Hold It In

 

Photo by Jessica Felicio on Unsplash

It's nearly Valentine's Day, so some romance is in order. It may the holiday that everyone criticizes for being made up and commercial, but I'll tell you a secret. I love Valentine's Day! It is a day dedicated to remembering the people that you love. What could be a better reason to celebrate? In this world, there is nothing greater than love. 

     A cold breeze chilled her as the door opened. He walked into the room shaking the snow off of his jacket. It had been a cold, wet spring. She took her eyes off of his coat and looked at him. Every time she did, the butterflies in her heart soared. His sandy hair still had a few snowflakes in it. He smiled at her and his hazel eyes flashed a lovely shade of green.

  "Good morning Lindsey," he said. It took her a minute to remember the English language.

"Good morning Chris" she replied with a giant grin plastered across her face. The butterflies in her stomach trembled with nerves. A pink butterfly escaped her lips and she caught it and whispered, "shhh". She opened the lid of a wooden box that sat on the desk next to her and the butterfly flew in. Fortunately, Chris was distracted by setting up his desk and he didn't see her butterfly escape.

     "Ready for the presentation today?" she asked.

He nodded and turned his laptop towards her showing her his carefully prepared slide deck. She made a few suggestions and he quickly made some edits. He was talented and kind and before she could hold it in, another butterfly escaped her. He was turned to plug his laptop into his docking station. That was too close.

     Later that day he came by her desk to grab the extra cords and microphone for the presentation. He saw the wooden box on her desk. The box had intricate carvings of butterflies on it and it was really beautiful.

"What's in the box?" he asked.

She shrugged and tried to look casual "Oh, just some notes," she said.

"Well that sure is a fancy note box" he replied.

     His presentation went really well. He came by to return the equipment. Lindsey wasn't at her desk. He bent over to put everything back on her desk and he knocked the wooden box over. The box opened and hundreds of butterflies flew into the air, surrounding him. Each butterfly personified one of Lindsey's emotions. He felt her love surround him. He felt her trust. He felt her desire. It was almost overwhelming, but he stood there while all of what Lindsey had been holding in bathed him in the soft colors of love. His heart leaped and he went back to his desk. He was going to have to decide what to do next.   

     Lindsey returned to her desk. The office had gotten quiet and Chris must have left for the day. She looked at her desk and realized that her wooden box had been tipped over. She sunk into her chair, mortified. Chris was never supposed to know how she felt. He may have guessed, but it was meant to be held in. She assumed that it was Chris who knocked over her treasures because he had returned the presentation equipment. Those were her secrets. She gathered her coat and purse and left for the evening. She had no idea how she would be able to face him tomorrow. All the time they had spent together would be destroyed by her stupid butterflies.  

     The next morning Lindsey went to her desk to await further mortification. Chris was running late. She wasn't surprised. He was likely as embarrassed a she was now that he knew how she felt about him. The door opened and Chris walked in. He nodded his head hello to her and avoided eye contact. This was the beginning of the end. She sighed and went back to typing.

     A few hours later Chris swung by her desk. She wondered what he needed. He smiled at her "Hey Lindsey, do you have a few spare minutes?" he asked. She envisioned a trip to the HR office to discuss her inappropriate feelings. "Now?" she asked. He nodded. "Sure" she answered. "Bring your coat," he said. She put on her coat and followed him outside. He took her hand, and he had never done that before. 

     They walked towards the park. He turned to her and said, "OK, Lindsey, close your eyes." She did. She heard him shuffling through his bag and wondered what this was all about. "Open your eyes," he said gently. He was holding a frisbee. All of this fuss for a game of frisbee? He threw it in the air in front of them and hundreds of butterflies flew out and surrounded her with love and appreciation. She glowed from the intensity. Chris turned to her "now that there's nothing left to hide" he paused and kissed her sweetly on her astonished mouth. Their freed butterflies surrounded them.