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~ Time’s Ongoing Romance ~445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaPKlwuREr
-Short story: example of romance writing-445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGgCbZKSER
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I can’t believe it’s been 3 years…can you? A young woman of 23 thought. I bet you’re laughing about how stupid we were. She thought silently, listening to the muffled clicks from her tan boots with their stiff leather, three belts, and 2 inch heels against the hard, cold sidewalk. Her red hair pulled back into a ponytail bounced, swaying back and forth above the furry hood of her winter coat. Her hazel eyes were downcast, watching the white pavement under her feet.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHboZyq70wZ
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Her ears were covered by a black headband with three Christmas balls stitched onto one side. She inhaled then released the chilly breathe, the cloud of steam floating up to fade before her eyes. I wonder what we’d be doing now…if… her thoughts trailed off. Her arms, covered the black winter wear, were wrapped around a bouquet of flowers.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSGNfYml99
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People passed by the female, who paid them little mind. She was focused on advancing to her destination. She did pause in her steps as she heard the giggles of children, looking up to see the side park near the center of the city. She watched the children running around as they laughed and played. A group of four were cheering and having fun, seeing who could walk the farthest along the 2 inch railing that surrounded the majority of the park.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN3dAR4yHD
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A sad happiness began to twist her heart as she remembered and began to see in her memory two little kids, herself and a boy, along that railing. The girl telling the boy she knew what she was doing as the boy voiced his concerns over her falling. She recalled the girl, herself, scoffing at the boy’s worries while calling him a ‘worrywart’ until a strong wind knocked her over. She could still remember him running to throw himself under her, allowing her to land on his back. They bickered with him asking her how much cake she had ate that day. A small giggled escaped her lips when a smile came to her face, recalling how she started to stand only to plop back down on him to get even for the weight comment.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3SfQrNEC5
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We ended that day on a good laugh, it was fun. The young woman continued on her way, ripping her eyes away from the park, making her way across the street. We were just kids…but we were inseparable. A soft sigh escaped her parted lips.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihj5KEzFqr
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Farther up the street her steps slowed once more, her gaze turning up and head moved to look at the tall library building. Outside its stone walls still were standing two stone statues of Griffons ready to strike intruders.  In her mind on the steps she could see the image of two teens, herself and the boy, talking and looking over some books she had checked out. They chatted about the places in them and how cool it would be to visit them one day. She remembered questioning him about an odd brown bracelet that had weird gears and 2 glass screens. She recalled his answer that it was a very special gift and she would see later on down the road.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Aadhoa0Ui
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I didn’t understand then what you meant. You wouldn’t tell me any details. She tore her sight from the steps, pushing back the memory and continued up the street as the winter air blew.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUXNWjR8yN
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Closer to her destination she slowed once more but didn’t stop, her eyes gazing out at the frozen water of a pond in the city’s second park. A bench sat looking over the water where skaters skated. She recalled the summer he had wanted to meet up in that park. She could see on the bench him and her as older teens, her questioning why he had to leave. The only answer she got from him was he wanted to travel and he would write her daily to let her know what he was up to. He promised to send her pictures, pictures she now cherished dearly, of all the places he would see as a photographer. It was there he had given her a gift, a necklace she still kept and wore.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR44EsoTpFV
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As she passed by the pond she could hear his word ‘Always keep this near you, it’ll let me come back to you every time.’ And so she did. She kept it on her at all times, never losing the gear shape inside the crescent moon. Those times were wonderful. You always came back every year to visit. I miss those days. She thought as a vehicle drove past her, heading down the street.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLkJPGCUTg
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Advancing up stone steps she came to a level area where some spots were stone or marble as other sections were left as grassy green. Although, this grass was painted white by the powdery white fluff and ice. She made her way over to a section that had a slight hill and kneeled down on a slab on the ground. She said nothing as the crunch of the snow echoed loudly in the quietness. Slowly turning her eyes up to look at the stone head before her, her body moved to release the flowers and set them down at the base of the shiny rock.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOqEdbBuSL
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“It seems so unreal that it has been three years, right?” she asked softly, reaching one gloved hand to softly rub the smooth arch of the tombstone, brushing the snow off its surface. Her slow movement slowed more before finally coming to a stop, her sad eyes locked on the engraved letters. This was reality but it didn’t feel complete without him. Her free hand reached up and into her jacket, pulling out the necklace. She curled her fingers around it and held it firmly in her grip, unable to tear her saddened gaze from the words as another memory began to reply in her mind.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9sGp5lIWu
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It was three years ago, she was 20 and he was 22. He had returned to visit her on that summer night. Their walk had been peaceful and relaxing until he asked her to close her eyes. She hadn’t known why but did and she heard a sound of a machine firing to life. She opened her eyes once he gave her permission and was taken aback by the sight. It was ancient France. It was Paris at the Eiffel Tower. He was all grins to her and explained the bracelet is special and asked her to dance. They danced on that night under the lights of the Tower. It had been simply magical and once they had somehow returned to the modern times, he was walking her home.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUBzAqC6zH
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As they walked across the street was when the fateful event took place. The coast was clear, they were crossing, her talking about if not gushing over the sight she saw which he found humorous. The driver didn’t stop as the tires squealed, begging for mercy as the driver turned and drove fast. The young man had shoved her out of the way, taking the blow from the hundred some ton automobile. She could still hear her cries for him to not close his eyes as the noise of sirens came on the night that was both magical and despairingly depressing.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3guQPrrGXO
