One More Thing: I Love You

I stood there, watching from the sidelines as he went up to the bat. I knew that he couldn’t see me, but if could, he didn’t show it.

The sun was blazing down, making his dark curls shimmer. His face showed my favorite cocky grin, but his dark eyes resembled the intensity of the concentration he was in.

One of the players, his best mate, said something as he threw him his helmet. My guy laughed and put his helmet on, before receiving the iron bat.

He weighed it in his hands and lightly tapped it against his shoe. I watched as he took a deep breathe and readied himself for the pitch.

My hands started to sweat of the nervousness and I wiped them on my shorts. Now was no time to be nervous, for if he wasn’t nervous, then neither was I.

But my love was nervous and only I could tell. I wanted so badly to run up and throw my arms around him, tell him it would be okay.

Instead I restrained myself and watched as the pitcher pitched the ball. He swung too early and missed. The pitcher smirked as the umpire threw him back the ball.

I crossed my fingers as the pitcher wound the ball and let it go. When it looked like it would make contact, his bat passed barley above the ball.

There were a lot of boos and groans, but I’m sure he couldn’t hear it. He tapped the bat to the ground, as if tapping the devil away on its head.

Just concentrate, don’t let anything distract you. Don’t let the noise get to you, just concentrate.

I thought with complete and utter faith. As if he could hear me, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breathe, before slowly letting it out.

He took his batting stance for the last time. His face was serene as he watched the pitcher.

I didn’t watch the pitcher this time, instead I watched him. I watched intensely as the crowd silenced in anticipation at what could be the winning pitcher, the tie breaker.

His dark eyes focused intensely on the ball as it rushed toward him. He brought the bat high behind his head and shifted his stance.

Please God, don’t let him miss. He narrowed his eyes and waited for the perfect time to swing.

The ball came closer, if it came any closer he’d miss. He swung and the impact seemed defining.

Both of us cringed, but quickly recovered. Behind him his coach started yelling and motioning for him to go.

He let the bat drop from his hands and let it hit the ground as he took of running for the first base. Everyone watched the ball as it flew high above the infielders head.

He rounded first, then second. One of the opponents caught the ball and was getting ready to throw it to third.

Everyone was yelling, yet there was this silence that you could hear. The silence of anticipation.

The ball missed the catcher’s hands as he hit the third base. I could see as he reached the height of his speed as he sprint the last league of the diamond.

The ball was starting to catch up to him and it started to seem he couldn’t make it. He’s going to do it, he just has to.

A cloud of dust rose in the air, covering the results. As the dust cleared, you could distinguish his body, he had slid into home plate.

“Safe” the umpire called. The crowd exploded into an uproar, jumping from their bleacher seats.

He stood up from the ground and brushed himself off, a genuine smile on his face. His mates surrounded him, congratulating him.

I wanted more than anything to be there with him, but I knew it wasn’t my place. It wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway.

A gentle breeze swirled around, and the sun directed its heat on my pale face.

“I love you,” I whispered, hoping he could hear me. I felt a hand rest gentle on my shoulder, soothing warmth coming from it.

I turned around and behind me stood a very calming and familiar figure. “Hello, Michael,” I said calmly.

He smiled an angelic smile before asking for my hand. “You ready?” he asked in a velvety voice.

I turned back to look at my love, the way he laughed and smiled made me smile. I turned back to Michael and nodded.

“I’m ready.” I took his hand and we walked together towards the warmth.
                                                      ~*~*~*~

“I love you.” I heard her smooth, clear voice, as if she was standing right next to me.

I looked around, but I didn’t see anything. I wasn't expecting too.

As people patted my back and congratulated me, I looked up at the sky. It had been cloudy and gray for the last week, no sign of rain, but no sign of sun either.

Now, right through the darkest of the gray clouds, there was a small opening. Sun shone through it, lightening a small patch of where the trees where.

I thought I could see something, but when I looked again, it was gone. I turned back to my mates; they all were all heading towards the vans, off to celebrate the glorious victory.

I nodded, telling them I’d catch up, and took one last look at the sky. As I looked up, I could hear her laugh, and see her smile.

I knew then, and I laughed out loud. It was so like her, so much like my baby.

Before turning away, I whispered words I should have said long ago.

“I love you too.”