“Please, can I play with the swings now??”
“But I’m not done yet,”
“Aww, please with cream and cherry on top,”
At the moment she said that to me, I immediately fell in love with her. Though, deep in my heart, I know she deserves someone else, someone who’s much better than me. I was 9, and so was she. We lived near, in the city of Khartoum, Sudan. We went to school together, played together, had lunch together, got home together. We even hate the same teachers. The only thing separating us was she was smarter and a lot more popular than I was. But the story started that afternoon, at that particular playground, on the metal chained swings- a perfect puppy love story.
Until one day, her father got posted by his company to another franchise, in another state. Lightning stroke my heart as soon as I knew. I wanted to tell her how I feel, but it never did happen. Every time I started talking about emotions, my heart pounded so fast that it didn’t seem to want to stop. Alas, I never did tell her, even until the day she left. My mom gave me a letter on that day. She said it was from her, and it was. In it she wrote all the things that we did together, and how she appreciates me being the friend that she loved. At the end of the letter, she wrote;
“I love you. So don’t you dare forget me,”
“P/s: Please don’t forget me, please with cream and cherry on top.”
I was very sad and disappointed at the same time, that she left without knowing how I truly feel. Tears came rushing down my cheeks as I finished the letter. I was very disappointed at myself.
That was 10 years ago. Now, I have grown. But memories never did fade. I didn’t forget her. God knows how much I truly miss her. The years passed one at a time, wasted. Time without her seemed lifeless. Though I have grown to become someone all by myself, she was the one who completed me. Puppy love didn’t seem so small or tame. My puppy love was more like a canine love.
One day, I decided to take the small kids, nieces and nephews, to the park. They were all excited, they should be. As soon as we arrived there, the children scrambled off. They all seemed to enjoy every game but the swings. So I sat at the swings and watched them by the side. Memories came pouring into my head once again. I remembered her laugh, how she would laugh on stupid jokes I made. I remembered her smile, how it was naturally arranged in perfect order. I remembered how she would smirk to the teacher if her answer was wrong. I remembered how we sent hours together in the library reading Goosebumps. I remembered everything about her time with me. I remembered like never before.
“Excuse me, can I play with the swings now??”
I was dazzled. My heart pounded so fast that it drained away my energy just to turn to the voice. I didn’t know what to do, what to expect, what to hope for.
“Please with cream and cherry on top,”
As soon as I heard that, it gave life to me. I finally had the courage to turn, and face a beautiful young lady. And there she was, smiling straight at me. I stood up on my week legs, knees shivering, which I can’t believe my eyes. Her smile was recognizable. 10 years didn’t seem to change her or my love towards her. Time seemed to stop for our temporary reunion. Nothing else mattered to me but to say those words to her. And I did.
Years passed after our romantic reunion. But years never did take away our love towards each other. In fact, it grew deeper and stronger. Just last night I proposed to her. I was on my knee holding her hands tight.
“Will you marry me?”
“Will you marry me, please?”
“Marry me, please with cream and cherry on top.”
