wow, what are you doing down here? Building secret weapons?” Leah laughed, “No, it’s just that there are animals down here and they can’t get out.” We walked around the lab space as she showed me some cages that held birds and animals the likes of which I had never seen. She explained to me that she researches how the physiology of animal’s brains differ depending on their natural environment. She had animals from all corners of the world. 
Leah finally led me to her office, “Have a seat,” Leah pointed to a couch, “Do you want a drink?” “Sure.” I said as I sat down. “So this whole space is entirely yours?” Leah poured some champagne and handed me a glass, sitting next to me, “Well I have a team, but it is technically my space.” “Damn you are expensive. Some things never change.” I teased her and she laughed. “I miss that laugh.” I told her, looking in her eyes. She met my eyes and blushed, “Let’s toast.” She said, raising her glass. “Here’s to reunions.” I said. “Here’s to new beginnings.” Leah said. 
“Have you been seeing anyone?” Leah asked me with a mischievous look in her eyes. “No. Not since you.” “Really? You have been alone for 15 years?” She stroked my head compassionately. “I didn’t mind it, really. I kept myself busy as you can see. I was in love once, and it was the purest and best kind of love that still burns to this day. Why look for something that won’t even come close to what you had, or want.” Our eyes met and she blushed. “You are just as kind as the day I met you, I knew then that as long as I was with you that things would be alright.” I thought back to the day we met and then all of the sudden a thought struck me. “Come with me, I have to show you something, bring the champagne. 
We walked back to my office. I went and sat down at the desk, “Now look at what I have.” I said to Leah as I reached into the bottom drawer and pulled out a little stuffed puppy. Her eyes lit up and her jaw dropped. “Oh my god! You still have that?” I handed it to her and she hugged it. “Of course I do, I remember perfectly the day you gave it to me. The day we met. Whenever I feel down or sad I come here and take that little dog out because not only does it remind me of you but it reminds me of what you saw in me. You saw the best in me and when I look at that I remind myself to strive to be the best version of myself, the version of myself that you saw in me then.” She sat on the desk next to me. “I still see that person.” She touched my cheek lovingly, “I have missed that person since the last day I saw you. I loved that person. I still do.” We kissed, a sweet passionate kiss of those who are young and in love. A kiss that made everything else melt away, even time. It felt as if we were in that kiss for eternity and that was ok with us.