Their reunion was bloody red.
Tonight was a Friday night, and Crystal rushed to join her friends in one of Miami's most exclusive bars. Her high-school friends were waiting for her at a table a little way back, and from their laughter and chatter, they'd already had quite a few drinks.
When they saw her, they couldn't hide their admiration, for their friend was breathtakingly beautiful, with her jet-black hair, her perfectly symmetrical face, and her perfectly long nose that gave her profile an extraordinary purity, and her sapphire-blue eyes, bluer than a summer sky, gave this ensemble perfection. On this day, she was wearing an apricot ensemble and high heels that showed off her slim body with a few curves.
"One of her friends, Fiona, a florist who had recently opened her own store, exclaimed, "Beautiful! She was short and brunette and not very pretty, but her friendly nature redeemed much of this lack of sparkle, and helped her a great deal in bringing in her customers and keeping them loyal. She was also the only one of Crystal's four friends present that this person didn't know, since she didn't befriend her until a few months after they broke up.
"Thank you, Fiona!" replied Crystal as she took her seat and immediately called the waiter to order her favorite drink - a fresh mint mojito.
The waiter, a very handsome Italian, like most straight men, couldn't help detailing her with admiration. After placing her order and thanking the Italian for his admiration, she finally relaxed.
"Sorry girls, there was a job I really wanted to finish today."
Her friends obviously understood this. In the adult world, work is a priority and a necessity.
A few minutes later, while sipping her refreshing drink, Crystal studied her four friends. She could boast that she was the most beautiful of the group, but her friends had never held that against her, much to her delight, for they were too close-knit to feel that way about each other, and even then, apart from Fiona, they were all engaged and looking forward to the big day. Crystal had to be the first to take the plunge. Besides, her friends kept teasing her about her fiancé, and the deep love they shared for each other.
"You're in the same boat, so your jokes ring a little false!"
The five of them burst out laughing.
"That's not true!" protested Fiona, poking an olive, "I'm as single as I was at birth, so my dubious teasing should be taken seriously."
"At birth..." pointed out Crystal with a falsely scandalized air, "I think celibacy doesn't suit you too well. You're man-hungry!"
"All couples say that."
"Don't you really want in relationship, Fiona?"
"Of course I do, but you know very well that my store takes up all my time, so...and then, even if I find someone, it won't necessarily go well...And you're in a good position to know that, aren't you Crystal."
The young woman had no choice but to nod. In any case, she refused to deny her past simply because she'd suffered in it, as if she'd never get over it, but fortunately, to her great happiness and relief, she did. It was finally true, no matter what anyone said, that love was the only true remedy for love.
But that didn't stop her, despite the years that had passed, from feeling that familiar, nostalgic ache when she thought back to her previous relationship, thought back to him.
She'd been so in love and never thought she'd be able to love again, let alone love like this, but she was wrong. Her new-and she hoped with all her heart, her for-life relationship-proved it. She had fallen in love again, and it was the most tender and moving relationship she'd ever had, and probably ever will.
Later, she would have to remember how much she had decided to blind herself, for so many years, simply so as not to suffer, again and again, because of this same person.
"You're telling me." interjected a voice Crystal recognized, a voice she liked, so she turned to the newcomer with a broad smile. It was Leandro, the owner of the bar in which the girls were staying, a very good friend whom this person had introduced to her when they were still together, when this inexpressible relationship had ended, she had continued to see this person, and he had kept his friendship for her, and according to the young woman's deepest wish at the time, he never uttered his name again at the very moment they ended their story.
She remembered being a wreck and would never want to relive those moments again.
"Leandro, it's been a long time!" said Crystal, rising to her feet and taking the handsome man of about forty in her arms.
"And to think it's only been two or three weeks! if you only knew..." but he soon paused and his expression even changed. Crystal immediately guessed that he had meant this person, and as usual, this particular pain sprang from her heart, but already her friend was changing the subject. And he started on the only one that really mattered to her and on which she was inexhaustible.
"So how go the preparations for your wedding?"
The young fiancée exclaimed with joy as she recounted to her friend everything she'd been able to tell him in the short time he'd been able to chat with her, as he had to divide his time between his clients.
He laughed heartily, adding a few affectionate jokes here and there as the young woman told him about her love life and showed him how infatuated she was.
"That's good," was all he could conclude.
Crystal still wanted to add something, however his friend's expression changed again as he had turned to a table, and was now staring at the lone woman seated there.
"A woman you know?"
"Yes."
And he sighed as he continued to stare at her with a kind of concern that surprised his friend.
"Leo, what's going on? You know her, I know, but there's more, I can feel it. Is she, by any chance, your lover?" she insisted.
Leo still didn't answer, staring as intensely as ever at the young woman.
"Leo?" called Crystal, worried in her turn. The latter turned to her.
"Yes?"
"Come on, tell me everything. Tell your good friend everything!"
"No, she's not my lover."
And the eloquent expression now on his face told her more than words what a lover this lone woman was.
Crystal was very much in love and happy with her love, but it still felt strange, not to say wrong, to know that this being too had found someone he loved and with whom he shared a happiness equal to her own.
But she soon reassured herself that this pain was a normal feeling for any human being.
But Crystal also guessed that the worry that was gnawing at her friend had nothing to do with the fact that his person was with this woman. No, it had to be something else.
"Leandro." called Crystal again, "tell me what's going on."
"Oh no, nothing," he said with a smile that was intended to reassure her. "Something that no longer concerns you."
"Tell me anyway, because if you don't, I'll keep worrying like you do."
"Your worry will get worse if I tell."
"Leandro!" She demanded, crossing her arms implacably. Her friend sighed and capitulated.
"I warned you."
He sighed again before informing her.
"It's him. He's had an accident, a very serious one. And in that accident, he lost his memory."
Crystal was shocked and saddened by this, it had to be said, even though there was nothing left between them, as their mutual friend had made clear to her.