The man was true to his word, and we were true to ours. Once we got together secretly to have our own Mazola Party, but it wasn't the same. It was nice, but it was just girl nice, and no one dared bring ropes. A couple times I wished he wasn't so true to his word.
The year flew by, and I'm now seventeen and a week from my 18th birthday. Yesterday, I was walking in a small downtown mall, a place I never normally go, but I was on a job interview, and... I saw him. To everyone else he was just another suit eating a sandwich at a table in the food court, but it was him. I knew better, he was not just another suit.
I came up, "Excuse me, have we met before?"
He looked up, the stare was blank. Finally he said, "I believe that's supposed to be my line, isn't it?"
"Not these days." I replied.
"What can I do for you, miss." he said coolly, not the slightest hint of recognition in his voice or face. For a moment I could believe I was a total stranger to him. But no, this was the one. And, I noticed, there was no ring on his hand.
I sat down in the chair next to him, "I'm looking for the man that gave me this card. He wanted me to contact him when the time was right." I rummaged a moment through my purse and handed him the blank card. "You mind if I check the time." I took hold of his wrist. "I'm a little near sighted." I held it close. I could smell... after a year... yes, it was him for sure. I brushed a kiss to the back of his hand.
He pulled back his hand gently. "Always glad to help out young ladies in distress." He looked at the card again, "There's no name on this card."
"Not needed. His scent is on it, and I need to find this man. He doesn't know it, but he may have taken my heart with him the last time we met. I need to find out. Oh, and one other thing he should know, my eighteenth birthday is next week..." It was hoakey when I said it, it's hoakey now, but... I couldn't think of anything else to say!
The man grinned and pulled out a pen. He wrote on the card and handed it back face down. "After your birthday, give this person a call. He may be able to help out."
"Thank you." I said just as coolly as he had. I stood up.
"No problem." he said and went back to his sandwich. But when I was standing I could see between his legs, and it was clear that I could search for my heart again as early as one minute after midnight on my birthday.
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-- The End --