I had been dreading this moment since I first agreed to attend. The moment when the band stops the music to begin that magical countdown to the New Year.
Blast! All this is simply a confirmation of my sad state as a single female alone in a midst of couples.
The fellow I’ve been dancing with pulls back, smiles and moves across the floor to his lovely wife, and my best friend Sarah. Sarah, her name sails across my brain with a pout as I see her hug her Ray and they sway together. She convinced me, along with a big push from our other pal Jamie that it was no big deal. I was making a mountain out of a molehill.
“It’s one minute. The evening will be great,” Jamie said with a tug on the black dress at the department store holding it out as incentive. “There are loads of people who go to these things as single.”
“Not you,” I stated grabbing the dress and heading towards the dressing room. “And not you, Sarah. You’re both married.”
“We’ll make sure they dance with you,” Sarah added.
“That’s not the point.” I poked my head out of the room loving the feel of the fabric against my skin, picturing how I would do my hair and makeup.
So here I am with thirty seconds to go standing in the middle of the dance floor alone when I should be making a beeline to the bathroom to hide until this is done. I turn in a wide circle looking for the easiest escape route. Everywhere I am surrounded by hugging couples and I have never felt so alone. My gaze travels to the balloons still attached to the ceiling envisioning them falling on me with a truckload of confetti as I continue to just stand immobilized.
Twenty-five second and I spot the exit as a small light at the end of my dark tunnel. Then the light, my escape, is blocked by a large silhouette. A shadow with purpose, it seems. I recognize him as David one of the men Sarah introduced me to earlier. But wasn’t he with someone? Or had the someone been desperate like me and just attached herself to him? Whatever the situation, he was not with her now. His eyes vivid even from the distance that separates us bore a hole direct to my soul.
I am mesmerized. Transfixed by his intentional stare towards me. My hand lifts to my chest and I see him smile.
Ten … nine … eight … his marching stride matches the rhythm of the countdown and he’s pulling closer. Five … four … three and my eyes have never left his face.
Two … one and he is upon me, his fingers skim by bare arms and I tilt my chin to adjust for his towering height.
“It’s time,” he whispers before his lips seal on mine. “Happy New Year.”
Blast! All this is simply a confirmation of my sad state as a single female alone in a midst of couples.
The fellow I’ve been dancing with pulls back, smiles and moves across the floor to his lovely wife, and my best friend Sarah. Sarah, her name sails across my brain with a pout as I see her hug her Ray and they sway together. She convinced me, along with a big push from our other pal Jamie that it was no big deal. I was making a mountain out of a molehill.
“It’s one minute. The evening will be great,” Jamie said with a tug on the black dress at the department store holding it out as incentive. “There are loads of people who go to these things as single.”
“Not you,” I stated grabbing the dress and heading towards the dressing room. “And not you, Sarah. You’re both married.”
“We’ll make sure they dance with you,” Sarah added.
“That’s not the point.” I poked my head out of the room loving the feel of the fabric against my skin, picturing how I would do my hair and makeup.
So here I am with thirty seconds to go standing in the middle of the dance floor alone when I should be making a beeline to the bathroom to hide until this is done. I turn in a wide circle looking for the easiest escape route. Everywhere I am surrounded by hugging couples and I have never felt so alone. My gaze travels to the balloons still attached to the ceiling envisioning them falling on me with a truckload of confetti as I continue to just stand immobilized.
Twenty-five second and I spot the exit as a small light at the end of my dark tunnel. Then the light, my escape, is blocked by a large silhouette. A shadow with purpose, it seems. I recognize him as David one of the men Sarah introduced me to earlier. But wasn’t he with someone? Or had the someone been desperate like me and just attached herself to him? Whatever the situation, he was not with her now. His eyes vivid even from the distance that separates us bore a hole direct to my soul.
I am mesmerized. Transfixed by his intentional stare towards me. My hand lifts to my chest and I see him smile.
Ten … nine … eight … his marching stride matches the rhythm of the countdown and he’s pulling closer. Five … four … three and my eyes have never left his face.
Two … one and he is upon me, his fingers skim by bare arms and I tilt my chin to adjust for his towering height.
“It’s time,” he whispers before his lips seal on mine. “Happy New Year.”