“B 1, A 5, Q 2. That’s it, that has to be the code,” I said pointing.
I stood next to me. “How do you know, That’s so random, why would it just be written on the dividers.”
“I don’t know, but none of this makes sense. I just know that’s what it is.”
I pulled the lock from my pocket preparing to put in the combination. Ron put his hands over mine.
“Wait’” he said pulling me to face him. “Are you sure you want to do this. He looked down at his feet and dropped his voice. “You could…” He trailed off.
“I could what?” I said looking at the top of his head.
He picked his head up and looked longingly into my eyes. “You could stay if you wanted.”
I smiled and put my hand on his face. “Oh, honey. This isn’t goodbye. We weren’t meant to meet like this. It’s not the right time. There so much you don’t know about yourself yet and if I stay you’ll never discover them. I have to get things back the way they were. I think that’s the only way we’ll truly live happily.”
He nodded sadly. Almost if he knew that that was what I would say. I let my hand drop and turned back towards the barricades. I took a deep breath and began slowly turning the dials to match the code one by one until they read B 1, A 5, Q. Before turning the last dial I turned and gave Ron a smile. He looked so nervous and sad but I knew what I was doing was right. I closed my eyes and felt the dial snap into place.
I didn’t feel anything change. Even with my eyes closed, I could still hear the sound of water and the whir of city sounds. I don’t understand, I thought to myself. Did it not work. I opened my eyes to find myself standing on a concrete bridge bathed in the yellow light of street lamps. I turned to see Ron standing only a foot away looking at me.
“I don’t understand, wh- why didn’t it work?” As I said it I could feel myself sinking to my knees. Hot tears stung my cheeks as they rolled down. “It didn’t work,” I said in no more than a whisper.
Ron rushed over to me getting down on his knees and pulling me into an embrace. “It’s ok, it’s ok. Please don’t cry.”
I pushed my face into his chest trying to steady myself. I could feel myself shaking violently. I was so sure it would work. Why didn’t it work?
Ron leaned back grabbing my chin in his hand. He pulled my face up to his. He was silhouetted by the soft glow of street lights and the edges were blurred through my tears. His voice was the only thing that reached me clearly.
“Don’t cry, we’ll figure this out. I’d do anything for you. I- I love you.”
He leaned forward and kissed me. I kissed back trying to soak in every part of this moment. The warmth of his lips, his hand on my chin, the chill of the wind drying the tears streaking down my face.