The Dock

He stood at the edge of the worn dock. Gazing into the dark lake, he watched his reflection wiggle, distort and warp his figure like a funhouse mirror. The setting sun's bright reddish-orange light reflected off the water and little waves. Carmen didn't know how he had come to be standing on the dock, or why he was there. Yet he felt like he was meant to be there, standing on that dock. A breeze rolled over the lake, skimming the surface of the water forming more little waves as it blew towards Carmen’s face.

The cool breeze felt comforting to Carmen, who closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sky. He took a long, slow, deep breath. As if he was trying to inhale the world into his memories. As the wind curled around Carmen, goosebumps covered his arms. It wasn't from being cold, but from a feeling of happiness and love he once felt as a young man. A smile tiptoed across Carmen's lips as the memories of his youth raced through his mind. The memory of the first time he saw his wife; they were seniors in high school when they first met.

He recalled the outfit she was wearing, a red and black flannel jacket, a Nirvana T-shirt, black jeans with tears in the knees and black high-top sneakers. Then he remembered her long, black hair. She had dyed a bright pink streak through her hair on her bangs, that gently rested covering over her right eye. Carmen was new to the school, his last school was a private school where everyone dressed in uniforms and all looked the same. Seeing her he was taken aback—speechless to be accurate. Because when she walked past him, she waved and gave him a little wink. And all he could muster up was a low noise, like that of an old door whose hinges needed oiling.

That piece of memory made his face contort a bit. He almost had forgotten how awkward he was as a teen. He sat down on the edge of that rickety dock, hanging his legs and feet above the water. He stared off into the horizon; the sun had started to sink lower behind the horizon’s line, its reddish-orange hue seemed to deepen to almost a deep red. Carmen leaned over his knees and looked at his feet dangling over the dark water. He could see his reflection, the water still distorting his facial features. As he stared at his wobbling reflection his mind drifted off to another memory.

He remembered that it had been a few weeks since that first disastrous meeting, Carmen had learned the young lady's name. A name he would not let himself forget. He had a hard time remembering people's names, names were his kryptonite. Even after someone told him their name two seconds later it would slip his mind. But not her name, he had committed it to memory, he mentally tattooed it across his brain. Madison. And today, today was the day that Carmen mustered the courage to walk up to Madison and ask her out on a date. He had it planned out, he was going to wait till after third period, Madison always walked past his classroom on her way to her class.

He sat there in English, staring at the clock. Five minutes till the bell, five minutes till he got to ask the girl of his dreams out. He started to put his book and papers into his backpack, looked back up at the clock. Still five minutes till the bell! Carmen's heart was racing; the clock’s tick-tocks mocking him. It was like watching water boil, the longer he stared at the clock the slower the second hand moved. Looking away did nothing but cause more anxiety in him. His hands were sweating, his legs vibrating from the heels of his feet bouncing up and down like a jackhammer.

He couldn't take it any longer, he looked back at the clock. One minute till the bell. His mouth started to become dry. He panicked. Was his breath going to smell? Will he be able to say the words to her? The anxiety was getting the best of him, he remembered sweating through his shirt. Thankfully he had a coat on to cover his sweaty pits.

The buzz of the bell dismissing him from his torture launched him out of his chair and out the classroom door in a flash. He remembered his nerves were on fire, his heart thudding against his ribs as he scanned the hallway for Madison. His eyes darted left and right, seeking that streak of pink hair floating through the halls.

A voice rang out in his ears. It was as if an angel was whispering to him. He recalled feeling his heart flutter, his whole body getting tingly. He looked towards the voice, there standing just to his left next to the lockers was Madison. Smiling and waving at him. The next thing he knew, at least in his mind, the world slowed. The sunlight casting down on Madison was like a spotlight from the heavens. Her smile instantly melted Carmen, making his knees wobble and his heart skip beats.

It wasn't Carmen that made the first move, no he wanted to but the minute he opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out. Madison made the move, she had invited him to go see a movie that Friday night. Carmen stood there, a look of shock mixed with excitement painted over his face as he simply nodded yes, repeatedly. Madison smiled at him, waved goodbye and trotted down the hallway to her class. Carmen, still stunned by what just transpired, stood outside his English classroom. It wasn't till the buzz of the bell did he realize he was still standing there.

Normally Carmen would be in a panic that he is running late to class, he was a stickler for time. He was either really early or right on time. But today, he was on cloud nine. He felt like he was floating through the hallway to gym class. Today nothing could make him feel down, not even having to run laps in the winter wearing shorts. Carmen could not think of anything else other than that Friday he was going to go on a date with the girl of his dreams.