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She tilted her head down, biting her quivering lower lip. “It wasn’t fair…you didn’t need to do that.” She whispered, her words just barely coming out. “You didn’t…you didn’t have to do that. You could…” she inhaled a shaking breath, trying to keep control of herself. “You could have just pulled me back.” She paused, closing her eyes lightly then tightly. “Why…why did you push me out of the way?” Her grip on the necklace increased as her voice also grew in volume. “Why the hell did you push me instead of pull me?! Answer me, damn it Leon!”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMj57268kC
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Her order was loud and strong even though the tears starting to slip down her cheeks had played in her voice. Her grip loosened on the necklace as the hand that rested on the stone slipped into a fist that slammed down on the unyielding stone marble. “You promised to come back!” she sobbed with a small cough. “You promised me you’d come back every year!” the young woman paused as her jaw tightened and her body tensed with more tears slipping free. “You’ve…you’ve broken that promise for 3 years now….I should hate you!” she snapped, opening her eyes to glare at the cold stone.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlGIM5CxH6
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She had gone quiet glaring daggers at the lifeless surface. Gradually her hate and anger filled eyes softened back to sadness. Her anger clinched fist removed itself from the tombstone, trembling as it moved close to her body. “But…I can’t hate you. I can’t stop missing you and longing for your death to be some horrible nightmare.” Her voice was now a whisper as she spoke those words. She wiped her eyes but more tears moistened her cheeks.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYqYcZqtKn
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“You wish what was some horrible nightmare?” a male voice asked behind her curiously.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfix2HD6K51
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“The nightmare that the man I grew up with and fell for isn’t coming back from the dead anytime soon.”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaw5tV1Bv1
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“That sounds rough. How did he die?” the male asked gently watching her shoulders tremble and tense at his question.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi1040Lhdq
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“Would you leave me alone?” she asked sternly. “You’re being very nosey and I’d like my peace.”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4MiYrAiOl
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“But I thought you said you wanted your nightmare to end?” he asked tilting his head, folding his arms in a brown winter jacket. “How can it end if you don’t move on?”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEBvkdJ27s
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His questions were irritating her and more tears came and slipped as she swiftly stood up, clinching her fists at her sides before whirling around to glare at the man who was bothering her. “Listen here yo-” she was cut off when her eyes fell upon the one quizzing her. Her face paled as she saw short silver, loose hair that fell around his face. His bronze colored eyes watched her with sparkles of blue were mesmerizing.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm4qP4NQjS
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“I told you I would never leave you and I would come back if you kept the necklace.” He stated calmly, amused by her fallen expression of shock. He moved a few steps closer, reaching up and gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Don’t cry, they’ll freeze and you wouldn’t like a frozen face.”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKOPaity7t
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“But….how…? I…I saw you get hit and….” She tried to articulate her words but they were shaking.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSGoA8GURP
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“Let’s just say the same way we went back to olden France.” Leon explained gently and pulled her into a hug which she more than happily accepted, wrapping her own arms tightly around him which brought him to release an “ompf” sound from his throat.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj3cLgfj2M
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“I missed you! Why did you stay hidden?! Why didn’t you come back sooner?!” she bombarded him with her questions before burying her face into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist more as she felt more tears falling.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtVAHc5khT
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“I couldn’t and I wish I could have my darling Rose.” He answered gently, leaning his head down to softly kiss the top of her head. “I had to let time pass so I could more easily lie if anyone asked about why I look like a dead man.” Leon explained softly, inhaling her scent. He missed the smell of her flower shampoo that always smelt like water Lilly’s and strawberries. He held her closer, having missed holding her warm body close to his. “I promise not to leave you again Rose. I swear I won’t leave you again.”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQu7D0mzLs
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“Please don’t. I don’t want to lose you again.” Rose muttered into his chest, inhaling the scent of lavender she recognized as his cologne.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBz999VIfq
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“I won’t, you won’t ever be alone again.” Leon whispered quietly against her hair, closing his eyes as they stood in the others embrace. “If anyone were to ask you my name, tell them it is Aster.” He explained and let the silence fill them as snow began to fall like frozen, icy tears.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssjX7NrtVU
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Moments passed by before she opened her eyes to look up to him. He removed his head from hers and watched her nod softly in agreement to use his new name. “Alright, Aster, but tell me how you did that night when we danced in ancient France in Paris.”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7bsIk3lDW
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“Simply to say, magic. The bracelet lets me use it and go to different points in time. Only requirement is I change nothing when I do.” He whispered and she smiled leaning closer, pushing up onto the balls of her feet, kissing his lips softly. Gently he leaned into the kiss, loving the feel of her soft lips on his. The kiss lasted for a minute before they broke for air.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCVMNa7FEs
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“Can you teach me any of this?” she whispered, opening her eyes that had closed themselves during the kiss.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXnYpMfy4c
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“Maybe, we would need to see if it can be arranged.” He whispered back, his own gaze opened to lock with hers.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qKdd7FCN1
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“Shall I show you around the city, Aster? Since you are new and all.” She commented smirking and tried not to laugh as he chuckled, nodding gently.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgQdm6Cx9k
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“By all means, show me what you have to offer. Maybe I’ll set up roots here.” His voice stayed soft and sweet. He moved back and turned, letting her lead him as her hand slid to find his, lacing her fingers with his. She took the lead and he stayed close, soon walking by her side and acted like one who had never visited before. He felt so happy, as did she, to have the love of their life back.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZcPqQSE9D
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