This short story was published in C'N S Magazine
On May - June 2014
Love at First Sight
By Dwi Indarti
Do
you believe in love at first sight? I do.
Do
you know how I felt when I first saw you? I couldn’t take my eyes off you, and
my heart sang. It vowed: you will be mine, no matter what!
From
then on, you have haunted my life. You’ve ruined my night and day. Just like
Nikka Costa laments in her song: Everyone can see. There’s a change in me. They
all say I’m not the same kid I used to be. Don’t go out and play. I just dream
all day. They don’t know what’s wrong with me and I’m too shy to say…
That’s
exactly what is happening to me. It feels like there is something wrong with
me, but, at the same time, it feels good. I cross my fingers every time I see
you. My heart whispers a little prayer, “Dear Lord, please don’t let anyone
take my love away.”
Love
brings such enormous energy. It keeps me awake way past midnight. Like tonight.
“Tiara,
what are you doing? It’s past midnight already!” Mom’s voice jogs me out of my
dream of you – in front of the computer.
“I…I’m
doing my homework, Mom.” I lie.
“In
the middle of the night?” Mom is suspicious.
“I
have loads of homework, Mom…”
“It’s
just so unlike you to be doing homework until late at night.”
“I’ll
sleep right after I finish this. Night, Mom.”
“Night,
dear. Sleep tight.”
I
continue my secret project after Mom leaves. I have to finish it tonight, so I
can mail it tomorrow. This is all I can do to get to you. I hope the universe
will help me.
Days
become weeks. Weeks change to months. I want to see you all the time, but I’,
afraid to. I wonder if you’re still there, waiting for me. I’m worried that
someone has taken you away. I’m afraid that… Aargh! I really hate this feeling!
Finally
here comes the news that I’ve been waiting for weeks. This afternoon I receive
a magazine that contains my short story. This was my secret project. I wrote
those short stories, sent them to magazines, and prayed they would be published
so I would get money to buy you.
I’m
so excited! I run to the ATM, then rush to the store. I almost scream to see
you standing there, still waiting for me.
I
point at you with a big smile, indicating to the young lady standing beside you
that I want you.
“Would
you like to try…?”
“No
need to,” I interrupt. Holding you in my arms, I rush home. I can’t wait to put
you on me.
“I
could have asked Mom to buy you for me, but it wouldn’t feel the same. There
would have been no nights doing the project. There would be no excitement when
I finally have you. There would be no scream when I put you on me.
I
do scream now.
“AAAARGGHH!
IT’S TOO SMALL!”
I
fall down on the bed wearing a black polkadot dress with a sweet little red tie
– a dress that I’ve been dreaming of for the last three months- its zip
unfastened. Sadly, it doesn’t fit me…
'***
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