Friday was finally here. Carmen had been tossing and turning all night with excitement. Truth be told, he was nervous because this was his first real date. Carmen was kind of a nerd and never thought any girl would like him, so he never asked anyone. But Madison, she made him want to take a chance. Just she beat him to the punch, which if he was being honest to himself, he was glad.

All day classes seemed to go a lot longer. Every teacher seemed to have the urge to lecture about lectures and even his P.E. teacher had a long lecture about sports safety.

But the time had finally come, the last two minutes of the day was upon him. Carmen and Madison had made plans that after school they would go down to the mall. Check out Hot Topic, Tower Records and the food court before going to the movies.

Carmen was so excited, the thought of just spending time with Madison made him feel light as a feather. Carmen had just gotten his drivers license and managed to talk his dad into letting him use his car that day for his date. At the end of school, Carmen raced to the parking lot and stood out in front of his dad's forest green Honda Accord waiting for Madison to come out.

There she was, he saw her coming down the stairs from the courtyard of the lunch area. Her flannel jacket tied around her waist, wearing a black T-shirt with the Gin Blossoms’ name across the front, and that captivating smile. As she walked down towards the parking lot Carmen started to get butterflies, or was it nervousness, he didn't know. But what he was sure about was that he was the luckiest guy in the world at that moment.

Carmen waved to Madison as she was looking around for him. Madison smiled at him, and waved back as she walked to his car. Carmen told himself last night that he was going to be a gentleman just like his dad. He grew up watching his dad open doors for his mom, pull her chair at the dinner table and ask her how she is doing and listen to her stories with a smile no matter how tired he was. Carmen wanted to be that type of man for Madison. He waited as she walked towards him, his heart beating faster as she grew closer. As she approached the car he opened her door and gently closed it once she was in.

As they walked the mall he asked Madison about what she liked, who her favorite band was and what she liked to eat. Carmen just enjoyed the sound of Madison's voice, he could listen to her talk for hours, though he didn't have much to say about himself. They wandered around a bit before heading to the food court to grab something to eat. Carmen ate a slice of pepperoni pizza from Sbarro and Madison ate a corn dog from Hot Dog on a Stick.

It was almost time for their movie, Carmen cleaned up their table and offered Madison his hand as they left the food court. He felt her soft hand gently grip his as she stood up. His heart began beating fast again. He could feel the butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. It was a strange feeling for him, but he found it exciting at the same time. He wondered if Madison was feeling this way as well? As they walked through the mall to the movie theater they didn't say much, just enjoyed holding each other’s hand.

Carmen stood at the ticket window, waiting his turn to buy their tickets. They had already discussed on the way to the mall that they would go see a scary movie. Carmen didn't particularly like scary movies but he wanted Madison to have a great night so he didn't mind watching one that night. He purchased two tickets for Scream and looked over at Madison and smiled as she got excited. She was so excited that after they got popcorn and drinks she was slightly pulling Carmen to the theater.

He followed Madison to their seats, handed her her drink, and put the popcorn between them. He glanced over at Madison, her big brown eyes were wide with excitement which made Carmen feel so happy. The lights dimmed and the movie began to flicker on the screen. He felt Madison reach over and put her hand into his. Every jump scare, scream, gory scene, she squeezed his hand. Half way through the movie, Madison had moved herself closer to Carmen and was now using his arm and shoulder to hide from the scary scenes.

Carmen looked down at Madison hiding in his shoulder, smiled and found himself whispering to her that he will always protect her. Which made Madison look up at Carmen. Her gaze made Carmen blush a bit, his pulse quickened and his hands began to get sweaty. He couldn't believe he said that out loud. His mind began to race, speeding to the darkest of thoughts, did she find him weird now, was it too much to say on a first date? He was glad at least he didn't say that she was the girl of his dreams or how he fell in love with her the first time he saw her.

Carmen didn't have to worry too long. Madison closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Carmen’s, which sent him soaring past the moon with joy. Madison sat back, looked at Carmen, smiled, and then put her head back onto his shoulder. He knew from that moment on he would love Madison forever.

He started to swing his feet as he recalled the memory. He felt like the memory was just the other day, he leaned back and looked up at the sky and smiled. The sky was turning dark, going from black to violet, to reddish orange to deep red. The stars were starting to shine through the fading sunlight, Carmen enjoyed staring at the stars. He loved star gazing with Madison.

Just as he was watching the stars brightening he heard a splash coming from the water. He looked out over the lake and could see a small boat coming towards him. There was a figure standing on the boat, they were dressed in a long white flowing silk dress. A veil pulled over their face. As the boat approached Carmen got a familiar sensation. Butterflies. As the boat drew closer the figure lifted the veil from her face. Carmen recognized the face, it was Madison. She reached out her hand for his and said, “Hi my Love. I have been waiting for you.”